"Where Is Your Piano?"

Roelf L. Ruffner
Perhaps you have been a visitor to the assembly of the churches of Christ — those who still follow the New Testament as their pattern of worship. For many, the question upon entering the meeting place is, "Where is your piano?" In light of the religious world's view of worship this is a good and honest question to ask.

Most churches today have a piano, along with a guitar, drums, organ, trombone, choir, theater lighting and an up-to-date sound system which costs hundreds if not thousands of dollars. But we try to follow the pattern of worship of the New Testament church, which used no mechanical instruments of music.

"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). We are very particular about the worship we offer Jehovah. "Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy" (Psa. 99:5).

The absence of mechanical instruments of music in our worship is not a peculiar custom that we hold, neither is it due to a lack of money on our part. It is a point of doctrine — like faith, repentance, baptism for remission of sins, partaking of the Lord's Supper, the deity of Christ, etc. "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you" (Rom. 6:17).


Our Piano Was Left At Home Because It Has No Place In The Worship Of God


In our lives there is always a need for authority. For example,
  1. How many ounces are in a pound? Who says so?

  2. I drive my car on the right side of the road and not on the left. Why?

  3. A young man graduates from high school only after successfully completing certain academic requirements. Why?
As you can see, without standards, rules, and regulations in our society there would be chaos. Friends, Christianity is no different (Judges 21:25).

The authority in Christianity is the New Testament. Jesus Christ is the final arbiter concerning matters of doctrine (Matt. 17:5; Heb. 1:1-2). After He arose from the dead on the third day, God delegated to Him absolute authority. "All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth" (Matt. 28:18 ASV). Jesus is the head or King of His church, His kingdom (Col. 1:18).

Yet how do Christians find authority for what they do in worship? We are commanded to study, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). For example, the sincere Christian wants to know about the observance of the Lord's Supper. By laws of proper reasoning we can ascertain the following:
  1. Direct command — Christians are obligated to partake of it (Luke 22:19-20).

  2. Approved apostolic example — It should be observed on the Sunday, the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).

  3. Necessary implication — Imply all these verses apply to me.
Nowhere in the New Testament do we find authority for the use of any mechanical instrument of music in our worship. If you drive on the left side of the road in this country that is unauthorized — unlawful. So is the use of a piano in worship according to the word of God. We are authorized to sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16) but not to play. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (Col. 3:17).


A Piano Is Not Needed Since We Worship God In Spirit And In Truth

Jesus Christ set the standard for worship under His New Covenant or Testament. "God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). The word "spirit" in the latter part of this verse does not refer to the Holy Spirit but rather a right attitude, obedient to God (Josh. 24:14). The word "truth" refers to God's truth — His word (John 17:17). This is authorized worship — authorized by the word of God.

A piano would be an addition to authorized worship — not according to truth. God has always forbidden His people to add to or take away from His word (Deut. 4:2). Why do people want to add to the authorized worship of God?
  1. Subjectivism or, "It feels right. It seems more spiritual." "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Prov. 14:12).

  2. Pragmatism or, "It draws people to the church." "Verily, verily, I say to you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled" (John 6:26).

  3. Man-made religious tradition or, "We've always done it that way." "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:9). God wants the worship of a faithful, honest heart (I Sam. 15:22).

A Piano In Worship Belongs To The Ash Heap Of History

In the Old Testament mechanical instruments of music were allowed in the temple worship under the Law of Moses or the Old Covenant. But the Law of Moses has no authority over the Christian. We are under a new covenant — the Law of Christ (Heb. 8:6; Jas 1:25).

Under the Old Covenant worship included many things excluded from the New Covenant, such as animal sacrifices, burning of incense, blowing of horns, and the use of harps. The Law of Moses, along with its acts of worship, was done away with (Heb. 8:13). "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross" (Col. 2:14). Just as it would be wrong to have an animal sacrifice in the worship of the church of Christ so it is wrong to use a piano. (Rom. 14:231).

In 666 A.D. Pope Vitalian of the Roman Catholic Church approved the use of an organ in the worship of that denomination. But that addition was over six hundred years too late. Jesus Christ had already shed His blood for the New Covenant that cannot be added to (Rev. 22:18). Mechanical instruments of music in the worship of God were already in the ash heap of history.


A Piano Was Never Brought In The Door Because It Causes Religious Division

It has always been Christ's desire that His followers be one or united. "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:21). The First Century church of Christ was known for its desire for unity (I Cor. 1:10).

This also involves unity when it comes to worship. In First Corinthians, chapter 11, the apostle Paul rebuked the church in Corinth for abusing the observance of the Lord's Supper, or the Communion, making it into a common meal and not showing brotherly love for each other. "For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it" (1 Cor. 11:18). "When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's Supper" (1 Cor. 11:20). In essence they were divided over an act of worship.

At the beginning of the 19th century in North America, New Testament Christians were united in their use of unaccompanied singing in worship. They were "speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord" (Eph. 5:19 ASV). Yet in the latter half of that century many congregations began to use mechanical instruments of music in their worship. They argued from the silence of the Scriptures saying, "But the Bible doesn't say we can't use it." Yet what God has implied in His word I must obey and not go beyond what is written (Psa. 19:13; I Cor. 4:6). Using the silence of the Scriptures as one's authority in worship or in life can create a cavern of error that a herd of elephants can run through.

Many religious groups in America underwent religious upheaval over the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship during this time. By the early 20th century the division in the Lord's church was complete. The Disciples of Christ/Christian Church chose unauthorized music in their worship and apostatized. The church of Christ chose to stay with the authority of the New Testament and remained without the addition of mechanical instruments.

Religious division is condemned in the New Testament (Rom. 16:17). Yet separation from religious error can keep the bride of Christ pure. "For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you" (1 Cor. 11:19).

Dear friends, you should now understand why you will not find a piano in the worship of faithful churches of Christ. We find no authority to do that in the New Testament. What about the worship which you offer to God? Is it authorized by His word? Is it in spirit and truth? For your souls' sake I hope you have positive answers to these questions. If not, I implore you to seek out the truth of God's word and separate yourselves from those who practice unscriptural worship. Please go back to the Bible and the church of the Bible.

1 — [ Editor's Note ] See A Matter Of Bible Authority: Put this truth in your mind, as you study N. B. Hardeman's brief but potent summary on a stumblingblock of error: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom 10:17). In like manner was Cain's worship rejected because it was not of faith, being a thing not commanded: "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh" (Heb. 11:4).



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