Why Do We Not Use Instrumental Music in churches of Christ?

Why Do Church of Christ Not Use Instrumental Music? This question is often one of the first questions asked when a person visits a worship assembly of a church of Christ. This sermon seeks to explain the answer.

Ephesians 5:18-20

Should say mechanical -- use vocal instrument
heart instrument
New Testament does not say not to
Old Testament used them
Seems like everybody else does
Why don't we?

I. Singing: From Inside to Outside
A. Mind
1. 1 Corinthians 14:15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
B. Heart
1. Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
C. Purposes of singing in scripture
1. Teaching: Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
2. Proclaim name and praise: Hebrews 2:12 saying, " I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE."
3. Sacrifice of praise: Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

II. Specific instructions are exclusive
A. Specific instructions exclude everything else
1. Noah -- what if used different kind of wood?
a. Different dimensions? 2. Lev 10:1-3 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, "It is what the Lord spoke, saying, 'By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored.'"
3. Ex 25:13+ says ark to be carried on poles
a. 2 Sam 6 -- Uzzah killed when carrying on cart instead of poles
B. God's instructions must be respected
1. Adding things to them is disrespect
2. 1 Cor 4:6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.
3. 2 John 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

III. Scriptural Examples and Traditions Are Binding
A. "But everyone else uses them"
1. Early church didn't use instrument
a. Condemned early as AD 100s
b. First briefly used likely in AD 755
c. Not again until after AD 1250
2. Johy Wycliffe, Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin, John Spurgeon, Albert Barnes, Adam Clarke all condemned
B. Universal biblical tradition is binding
1. 1 Cor 11:2 Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you.
2. 2 Thess 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.