Worship through music

[Euphemia]

If it's a commandment, then surely we sin when we don't do it, we disobey God? If we come into the presence of God and we don't dance, and we don't play musical instruments, and we haven't made an offering for sin, for an atonement, then we're disobeying God. I include that last example, because that was also a requirement under the old covenant for a worshipper to come near. Clearly, the statement I've just made, highlighted in bold, is entirely wrong, from start to finish, isn't it? Perhaps we would argue that the Lord Jesus has died for sins, therefore there is no more offering for sin. Quite right. That leaves us with musical instruments and dancing, which are no less types than the sin-offering. I believe the Lord Jesus has filled out and become the reality of those types as well. Why do we practically occupy ourselves with types when we have the reality?

If Holy Spirit moves us to dance in His presence and we suppress it, then yes, we disobey Him, and the blessing we could have given the Father and also received in both joy and edification from Him is forfeited.

We aren't making sin offerings (or as you seem to enjoy speaking about wave and heave offerings---also Old Covenant, right?), but God is pleased when we make sacrifices of praise. Are we willing to do that? We need to check our hearts about this.

Hebrews 13:15
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

Instruments today in worship are used because they are types of what is in heaven and used incessantly. So, tell me---was it OK for the Israelites to use instruments, but now the Church cannot? But then in Heaven it is going on continuously---eternally, and that is OK? I do believe that those who withhold and deny concerning expression of worship with instruments and dance and shouts and the arts will undergo a great awakening and culture shock when they see Heaven. Of course we continue with full musical accompaniment. Why should we let the devil and the world have that pleasure? We are the head, not the tail. There is NOTHING worldly or tainted in using musical instruments or dance before the Lord....that kind of thinking is simply religiosity and needs to be cast out and replaced with the free-flowing oil of the Spirit, and in being continuously filled by Him. Now, THAT'S reality!

 

[Grant Melville]

Yes, we do have Christ. That has nothing to do with how we are commanded to worship Him. Why indeed, if you use this tack, do you wax soulful on the wave and heave offerings? It's a puzzler.

Jesus Christ fulfills for us all that was in the Old Covenant. Does that mean we must be more reserved in our expression of joy before the Lord? Hardly---in fact, we have more to be joyful about! So, we need to be doing it.

I love the offerings because they speak of Christ. We enjoy now, in blessed reality, what the Israelites only had in type. We learn what we have, we learn Christ, by the wonderful instruction of the types.

Now, you say, "more reserved" - that's not what I'm advocating. Reserved or restricted worship isn't what I, personally, enjoy. Worship is an immensely liberating experience, and there's no experience like it - words can't describe it. Nothing I could do could add to that experience, and no addition is needed. Well, I tend to talk a lot about what I enjoy, but really it's the pleasure of God which is first and foremost. And I know that He is completely satisfied when a believer worships Him in the heart, by the Holy Spirit. Nothing could add to that - and it's God Himself Who does it all. It's what He has placed in the heart of the believer, a believer secured by the work of the Lord Jesus, offered by the Spirit of God to God. What can I bring, of nature's things, to such a perfect, divine arrangement? Nothing. God has done it all, and He is doing it all. We see it in the type of the instruments - David made them all, and David could play them all - God made them, and God can play them all: the concept and the consummation His.

 

[Euphemia]

I love the offerings because they speak of Christ. We enjoy now, in blessed reality, what the Israelites only had in type. We learn what we have, we learn Christ, by the wonderful instruction of the types.

Now, you say, "more reserved" - that's not what I'm advocating. Reserved or restricted worship isn't what I, personally, enjoy. Worship is an immensely liberating experience, and there's no experience like it - words can't describe it. Nothing I could do could add to that experience, and no addition is needed. Well, I tend to talk a lot about what I enjoy, but really it's the pleasure of God which is first and foremost. And I know that He is completely satisfied when a believer worships Him in the heart, by the Holy Spirit. Nothing could add to that - and it's God Himself Who does it all. It's what He has placed in the heart of the believer, a believer secured by the work of the Lord Jesus, offered by the Spirit of God to God. What can I bring, of nature's things, to such a perfect, divine arrangement? Nothing. God has done it all, and He is doing it all. We see it in the type of the instruments - David made them all, and David could play them all - God made them, and God can play them all: the concept and the consummation His.

