The text
Now, I guess it’s time for Colossians —
(Col 3:12-16 ESV) 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
This passage doesn’t read at all like a rulebook on how to conduct the assembly. In fact, there’s no express mention of the assembly, and the context is about how to live as Christians. It’s about relationship.
V. 16 has but one command: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Commentators dispute over the meaning of the phrase, but it seems clearly a reference back to —
(Col 1:5b-7a ESV) Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing–as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.
(Col 1:24-26 ESV) 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
In both cases, “word” refers to the gospel. Paul’s command in 3:16 is to let the gospel dwell in your richly. This command has three participles attached to it: teaching, admonishing, and singing. These are, of course, characteristic of the typical Christian assembly, but they are hardly specific to the assembly. I’m sure that the early church engaged in all three (not five!) at times other than the assembly. It would seem fairer to say, with Paul, I am convinced, that these are to characterize the church — not just during the time of assembly. Indeed, as admonishment often includes correction and rebuke, it’s often inappropriate for the assembly and is best done in private.
“Singing” is ado, a Greek word for “sing.” It’s often used in the context of instrumental music, as in Isa 23:16 and Rev 5:8-9, but it doesn’t mean “sing with an instrument.” It just means “sing.” In fairness, there’s very little here about singing with or without an instrument. In fact, the closest we get to explicit instructions is the reference to “psalms,” which often urge the use of instruments, many of which were written to be sung to an instrument and even include instrumental instructions. I mean, what do we do with psalms such as —
(Psa 76:1 ESV) ESV Psalm 76:1 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel.
(Psa 150:1 ESV) ESV Psalm 150:1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
Now, I’m not inclined to argue that Paul intends to command the use of instruments, because it would no more fit the context than a command not to use instruments. But taken out of context, a command to sing the Psalms sure seems to approve of instruments!
But the context argues to the contrary. Paul began in chapter 1 laying out the important elements of Christianity: the sacrifice of Jesus, the gospel, the kingdom, our mission with God. He says not a word about the assembly or “acts of worship.”
In chapter 2, Paul condemns the false teaching in Colosse. He says,
(Col 2:8 ESV) 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
We must avoid “human tradition,” even though some of the traditions he condemns have roots in the scriptures. There is no safety in inventing rules, and when a rule is uncertain to us, it’s no safer to insist on it than not to insist on it, because it’s sin to violate God’s rules but also sin to impose a rule that God does not. There is no bias in favor of doubtful rules.
(Col 2:20-22 ESV) 20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations– 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)–according to human precepts and teachings?
(Col 3:2 ESV) 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
What’s wrong with commands against handling, tasting, and touching? According to Paul, these commands are about things that cannot be inherently evil because they “perish with using.” They have no eternal significance. The things that matter — that define God’s people — are things of eternal significance —
(Col 3:11-15 ESV) 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Unity across ethnic lines, loving, compassionate hearts, tolerance, forgiveness, peace, and gratitude don’t wear out and last forever. They matter.
It’s hard to imagine that Paul would consider the choice of a cappella vs. instrumental music to be about “things that are above” or things that don’t “perish with using.” Harps do indeed wear out.
Now, to be clear, while harps wear out, and so aren’t of eternal significance, they can be used for purposes that are sinful —
(Col 3:5 ESV) 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
If a harp were to be used in a house of prostitution, it would be used for a wicked purpose. It’s just that it’s not inherently wicked. Use it for a holy purpose, and it won’t be sinful.
Now, be fair to Paul and the Spirit. Does this passage read like it was written to grant authority for acts of worship in the assembly? Is this how someone would write authorization?
And where is the emphasis? Not on the participles but on the command: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” For this to happen, we need to teach and admonish each other! And we need to sing words of instruction and encouragement, such as the Psalms! You see, the participles are telling us how to let the word richly dwell — not how to conduct the assembly. That is simply not the subject under consideration. Rather, we must encourage each other to bring the gospel alive in our hearts and action, so that we can flee seeking salvation through rules and “thou shalt nots” and instead focus on eternal things: love, unity, and mission. That’s what Paul was talking about.
We now have to consider a more biblical understanding of damnation. It damnation isn’t eternal torture, just how bad can it be? Should we still be motivated to seek and save the lost? If the damned will simply be destroyed, why bother?
