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Clapping Of Hands And Mechanical Instruments Of Music In Worship

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord...” (Ephesians 5:19). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God....” (I Peter 4:11). “Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God” (II John 9). “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God...” (Deuteronomy 29:29). “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23,24).

Because the NT is silent concerning the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship to God, most members of churches of Christ have rightly opposed their use in worship. However, when a generation of untaught members arises, brethren become so loose in their attitude toward Divine authority that they permit mechanical instruments in their worship.

Not only is the NT is silent concerning the use of mechanical instruments in worship, it is also silent regarding the use of clapping in worship to God. Clapping is “1. to strike ---- together so as to produce a sharp percussive noise....” and percussive means “the beating or striking of a musical instrument” (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary).

Clapping and mechanical instruments are closely allied in regard to their effect in worship. Why do I say that? While there is not any direction of pitch in clapping as there is in the use of mechanical instruments, there is the rhythm and possibly syncopation. Syncopation is “...a temporary displacement of the regular metrical accent in music caused typically by stressing the weak beat” (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary).

Pitch and rhythm are involved in singing and syncopation can be. A spiritually minded song leader will be aware of the appropriateness, or lack thereof, in regard to each of these. True worship is designed to appeal to the spirit of man not the flesh. Note that melody is made in the heart (Ephesians 5:19).