God is calling you to add to your repertoire instruments to be played to His glory.

 

[Grant Melville]

If Holy Spirit moves us to dance in His presence and we suppress it, then yes, we disobey Him, and the blessing we could have given the Father and also received in both joy and edification from Him is forfeited.

Why would He move us to do that? We don't have a single verse of scripture to suggest that the Spirit of God indwells believers in order to move them to dance. Also, how would dancing edify us? Edification is the work of God, the work of the Spirit. That spiritual building isn't contributed to by the movement of the physical body, and practical effect of dancing in the assembly may well be to distract others, resulting in them not being edified.

We aren't making sin offerings (or as you seem to enjoy speaking about wave and heave offerings---also Old Covenant, right?), but God is pleased when we make sacrifices of praise. Are we willing to do that? We need to check our hearts about this.

I enjoy speaking about all of the offerings, as much as I'm able to - there's so much to learn about those types. We have the sin-offering (that is Christ) and we have the wave offering, and the heave offering (also Christ). He is our offering to God, and none other is acceptable to Him. If it isn't completely Christ, then it's a poor offering. We do need to examine ourselves, to see that our offerings are unmixed with what's merely natural. Like the burnt offering of fowls - does the crop and feathers need to be removed before it can be presented to God? He will accept it, if it's of Christ, but what's not of Him has to be removed first, to be cast into the place of the ashes (Leviticus 1:14-17).

Hebrews 13:15
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

Amen!

Instruments today in worship are used because they are types of what is in heaven and used incessantly. So, tell me---was it OK for the Israelites to use instruments, but now the Church cannot? But then in Heaven it is going on continuously---eternally, and that is OK? I do believe that those who withhold and deny concerning expression of worship with instruments and dance and shouts and the arts will undergo a great awakening and culture shock when they see Heaven. Of course we continue with full musical accompaniment. Why should we let the devil and the world have that pleasure? We are the head, not the tail. There is NOTHING worldly or tainted in using musical instruments or dance before the Lord....that kind of thinking is simply religiosity and needs to be cast out and replaced with the free-flowing oil of the Spirit, and in being continuously filled by Him. Now, THAT'S reality!

Now, I believe that we're occupied presently with what is actually in heaven, not with types of it. We have the present enjoyment of eternal life. That's what makes our life and worship so different from that of the Israelites - there's was an earthly system, ours is a heavenly one. The Israelites were positively commanded to do many things which we don't do literally, because we have or are or do those things spiritually, which is much better - as Hebrews tells us. Why do we want what the devil and the world are taking pleasure in now? Anything a worldly, unconverted person can enjoy is unspiritual. We have things to enjoy which they can't even imagine the existence of. All things are lawful, yes, but we should be occupied with the more excellent things.

If we have the free-flowing oil of the Spirit, why do we need anything else? I don't. I don't say that boastingly or to make anything of myself, but rather to exalt the Spirit. His operations are perfect, He draws from my heart what God has put there for His particular pleasure, and He does it perfectly. Anything I do needs must be imperfect, but the Spirit's work is perfect. That is all I need.

God is calling you to add to your repertoire instruments to be played to His glory.

I don't believe that God is calling me to add anything of myself to what He has set on. I can bring nothing. I came to Christ empty-handed and threw myself on Him as Saviour. Have I ever stepped off that ground, to go back to nature to please God? I may have tried, before I knew the all-sufficiency of what God has done, but it wasn't any use. It's a happy believer who realises their nothingness and the Lord Jesus Christ's greatness.

 

[Major]

I have given the biblical references, and the verb tense is distinctly imperative. God delights in the ways we worship Him, and when we dance before Him as He instructs us in Psalms, which contains full instructions in worship, we bless Him.

But do you see the problem sister???
Read Grant's comment on #339. That is why I was asking you about where the commandment was found.
IF......IF it is a command and we break it we are in sin!!!

That is what I was pointing you toward.

I do not dance in church so the question is still the same. Am I living in known sin??? Are all the rest of us living in known sin?

