Church of Christ members question about music

[FromTheAshes777]

This question is for members that are part of the Church of Christ restoration movement churches. I understand that most Church of Christ churches normally never use any instruments during the worship service and hymns and spiritual songs are sang accapella (sorry if mispelled there).

I was wondering if it is taught to be permissable for a Church of Christ member to listen to Christian music outside of church or to go to a Christian music praise and worship event where instruments are used outside of the context of church? Is this considered wrong or sinful in the Church of Christ churches to participate in any kind of worship where instruments are used? What about just private worship by yourself?

I’ve always had a difficult time understanding why no Churches of Christ use any kind of instruments and in what context are instruments considered ok or not according to their teachings, and I know all Churches of Christ are autonamous so I might get different answers. Thanks.

 

[Xavierlives]

It is my understanding that there is no sin attached to listening to music or attending intrumental praise.

For the longest time, my parent’s church (Church of Christ) had two services, one with instruments and one without.

 

[FromTheAshes777]

Hi Xavier,

I’m mainly referring to Church of Christ churches that I have encountered (Bible Belt area) that actually do teach that having church services with music is wrong and should not be practiced or done. Anyone have this perspective? I have a few friends that grew up CoC and they have never attended worship where musical instruments are used in any context, and were actually prohibited by their parents from doing so while teenagers. Is this a prevalent thing in some areas? Can any CoC members expand on this? Thanks.

 

[Darron_Steele]

Practice among Churches of Christ varies.

Churches of Christ that associate with the Independent Christian Churches normally use musical instruments and think the `other side’ is strange for having a problem with them.

The Churches of Christ that are the legacy of the 1906 split from the Christian Churches generally fall into multiple categories on the practice of musical instruments:
a) use of musical instruments in worship is sinful regardless of where,
b) use of musical instruments is okay in religious settings outside of the assembly in the building,
c) use of musical instruments is not a sin, but even so, they are not going to use them,
d) use of musical instruments in one service but not in another.
Most fall in categories (a) and (b).

 

[Palaeologos]

Hi Xavier,

I’m mainly referring to Church of Christ churches that I have encountered (Bible Belt area) that actually do teach that having church services with music is wrong and should not be practiced or done. Anyone have this perspective? I have a few friends that grew up CoC and they have never attended worship where musical instruments are used in any context, and were actually prohibited by their parents from doing so while teenagers. Is this a prevalent thing in some areas? Can any CoC members expand on this? Thanks.

It comes from the principle that the NT is regulative in matters of worship. Ironically, this principle is itself extra-scriptural and derived by inference!

Essentially, it’s that any worship practice which is not enjoined in Scripture (or otherwise evident in the texts) should be avoided, as being possibly inauthentic. It’s been caricatured as “What is not commanded is forbidden,” but that’s a lot stronger than most Campbellites I know would put it.

 

[Darron_Steele]

It comes from the principle that the NT is regulative in matters of worship. Ironically, this principle is itself extra-scriptural and derived by inference!

Essentially, it’s that any worship practice which is not enjoined in Scripture (or otherwise evident in the texts) should be avoided, as being possibly inauthentic. It’s been caricatured as “What is not commanded is forbidden,” but that’s a lot stronger than most Campbellites I know would put it.

Campbellites is not descriptive of the Churches of Christ.

Alexander Campbell died in the 1860’s, decades before the Churches of Christ split away from the heirs of his movement in 1906. Alexander Campbell if he were alive then or today would have been unwelcome in many Churches of Christ.

Further, many Church of Christ influencers and polemicists I am familiar with are clear about the principle you stated. They say “Silence forbids.”