We do not use instrumental music in our services. We simply sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs without the accompaniment of an instrument of music. To some, this is a strange thing. Regardless of how it may seem to others, we reject the use of instrumental in services of the local church because in the New Testament God says to sing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).

It is not uncommon for the Old Testament to be used in an effort to authorize the use of instrumental music as an accompaniment when singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Being that Christ's death on the cross took away the Law of Moses, we reject such argumentation.

Contrary to the thinking of some, the Law of Moses was totally and completely done away. The Bible says that the Law of Moses was nailed to the cross. Colossians 2:14 says, "having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;"

Although the passage is plain, some try to do away with its impact by suggesting that some of the Law of Moses was not done away. Therefore I ask, what was blotted out? I draw your attention to Romans 7. Paul addresses the subject of Moses' law having been blotted out by using the illustration of a woman married to a man. He first points out that a woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If she marries another while her husband lives, she is guilty of adultery. However, if her husband dies, she is free to marry another. Paul is illustrating that the Law of Moses was like the husband and Israel like the woman. Two things occur in his illustration. The woman is bound while her husband lives and is free from her husband when he dies. There are two things to be understood by Paul's illustration. Israel was bound to the Law of Moses as long as it was in force. The Law of Moses had died, was no longer in force. Therefore, Israel was free to accept another law, namely the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

Paul continues by identifying the law of which he spoke. "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, 'you shall not covet'" (Romans 7:7). The law that no longer was in force (bound the Jew to God) was the law that said "thou shalt not covet" (Exodus 20:17). This is one of what is commonly called the Ten Commandments. So, Paul is saying to the Israelite people that they were no longer bound by the Law of Moses which includes the Ten Commandments.

Does this mean today that we can covet? No, but it is not because of the Ten Commandments. It is because of the law of Christ. "But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;" (Ephesians 5:3).

There is no bleeding over of Moses' Law into the Law of Christ. Hear what the scripture says. "For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people'" (Acts 3:22-23).

Because there are similarities between laws, does not mean those laws are the same. For example, are we governed by the laws of England or the United States? We are governed by the laws of the United States. Yet, the thirteen original colonies were governed by the laws of England. Once they won their independence, the colonies were governed by the laws of the United States, not England. Some of the laws of the United States are similar to the laws of England, but they are not the same. Just because one or two laws are similar does not argue that we can use the law of England to argue our case before the courts of the United States. Would you hire a lawyer who would use the law of England to try to defend you in court? I don't think so.

By Glen Young