 

[Major]

Just an observation about this scripture: it's important to look back to what led up to this energetic expression of worship. That would give us a deeper impression of what it means. If we read early in the chapter, we find David going "off script", to use a common expression. He didn't do what God has specified regarding the movement of the ark. That resulted in painful exercises for David. But, he was restored, and as restored, his worship takes on deeper and fuller character - not only energetic, but priestly too. I think that would be a lesson to us about harkening to the divine commandment, in whatever conditions we find ourselves, and fulfilling His will.



The word in scripture is translated 'joy' or 'exult' because that is what God is doing. It isn't translated 'leap' or 'spin' (thought it could well be) because that isn't the sense of the word used in that context. I wouldn't claim to know everything that God does, for sure. But, to say positively that He does those things, based on a translation of a word other than how it's translated in every version of the Bible... well, that is a bit of a stretch, don't you think?

I don't object to the word violent here, and I know that in that context it means energetic. My point was that we don't see the Lord Jesus putting His energy into things like that. The example in Mark 11:12 is a helpful one. That is the sort of violence that we need, and I feel it would begin with me personally, in self-judgement.


As an aside (and I know I've said this before), I can say positively that we, as believers, have all that. When I gather with the brethren, we have everything that speaks about. I don't say that presumptuously (or exclusively), but it's true. We have the instruments which the David made, and they're employed in the praise of God.

Yes it is a "stretch".

 

[Grant Melville]

But do you see the problem sister???
Read Grant's comment on #339. That is why I was asking you about where the commandment was found.
IF......IF it is a command and we break it we are in sin!!!

That is what I was pointing you toward.

I do not dance in church so the question is still the same. Am I living in known sin??? Are all the rest of us living in known sin?

@Euphemia - our brother has picked out the vital point here, which is why this discussion really matters: are we in sin if we don't use musical instruments or dance? If God has commanded it, if He desires it, then it should be done. This is a serious question.

There are many people, and many real believers, who hold that we can all serve God in our own way, and people doing diametrically opposite things are both right in their own way. Personally, I do not believe that, and it puts us in a position of making God what we feel He should be, rather than the other way around. We are the clay, He is the Potter. I believe there's a Way, not Ways. I believe that if I disagree with another believer on a question of God's things, then one of us is wrong, or we're both wrong. Both of us cannot be completely right. And it matters. We should be seeking the mind of God, actively, diligently. It's a test for me, I fully admit it. It's easy to go with the crowd, or with what pleases us personally, and search out scriptures to justify our view, and argue the point. That shuts God out of things. Some would say that the Holy Spirit will keep us right. Yes, He will, if we're subject. We must be obedient, otherwise the Holy Spirit will be grieved. We have to saying, "Not my will, but thine be done", really, truly, if we're to know the mind of God. There are hundreds of thousands of sects in Christendom, and with that comes the tacit acceptance that no-one really knows the mind of God. Well, I certainly wouldn't claim to know the mind of God. But it's not something I can just accept. I ought to be seeking it. I ought to be in prayer about it, taking every issue and question into His presence and be prepared to obey when He gives the answer. It's not enough to go on in ignorance, or say that there isn't a specific scripture for this or that, so God doesn't mind what we do. Think of the life of the Lord Jesus. A perfect life, in every detail. The Father watched that holy babe grow into a child, and into a youth, and into a man, and all that time, He was delighted by what He saw. The world saw three and a half years of public service, but God saw a life of perfection. So, yes, there is a Way, and if we seek the mind of God about the smallest things, He will instruct us. Nothing is inconsequential to Him, He works in the fine details of our lives.

 

[Euphemia]

Why would He move us to do that? We don't have a single verse of scripture to suggest that the Spirit of God indwells believers in order to move them to dance. Also, how would dancing edify us? Edification is the work of God, the work of the Spirit. That spiritual building isn't contributed to by the movement of the physical body, and practical effect of dancing in the assembly may well be to distract others, resulting in them not being edified.

Holy Spirit does move upon us to express our worship! Do you understand the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Do you know that He moves upon us and fills us to overflowing so that often we find it hard to contain the joy He bestows on us---that our feet cannot stay still, and our hands cannot remain at our sides, and our voices cannot remain quiet?

God is the one who edifies us. It is His pleasure to build up His children in the faith. Dancing before Him is no distraction to those whose eyes are fixed on Him! Of course if one is too interested in what others are doing around him, then that is a problem with discipline that God will have to address.

