By: Zach Collins Paul once wrote, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” – Colossians 3:17 The issue of mechanical instruments, in Christian worship, is truly a matter of authority. The phrase “word or deed” embraces two areas in the church – teaching and practice. In short, what we teach and what we practice must be implemented through the authority of Christ. To declare authority, one must find a direct command, whether explicit or implicit, or an example. Many are often surprised to learn that the Bible never authorizes the church to worship God with mechanical accompaniment. In truth, the use of mechanical instruments in worship is a mere tradition, adopted within Christendom in recent history, that is void of biblical authority.    It can be stated, emphatically, that the church of Christ in the first century did not use instrumental music in worship. These are the words of Clement of Alexandria, a mere two hundred years after the death of Christ, “Let the pipe be resigned to the shepherds, and the flute to the superstitious who are engrossed in idolatry. For, in truth, such instruments are to be banished from the banquet… (i.e., Worship). We no longer employ the ancient psaltery, trumpet, timbrel, and flute.” Not only was this practice void of example in the New Testament, but it was also commonly accepted that the implementation of mechanical instruments in worship was a dangerous step toward Judaism …