Instruments belong in biblical praise
The Psalms repeatedly invite God’s people to praise him with instruments. Psalm 150 mentions trumpet, stringed instruments, flute and cymbals as expressions of wholehearted praise to God (Psalm 150:3-5). These sounds were not treated as distractions by default. They were part of Israel's joyful worship.
Instruments were also used in the worship connected with the temple in Jerusalem. During Hezekiah's restoration of temple worship, Levites played instruments associated with David and the prophets (2 Chronicles 29:25). So a piano, guitar, organ, drum or other instrument can serve a good purpose when it helps people offer praise to God.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
The New Testament centres on the congregation singing
When Paul writes to churches, he clearly tells Christians to sing. Believers in Ephesus were to use psalms, hymns and spiritual songs as they sang to the Lord with their hearts (Ephesians 5:19). In Colossae, singing was tied to Christ's word shaping the community, as they taught and encouraged each other (Colossians 3:16).
Neither passage requires a particular instrument, style or music team. The emphasis is on praise, gratitude and shared encouragement. That leaves room for an organ and choir, a small group with a guitar, or voices alone.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
No rule requires or forbids instruments
The New Testament gives guidance for gathered worship, but it does not say every church must have instruments. It does not forbid them either. When Paul addressed the lively and sometimes disorderly church in Corinth, his concern was that what happened in the gathering should strengthen the church and be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:26; 1 Corinthians 14:40).
That gives a helpful question to ask: does this music help the church praise God and build one another up? Instruments can help greatly. Yet if the volume, performance or complexity makes it hard for people to sing or hear the words, a church may wisely make changes. Simple singing and moments of quiet can be reverent too.
Hold preferences with kindness
Some Christians value instruments because they see them in the Psalms and find that music helps them praise God with joy. Others prefer unaccompanied singing because they want the congregation's voices and the words of the songs to stand out. Both choices can honour the Lord.
Christians needn't make a musical preference into a test of faithfulness when Scripture has not made it one. Paul calls believers to seek peace and mutual upbuilding amid differences of practice (Romans 14:19). If you're part of a church, join in sincerely where you can, speak graciously about concerns, and keep the focus on praising God together.
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.