I wish that I could persuade everyone for whom this is a concern, to apply these words from Paul to this issue:
....Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgement on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgement on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honour of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honour of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honour of the Lord and give thanks to God.
Romans 14
Right now, I can't think of a better passage than this to address the instrumental music "issue." I cringe just writing the sentence, because it feels like defeat to even consider the use instrumental music in a church gathering an issue - aren't there better, more significant things to occupy ourselves? Still, this is an honest concern for some, especially, if not exclusively, those who on Sundays go to buildings marked "Church of Christ" to sing, pray, listen to preaching, etc. with other believers.
To get a perspective on this issue, let's rewrite the initial passage of Romans 14 and see if it doesn't ring true to the original:
Also those
who use instruments in their assemblies, use instruments in honour of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while
those who abstain from the use of instruments, abstain in honour of the Lord and give thanks to
God.
Now let's look at what Paul said earlier using this "update:"
Those who use instruments in their assemblies must not despise those who abstain from using them, and those who abstain
must not pass judgement on those who use instruments; for God has welcomed them.
Who are you to pass judgement on servants of another? It is before their
own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
I think that there is a reason why this understanding of the Romans passage escaped the notice of that particular branch of the Restoration from whom we in the Churches of Christ descend. In essence, they believe that a passage from Ephesians 5 is a clear, unambiguous command regarding assemblies hat trumps Romans 14.
Let's take a quick look at the Ephesians 5 passage:
Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise,
making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit,
as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,
giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It seems hard to believe that someone could think that this passage is about not using instruments in assemblies, but that is what I was taught and what I believed when I was young. For many years now it seems clear to me that in this passage Paul gives us a way of living during evil days. He is saying, "Don't get drunk, filling yourself with wine. Instead, fill yourself with God's Spirit. Instead of living in debauchery, you should live in praise."
I believe that mangling this passage into a command that tells us not to use instruments in our assemblies constitutes a serious misreading of the passage. To make the English translation (Southern dialect) conform more closely to the Greek, "Consider how ya'll live," and "Ya'll give thanks to God the Father at all times." Not only do these words address how all of us should live instead of what we should do when we are in assembly, they do not forbid the use of instruments or anything else - except to forbid being foolish (which, of course, includes "getting drunk on wine").
But what does Paul tell me that my attitude should be toward those brothers and sisters who strongly believe that they must abstain from the use of instruments in assembly? Taking my clue from Paul in Romans 14, I think that the answer is clear.
