Can you comment on music in praising God?
Introduction. The fact that God desires man to worship Him in song is evident in many verses in the New Testament. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom," wrote Paul, "teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Col. 3: 16). Since God is the object of our worship, He has the right to tell us how to worship Him in song (John 4: 24). This fact is harmonious with the general teaching of having Bible authority for all we teach and practice. "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good" and "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God..." are commands which are reflective of the attitudes we must have (1 Thes. 5: 21; 1 Pet. 4: 11).
Kind of music authorized in the New Testament. The Jews used numerous instruments in their worship (cf. Ps. 150). However, the harp is replaced with the human heart in the New Testament (Eph. 5: 19). The New Testament, under which we now live, only authorizes, in teaching and example, vocal music (Acts 16: 25: 1 Cor. 14: 15; Eph. 5: 19; Col. 3: 16; Heb. 13: 15; Jas, 5: 13). The Mosaic Law, containing many types such as mechanical music, has been done away (Col. 2: 14). "Musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting up of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law...," wrote John Calvin (Commentary of Psalms 33).
Manner of rendition. Our singing is rendered "unto God" (Acts 16: 25). While we are to "teach and admonish one another" in our singing, the singing is not for human entertainment (cf. Col. 3: 16). Singing is to rendered "with the understanding" (cf. 1 Cor. 14: 15). The types of songs are "psalms" (praise of God), "hymns" (teaching), and "spiritual songs" (inspire devotion, see Eph, 5: 19).
Kind of music authorized in the New Testament. The Jews used numerous instruments in their worship (cf. Ps. 150). However, the harp is replaced with the human heart in the New Testament (Eph. 5: 19). The New Testament, under which we now live, only authorizes, in teaching and example, vocal music (Acts 16: 25: 1 Cor. 14: 15; Eph. 5: 19; Col. 3: 16; Heb. 13: 15; Jas, 5: 13). The Mosaic Law, containing many types such as mechanical music, has been done away (Col. 2: 14). "Musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting up of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law...," wrote John Calvin (Commentary of Psalms 33).
Manner of rendition. Our singing is rendered "unto God" (Acts 16: 25). While we are to "teach and admonish one another" in our singing, the singing is not for human entertainment (cf. Col. 3: 16). Singing is to rendered "with the understanding" (cf. 1 Cor. 14: 15). The types of songs are "psalms" (praise of God), "hymns" (teaching), and "spiritual songs" (inspire devotion, see Eph, 5: 19).