I enjoy speaking about all of the offerings, as much as I'm able to - there's so much to learn about those types. We have the sin-offering (that is Christ) and we have the wave offering, and the heave offering (also Christ). He is our offering to God, and none other is acceptable to Him. If it isn't completely Christ, then it's a poor offering. We do need to examine ourselves, to see that our offerings are unmixed with what's merely natural. Like the burnt offering of fowls - does the crop and feathers need to be removed before it can be presented to God? He will accept it, if it's of Christ, but what's not of Him has to be removed first, to be cast into the place of the ashes (Leviticus 1:14-17).

There is no mixture in our pure worship that comes from our love of Him. God's heart is utterly blessed by it all. What natural things we use are anointed by Him in the adoration of the Father. It is all good.

Now, I believe that we're occupied presently with what is actually in heaven, not with types of it. We have the present enjoyment of eternal life. That's what makes our life and worship so different from that of the Israelites - there's was an earthly system, ours is a heavenly one. The Israelites were positively commanded to do many things which we don't do literally, because we have or are or do those things spiritually, which is much better - as Hebrews tells us. Why do we want what the devil and the world are taking pleasure in now? Anything a worldly, unconverted person can enjoy is unspiritual. We have things to enjoy which they can't even imagine the existence of. All things are lawful, yes, but we should be occupied with the more excellent things.

We take back what the devil has stolen from us, and use it for the purpose for which God created it. There is nothing more excellent than pure worship that comes from the heart of the child of God and is expressed in natural things: voice in song, poetry, speech, song, dance, art and with the use of musical instruments.

If we have the free-flowing oil of the Spirit, why do we need anything else? I don't. I don't say that boastingly or to make anything of myself, but rather to exalt the Spirit. His operations are perfect, He draws from my heart what God has put there for His particular pleasure, and He does it perfectly. Anything I do needs must be imperfect, but the Spirit's work is perfect. That is all I need.

Holy Spirit, given free reign in our lives will teach us what is approved by God. I am thankful to Him for that. It's not about what I do or don't do...but about what Holy Spirit does in and through me.

I don't believe that God is calling me to add anything of myself to what He has set on. I can bring nothing. I came to Christ empty-handed and threw myself on Him as Saviour. Have I ever stepped off that ground, to go back to nature to please God? I may have tried, before I knew the all-sufficiency of what God has done, but it wasn't any use. It's a happy believer who realises their nothingness and the Lord Jesus Christ's greatness.

God calls us to offer Him all of ourselves---our entire being---to His use---the One who created us and gifted us with spiritual gifts and natural talents. If we do not use them for Him, then what do we use them for? To entertain the world? People? No...we play our guitars, and drums, and pianos and play our flutes and trumpets...and shofars---to our Most High God, for His glory and honour.

 

[Euphemia]

But do you see the problem sister???
Read Grant's comment on #339. That is why I was asking you about where the commandment was found.
IF......IF it is a command and we break it we are in sin!!!

That is what I was pointing you toward.

I do not dance in church so the question is still the same. Am I living in known sin??? Are all the rest of us living in known sin?

It is a command. If the Holy Spirit hasn't moved you to move to the music of praise and adoration, then you are free not to...until He does. That said, many Christians are locked into a church group or denomination that has no teaching or understanding about this, so to suddenly begin to move to the music or jump to it would set them apart and make them stand out from the rest. However, for me, to stand out from the rest in obedience to God is a good thing.

The sin would only be in knowing that Holy Spirit is gently asking us to step out in faith to worship God more fully, and us saying no to Him. He is merciful, however, and accepts any and all worship we can offer.

 

[Euphemia]

There are many people, and many real believers, who hold that we can all serve God in our own way, and people doing diametrically opposite things are both right in their own way.

There is only God's way.

 

[Grant Melville]

Holy Spirit does move upon us to express our worship! Do you understand the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Do you know that He moves upon us and fills us to overflowing so that often we find it hard to contain the joy He bestows on us---that our feet cannot stay still, and our hands cannot remain at our sides, and our voices cannot remain quiet?

