I had the opportunity to counsel a “friend” through the process of deleting a Facebook post — a process I am downright evangelistic about, by the way; I know of no other “skill” so easily acquired, so desperately needful, and so seldom practiced. It’s basically a matter of clicking things that look like they would like to be clicked, looking for the word “delete,” then clicking that.
What does two hours of “worship piano” sound like? I had to know. After all, the all-knowing YouTube seems to have thought I would like it.
And I did, I guess. I love piano music. Very relaxing, very melodic. As good, at least, as the rain forest noises that accompany my typical Sunday afternoon nap.
I wouldn’t call it “worship,” though. If you want to argue the piano player was “worshiping” during the performance, we can have that discussion another time. But I certainly wasn’t worshiping. I was listening.
Advocates for a capella (or non-instrumental) music in worship frequently turn to Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. Neither of these prohibits instruments in so many words; rather, they describe the actions of worshipful, thankful hearts as they address their Father to offer Him praise. That said, these and every other passage in the New Testament that refer to music in the assembly mentions and emphasizes singing. Instruments are not mentioned at all.
This constitutes a pattern.
