Let's do some word associations. When a person says, "church of Christ," what's the first thing that comes to mind? Many non-members might say something about our worship not using mechanical instruments. Some members believe our practice of a cappella singing is an "embarrassing relic" that we need to abandon. Some members believe our unaccompanied singing in worship is not really an important matter and view it as a matter of "opinion." It is my conviction that the scriptures authorize a cappella singing in worship and that it really is an important matter.

What is the proper attitude toward the authority of the scriptures? Some would answer that whatever the Bible does not specifically forbid is allowed. They believe silence is permissive instead of prohibitive. This is an improper attitude toward authorization from God's instructions. God has always looked with displeasure and punishment toward those who would substitute for His divine way (Leviticus 10:1-2; Numbers 14:36-45; 1 Chronicles 13:9-10). The condemnation of God will rest upon those who would go beyond that which is written (1 Corinthians 4:6; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 John 9; Revelation 22:18-19).

We understand this principle easily in other areas of life. If you asked your child to go to the store for skim milk and he brought you buttermilk, would you say he obeyed you? If I asked you to go to the parking lot and bring me a red Chevrolet and you brought me a blue Ford, would you say you obeyed me? When a specific kind in a category is specified, the statement only authorizes that specific kind.

The principle is this: to be pleasing to God, we must do only that which His Word authorizes and that whatever is not authorized is sinful. Who are we trying to please? Ourselves or God? (2 Corinthians 5:9). Who is the object of our worship? (John 4:24). We must be governed by the divine principle that only by doing that which God authorizes (by express statement, example, or implication) can we be pleasing to God (2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6). Regarding the authority of scripture, the New Testament is our authority today since the Old Testament has been fulfilled and is no longer in effect (Matthew 5:17-18; Ephesians 2:14-16; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 7:12; 8:7; 10:9-10). In worship and in service, we need to know what the New Testament authorizes (Matthew 17:5; 28:18; John 14:26; 16:13; Colossians 3:17). The New Testament authorizes singing in worship, which we will study in the next article.