Well, the Holy Spirit has come upon us and He indwells us, for sure. I don't see how that suggests that He moves us to dance and shout in the assembly? As I've said before, that isn't at all the picture we get of the assembly in the New Testament. For example, 1 Corinthians 14:29-30: "And let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if there be a revelation to another sitting there, let the first be silent." If there was music playing, or people shouting and dancing, how would anyone hear the prophets? We would all need to be paying close attention, so that if the Spirit moved another person to speak, the first would know to be silent. Yes, it's impossible to contain the joy which fills us when we worship - and why would we want to contain it? It flows freely to God from the hearts of the saints. But it doesn't have to be expressed in outbursts which would be disruptive of the peace and distracting to others. Isn't it characteristic of the divine Nature that Paul's ministry has in mind the weak brother? If we follow the scriptural model for the assembly, then we keep the weak amongst us safe and help to build them; worship is expressed in ways which are edifying, such as hymn and song singing, prayers, prophecy, interpretations, and so on.

God is the one who edifies us. It is His pleasure to build up His children in the faith. Dancing before Him is no distraction to those whose eyes are fixed on Him! Of course if one is too interested in what others are doing around him, then that is a problem with discipline that God will have to address.

The important issue is that dancing is not edifying, therefore why is it brought into the assembly? The question shouldn't be "What harm can it do?" but "What good can it do?". It does present an opportunity for distraction of the weak. We have to bear in mind those who are weak, because survival of the fittest is not a divine principle. If we, as believers in the Lord Jesus, were commanded to dance in the assembly, then we would do that and trust in Him to keep and preserve the weak amongst us. As we have no commandment, we have to careful what we introduce into the assembly, and consider for the weak.

There is no mixture in our pure worship that comes from our love of Him. God's heart is utterly blessed by it all. What natural things we use are anointed by Him in the adoration of the Father. It is all good.

"What natural things we use are anointed by Him in the adoration of the Father." - I don't believe that that's a scriptural statement, at all. What do you base that doctrine on?

We take back what the devil has stolen from us, and use it for the purpose for which God created it. There is nothing more excellent than pure worship that comes from the heart of the child of God and is expressed in natural things: voice in song, poetry, speech, song, dance, art and with the use of musical instruments.

Again... a scriptural basis is needed for these things.

Holy Spirit, given free reign in our lives will teach us what is approved by God. I am thankful to Him for that. It's not about what I do or don't do...but about what Holy Spirit does in and through me.

Isn't art and dance and the playing of instruments what we do? The Holy Spirit isn't doing these things, because the Holy Spirit doesn't do anything that an unbeliever could do without Him.

God calls us to offer Him all of ourselves---our entire being---to His use---the One who created us and gifted us with spiritual gifts and natural talents. If we do not use them for Him, then what do we use them for? To entertain the world? People? No...we play our guitars, and drums, and pianos and play our flutes and trumpets...and shofars---to our Most High God, for His glory and honour.

As I've said before, our entire being includes the flesh. There is that in us which is not the work of God, and which we can never present to Him. We have to recognise the work of God in us, and go after what would actively contribute to the furtherance of that work, edification. We also have to deny the flesh any opportunity. Natural talents - while they have their place in life - are not spiritual, they don't come into worship which is in spirit and in truth. If they were required or desired in the assembly, the scripture would say so.

 

[Euphemia]

There is no disorder in an assembly which allows Holy Spirit to lead.

Worshiping our God with song, dance, shouts, the arts and musical instruments is edifying, but mostly it brings glory and honour and pleasure to the Lord, and is the purpose of it all.

 

[Major]

It is a command. If the Holy Spirit hasn't moved you to move to the music of praise and adoration, then you are free not to...until He does. That said, many Christians are locked into a church group or denomination that has no teaching or understanding about this, so to suddenly begin to move to the music or jump to it would set them apart and make them stand out from the rest. However, for me, to stand out from the rest in obedience to God is a good thing.

The sin would only be in knowing that Holy Spirit is gently asking us to step out in faith to worship God more fully, and us saying no to Him. He is merciful, however, and accepts any and all worship we can offer.

Sorry sister but I can not accept that reasoning. I do not find it a command neither can I find a Bible verse to substantiate your thinking.

