Expert: Joe Norman - 3/20/2008

Question
1.  How many Caucasian or other ethnic races worship in the Churches of Christ?  
2.  What type of music is typically used in the Churches of Christ?


Answer
Hi Maxine,

I would like to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to answer your questions. The first question is not easy for me to answer. The main reason it is virtually impossible to answer is because each local church of Christ is independent and autonomous and we do not monitor and record any data regarding ethnicities and total numbers. I can tell you that I have been a part of local congregations that have had a real mix of races. We had Asians, blacks, Hispanics, Caucasians, and probably others I have not mentioned. The vast majority of members are Caucasian, but there is no way I know of to provide numbers or percentages of ethnicities.

We have missions in many other countries. I would say we are in almost every country it is possible to send missionaries.

I am not sure of how accurate these numbers are, but the churches of Christ comprise about 5,062,074 members in over 40,000 individual congregations worldwide. Approximately 13,000 congregations exist in the United States comprising about 1.3 million members. Again, the fact that each local congregation is independent and autonomous makes it very difficult to provide any sort of accurate numbers.

We do not use any musical instruments in our worship to God. There is no evidence that first-century churches used instruments in worship. Furthermore, all New Testament Scripture references to worshiping God in song never mention instruments. Only the voice, heart, and spirit are mentioned in commands to worship with singing. Therefore, Churches of Christ have adhered to the practice of a cappella music in worship. It is also often pointed out that, throughout church history, instrumental music in worship was not practiced until the sixth century - even then it was condemned and kicked out of worship until about 1000A.D., hence the Latin/Italian word "a cappella", meaning like the chapel/church.

There are some local churches who allow musical instruments in worship, but generally are not considered to be true churches of Christ by the majority of us. The use of instruments in worship would equate with adding to the Bible since instruments are not mentioned, making the a cappella practice a serious matter to most of us.

There are two things to consider regarding whether or not instrumental music is acceptable. One, when God specifies one thing, that automatically eliminates all other types of that one thing. For instance, when God told Noah to build an ark, He specified the type of wood. God did not have to provide a list of all the other types of wood Noah could not use. It was understood that Noah needed to use that exact type God told him to us. (Gen.6:14) God also specified the type of "fire" or "incense" to be used in the tabernacle - when Nadab and Abihu chose to use a type that God did not authorize, they were put to death instantly by God. God did not have to specify all the types not to use there. He only needed to specify the type to be used.

Lev.10:1, 2
1  And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before Jehovah, which he had not commanded them.2  And there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah.

The second thing to consider is that in the Old Testament, the temple was an actual building. Many things done in that Jewish temple were ceremonial and outward actions. In Christian worship, the temple is not a building, but consists of the Christians themselves. Our worship is more inwardly focused. The only musical instruments that can possibly enter into the Christian temple are the voice and the heart and the Spirit. The three things specified to be used in the New Testament.

The bottom line is that singing is a type of music and automatically eliminates all other types of music. If God had to list everything He did not want us to do or use, the Bible would be larger than the largest buildings.

I do hope that I have helped you some. If you need further clarification or have any follow-up questions, I will be more than happy to assist you in any way that I can. Thank you again for giving me this opportunity to help. Always keep in mind that we are all human and can be wrong, so study the Word yourself to see if what is said by anyone is actually true.

May God bless you richly,

          Joe Norman