Are Drums Compatible with Worship?

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During the last two decades of the twentieth century, much contention arose concerning the issue of whether or not a church should use drums for worship. This contention continues into the twenty first century. This article gives a brief summary of some of the main points in the debate.

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Beat the Drums

Some common reasons given as a support for using drums in communal worship are as follows:

1. Drums were used for worship in Israel during Old Testament times.
   • This claim is based on an attempt to equate drums with the Old Testament words, 'tambourine' and 'taboret'.
   
   
2. God likes people to be creative with worship.
   • If something produces results (numbers of people), it is proper to use it.
   • Drums make the services more 'alive' and exciting - more 'spiritual' - thus, it is good to use drums in worship services.
   
   
3. All instruments, including drums are created by God.
   
   • This is used in conjunction with the assumption that all music is morally neutral.
   • Another assumption is that God likes all kinds of music.

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Ban the Drums

The following is used to show the reasons given for using drums in communal worship are not valid:

1. The Old Testament term does not refer to modern kinds of drums.
   • The Old Testament term is toph.
   • The taboret (toph) was played with the fingers - not beaten loudly with a stick.
   • Similarity between the use of modern drums and the (toph) is minimal.
   
   
2. Translations of the Bible do not translate the word as 'drum.'
   • The Old Testament term is often translated with the words 'tambourine' and 'taboret' (an accompaniment for singing and dancing).
   • Tracing the English words 'tambourine' or 'taboret' back to their root can involve two word fallacies: a root fallacy (etymology), and a fallacy of incorrect language (tracing English meanings instead of Hebrew meanings).
   
   
3. Drum advocates are inconsistent in how they view verses in the book of Psalms that pertain to music and how they apply their views .
   • After showing an inconsistency in the argumentation of those who use Psalm 149 as a support for drums in worship, Matthew Henry gives a concise explanation of a Biblical principle concerning music in worship:
          "Those who from this urge the use of music in religious worship must by the same rule introduce dancing, for they went together, . . . But, whereas many scriptures in the New Testament keep up singing as a gospel-ordinance, none provide for the keeping up of music and dancing; the gospel-canon for psalmody is to sing with the spirit and with the understanding."   comments on Psalm 149 in Matthew Henry's Commentary.
   • If one uses Old Testament references as support for drums in worship, then one must also incorporate dancing in worship - these two things are associated together in the Old Testament (Ps 149:3; 150:4). At least for the present, thankfully, only a few supporters of drums in worship are willing to also incorporate dancing into public worship.
          (However, if people continue to allow the culture to decide what is appropriate for worship, the ability and desire to adhere to Biblical principles and regulations in worship (and other aspects of life) will be dissolved. Even an aversion to dancing in public worship will be removed from the spiritual discernment of those who design worship and those who attend worship.)
   • References to using the taboret (timbrel) in the book of Psalms are not specifically describing a cooperate worship services. This is shown by the phrase about singing in bed. See Psalm 149 and 150.
   • Other instruments are listed in the passage.
     • Why aren't drum advocates using instruments listed in the passage?
           Answer: Because the use of drums (and associated music styles from the world) is a popular fad.
     • Is the current use of drums in worship an attempt to follow what is described in the Old Testament?
           Answer: Drum advocates are copying the world (today's culture), not the customs in the Old Testament.
   
   
4. The practice of the historical Christian church did not include drums.
   • Historically, the Christian church has shown concern about the kind of music used in worship.
   • Instruments used by the secular world were introduced into 'Christianity' during the early twentieth century (1910s) largely through Aimee McPherson, then through other pentecostal/charismatic practitioners.
   • Many of the current popular 'novelties' in church practices are quite similar to practices increasingly used in pentecostal/charismatic services during the twentieth century.
          Some of the practices employed in pentecostal/charismatic services during the twentieth century without regard for Biblical principles include the following:
     
     • women as pastors, preachers, teachers and leaders - including song leaders
     • waving hands in the air and moving bodies
     • giving services that make people 'feel' comfortable and providing them with temporary physical and emotional excitement
     • having attendees stand for long periods of time
     • leading attendees to sing for long periods of time
     • performing services that entertain through music, jokes, and 'wonders'

God is very selective in what He accepts as worship. (For example, see Mosaic prescriptions for public worship.)

• God killed two sons of Aaron (Aaronic priests), because they were creative in their worship instead of obedient to God's instructions (Lev 10:1-7).
• Worship must be in truth and spirit by true worshippers.
•      "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."  John 4:23-24
• Worship must be acceptable to God - holy and without conformity with the world.
•      "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."  Rom 12:1 -2

The existence of something does not necessarily mean it is from God.

• Man has the ability to use God-created materials to invent and manufacture objects, some of which are not morally neutral.
• Man has the ability to engage in many types of actions, all of which are not morally neutral.
  • Music is produced by the movement of air, i.e., it is an action.
  • Because it is an action, music is not morally neutral.
• Man has the ability to devise and formulate ideas, all of which are not morally neutral.
• God is not the cause of evil. Thus, existence of something (either objects, actions, or ideas) does not necessarily mean it is created by God.

There are various factors in music that can make it either morally good or morally evil.

• Music above a certain decibel range is destructive to the body. Thus, music can be immoral.
• Music can influence the emotions and attitudes of a person. Some types of music can stimulate a person to do immoral acts.
• Thus, not all music is God's music.

Drums detract from true worship.

• Drums do not accompany the words and melody of the song. They do not complement or enhance the spiritual nature of worship.
• Drums speak to the body and stimulate bodily movements and functions.
  • Do drums effect people on a Sunday morning in a church building differently than they do in a dance hall, bar, or concert arena on Saturday night?
  • What portions of the body are often the focus of movement for a person dancing to predominantly rhythm-driven music?
• Drums compete with and interfere with worship "in truth and spirit" because they do not speak to the mind or spirit.
• Drums offend some sincere believers who desire to worship God in truth and spirit.