Teaching something which is NOT found in the Scriptures IMHO is a lot more of a problem than not dancing in the Church as a sign of obeying something that is not a command to do so. But that is just me.

I have said enough on this so I will leave it with you.

 

[Major]

@Euphemia - our brother has picked out the vital point here, which is why this discussion really matters: are we in sin if we don't use musical instruments or dance? If God has commanded it, if He desires it, then it should be done. This is a serious question.

There are many people, and many real believers, who hold that we can all serve God in our own way, and people doing diametrically opposite things are both right in their own way. Personally, I do not believe that, and it puts us in a position of making God what we feel He should be, rather than the other way around. We are the clay, He is the Potter. I believe there's a Way, not Ways. I believe that if I disagree with another believer on a question of God's things, then one of us is wrong, or we're both wrong. Both of us cannot be completely right. And it matters. We should be seeking the mind of God, actively, diligently. It's a test for me, I fully admit it. It's easy to go with the crowd, or with what pleases us personally, and search out scriptures to justify our view, and argue the point. That shuts God out of things. Some would say that the Holy Spirit will keep us right. Yes, He will, if we're subject. We must be obedient, otherwise the Holy Spirit will be grieved. We have to saying, "Not my will, but thine be done", really, truly, if we're to know the mind of God. There are hundreds of thousands of sects in Christendom, and with that comes the tacit acceptance that no-one really knows the mind of God. Well, I certainly wouldn't claim to know the mind of God. But it's not something I can just accept. I ought to be seeking it. I ought to be in prayer about it, taking every issue and question into His presence and be prepared to obey when He gives the answer. It's not enough to go on in ignorance, or say that there isn't a specific scripture for this or that, so God doesn't mind what we do. Think of the life of the Lord Jesus. A perfect life, in every detail. The Father watched that holy babe grow into a child, and into a youth, and into a man, and all that time, He was delighted by what He saw. The world saw three and a half years of public service, but God saw a life of perfection. So, yes, there is a Way, and if we seek the mind of God about the smallest things, He will instruct us. Nothing is inconsequential to Him, He works in the fine details of our lives.

Well said Grant.

 

[Grant Melville]

There is no disorder in an assembly which allows Holy Spirit to lead.

But is the Holy Spirit being allowed freedom? That's a whole different question, I know, but it does bear on this. I don't want to be controversial, but it has to be said that in the majority of the sects of Christendom the Holy Spirit isn't allowed His proper place. All too often there's an appointed official or chairman presiding over services, 'directing' worship. There's a Pastor for this and a Pastor for that. Services are pre-planned, hymns pre-chosen, it's already been decided that the band will play this music or that - even sermons are pre-written! The scope of the Holy Spirit must be restricted in those circumstances. If we all followed the scriptural model, the brethren would come together and wait on the Holy Spirit to direct the worship, or bring out teaching, or divine speaking, and so on. The freedom of the Holy Spirit to operate is of utmost importance. Nothing can be allowed to impinge on it, whether it's in the form of clericalism, legalism, ritualism, carnality. Nicolaitanism is subtle and pervasive in Christendom. Many of us condemn clericalism in practice while allowing it in principle, which is grevious to the Holy Spirit.

 

[Grant Melville]

Well said Grant.

Thank you, Major. It's testing though, and I feel as though I don't measure up to my own words here. I have to take it to myself.

 

[Ravindran]

Underline where it commands to dance in church/synogogue and lets hope there were no beds in the synogogue. There is a time and place for dancing....I don't see what you are saying in scripture.

May be the problem is equating Church and Synagogue? I firmly believe they are quite different. Synagogue was the physical tent where presence of God was. The place where God dwelled. Today He dwells in us. Church is nothing but the body of believers in whom Jesus dwells. I don't think Church as a building compared to Synagogue. Just my take. While orderly corporate worship is so important, there are no legalistic rules for Church worship or order of service. If OT saints danced in joy before the Lord outside of synagogue, the same should be acceptable if a believer today does the same inside Church building.

 

[Major]

Thank you, Major. It's testing though, and I feel as though I don't measure up to my own words here. I have to take it to myself.

As do we all Grant.......as do we all!

