What kind of music would God prefer to listen to? It may sound like an odd question, but it is one worth asking. Although most examples of instrumental worship seem to occur in the Old Testament, the Bible is nonetheless full of instances where musical instruments are used in praise of the Almighty. For example, the word “trumpet” occurs 49 times throughout the entirety of Scripture. Percussion instruments appear 16 times and harps a whopping 58 times. While not all such occurrences correlate with moments of corporate worship, most of them do. This begs the question of whether or not instruments indeed have a place in the corporate worship of the New Testament church.

With the proverbial explosion of American church culture has come the introduction of musical styles previously unexplored as a means of worshiping Yahweh––including the use of instruments that are both common and uncommon to Scripture. Today, Christian rock bands are the preferred artistic medium for producing praise and worship songs; however, instruments like trap sets, congas, and electric guitars are not mentioned in the Scripture. As a result, observant Christians might contend that musical elements like those just mentioned have no place in the church, but is that really what the Scripture teaches?

The Bible is ultimately silent on what kinds of musical instruments are permissible in corporate worship because the instruments themselves have little if anything to do with appeasing God. As Romans 12:1 states, Christians are to give themselves up as “living sacrifices” because that is the Christian’s “spiritual act of worship.” Becoming a living sacrifice that worships God in “spirit and truth” means that worshiping to the sound of a rock band, a wind symphony, a flute quartet, or even a steel drum ensemble is equally possible!

Just as we seek to continue worshiping God in “spirit and truth” as “living sacrifices,” so too must we look to expand our worship beyond the confines of 19th century into a beautiful new day the Lord has made where all kinds of musical instruments can be played for His glory. As Psalm 150:3-5 states, “Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with the tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with the resounding cymbals.”