There is an age old argument among Christian musicians about the use of instruments in public worship. Before I continue with this discussion about instrumental music education, I want to say that I have absolutely no objection to singing without the use of musical instruments. Those who have chosen to worship God without using musical instruments have done so in the fear of God. Although I have not made the same conclusions as they have, I respect their view and understand that they have not decided to exclude the use of musical instruments to in any way be contentious. So, I have no quarrel with those who do not use instruments as a part of public worship providing they do so on the basis of religious, musical, or worship preference rather than biblical mandate.
Certainly any musician who has observed a cappella singing by a congregation will be constrained to admit that it is very worshipful in its enactment. On the contrary, all of us have experienced public worship in which a set of drums have almost completely covered up the singing of words to God by a congregation. We have also had to suffer through songs like Silent Night being introduced by a mighty drum roll or a trumpet fanfare. So, I have concluded that those who have chosen to sing without instruments are philosophically more biblical than those who worship with a praise band with all the instruments amplified unto such decibel levels that an observer can see mouths moving but cannot hear a word of the attempted praise offering of the congregation.
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