 

[Big Moose]

Words used in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 for "psalms" and "making melody" are:
psalmos

1. a striking, twanging
   
   1. of a striking the chords of a musical instrument
      
      
   2. of a pious song, a psalm

psallō

1. to pluck off, pull out
   
   
2. to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang
   
   1. to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate
      
      
   2. to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc.
      
      
   3. to sing to the music of the harp
      
      
   4. in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song
      

Based on this, I don't know how you could not have a stringed instrument in worship and praises at least occasionally.
As to why the early church traditionally did not have instruments, I would think it is logical that they were being persecuted by outsiders and they would not want to draw attention to themselves with instruments while worshiping. They were also poor by our standards and may not have owned such instruments.
I would not say you must have stringed instruments in your worship services, but in no way could it be forbidden to use them either.

I don't see any command for dancing, but I do see an encouragement to worship as the Spirit leads you, whether it is dancing, singing, praying, speaking in tongues, prophesying, playing music, raising hands, seeing visions as Stephen did, or whatever else. Do it all in the name of the Lord and for His glory, in truth and spirit. Glory and boast in the Lord, rejoice and exude joy so all can see. That's what I call edification.

 

[Grant Melville]

Words used in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 for "psalms" and "making melody" are:
psalmos

1. a striking, twanging
   
   1. of a striking the chords of a musical instrument
      
      
   2. of a pious song, a psalm

psallō

1. to pluck off, pull out
   
   
2. to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang
   
   1. to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate
      
      
   2. to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc.
      
      
   3. to sing to the music of the harp
      
      
   4. in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song
      

Based on this, I don't know how you could not have a stringed instrument in worship and praises at least occasionally.
As to why the early church traditionally did not have instruments, I would think it is logical that they were being persecuted by outsiders and they would not want to draw attention to themselves with instruments while worshiping. They were also poor by our standards and may not have owned such instruments.
I would not say you must have stringed instruments in your worship services, but in no way could it be forbidden to use them either.

I don't see any command for dancing, but I do see an encouragement to worship as the Spirit leads you, whether it is dancing, singing, praying, speaking in tongues, prophesying, playing music, raising hands, seeing visions as Stephen did, or whatever else. Do it all in the name of the Lord and for His glory, in truth and spirit. Glory and boast in the Lord, rejoice and exude joy so all can see. That's what I call edification.

The radical interpretation of the word 'psalmos' is very popular, for sure. We have to assume that it is popular, brethren, because on it lies the whole case for musical instruments in Christian worship in the New Testament. However, every expert in Greek will tell us that the word didn't having the meaning that was later put on it at the time the apostles and the early fathers were writing. For example, the Greek-American scholar, lexicographer and professor of Greek at Harvard, Sophocles, said that he hadn't found a single example of the word having any other meaning than the one that scripture gives it: to sing, and to celebrate the praises of God in song. Sophocles is the author of a Greek Lexicon of the Roman and Byzantine periods.

Poverty and persecution may have been reasons for not using instruments in worship at the beginning, but that reason would presumably disappear once the Church rose to favour under Constantine. We have the testimony of history that musical instruments were not from the first and weren't introduced into Christian worship for some 700 years in the Christian era. I think I'm right in thinking that the European branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church has never used musical instruments in the 1800 years of its existence.

It's been said that disapproval of music instruments is denominational thinking, or the creed of one particular sect. Well, John Wesley, one of the most famous Methodists in the history of the testimony, was opposed to the use of musical instruments in church. The Reformer John Calvin (in his commentary on Psalm 33), says: "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." Charles Spurgeon, Baptist evangelist, used no musical instruments in his services. Alexander Campbell, founder of "Disciples of Christ", rejected musical instruments in the church.

I was reminded today of Acts 2:42: "They continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking bread, and in prayers." This is a high commendation of the brethren. These were contending for the faith once delivered to the saints, and didn't go after novelties or innovations.

Is instrumental music a novelty or innovation in Christian worship?

1. It's never commanded, commended, or even mentioned in any of the apostolic teaching regarding the Church.
2. It was absent from Christendom for 700 years, and some parts are still free of it today.
3. The use of musical instruments in church has been condemned by a significant number of men across the breadth of the major Protestant denominations, men who are regarded as spiritual and evangelical.

Do we know better, brethren?