i am an offering

A few days ago, Bob Kauflin had a great post on using vocal solos in a worship setting. How can we apply this to using instrumental solos as well?

I think first of all we have to first take a look at Scripture, like Bob did. I think the passages that God led Him to we’re perfect, and I really can’t say what he said any better. He said:

Ephesians 5:19 [19]addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, (ESV) Eph. 5:19 Ephesians 5:19 [19]addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, (ESV)says we’re to be “addressing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” It’s normal to understand that as congregational singing…But listening to someone else sing can affect us too, and is an application of Eph. 5:19.  God isn’t specific here about whether we’re all singing at the same time or taking turns. It’s also not clear from the Old Testament that everyone sang the entire time at the Temple. If anything, the evidence leans towards the Levites leading the singing by themselves, with the congregation occasionally singing in response.

So now, how does that apply to instrumental solos? Well, we can’t really “address one another” just using notes by playing solos. We can’t really “teach and admonish” one another as Colossians 3:16 says just using notes by playing solos. So is it beneficial to play instrumental solos?

I think it is. As long as it isn’t a prideful issue, we are called by God to use our gifts to glorify Him. I think of several Scriptures that mention that whatever we are to do in word or deed, or whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, do all to the glory of God (Colossians 3:17 & 1 Corinthians 10:31). We looked a couple weeks ago at God’s call to Bezalel in Exodus 31 about blessing him with artistic skill to provide art for the building of the temple. So it’s clear that we are to use our talents to glorify God.

Another reason would be to demonstrate another way to worship God. Some people can worship by singing, but maybe others are blessed with musical talent, but can’t sing for some reason. They can worship by playing their instrument.

Here’s the kicker. This applies to an instrumental solo by a violin or a flute, as well as by an electric guitar or jazz organ. If God has blessed someone with the ability and talent to play modern instruments well, but with humility and for the purpose of glorifying Him, why not allow those instrumental solos as well?