Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: January 27, 2008
SILENCE CAN BE RESTRICTIVE
Robin W. Haley
We have recently discussed religious authority and the role that Bible silence plays. This
present article shall deal with an example of restrictive silence from the New Testament.
A very basic and general principle of restrictive silence is found in an explicit statement
made by Paul in First Corinthians 4:6 ASV when he said, "Not to go beyond the things that
are written." The apostle John made this same restriction in Second John 9 ASV, saying,
"Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that
abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son."
Thus, we learn that we are not to go too far, and the limit is found in the things written.
Let us never assume to have information or permission to do, or not do as we please
outside the realm of "thus saith the Lord." If the Bible says it, let us believe and obey. If it
does not say so, let us not presume to go ahead with God's approval. This was David's plea
in Psalm 19:13, "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins." Certainly this is a
point also made by Paul when he wrote: "What saith the scripture?" (Rom. 4:3). We may
proceed only upon the basis of what the Bible teaches.
Now, a New Testament example: the Hebrews writer shows us again the nature of
restrictive silence in Hebrews 7:14, "For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of
Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests." Moses did not say that
a priest may not come from Judah, he did not have to say "no priests shall come from
Judah or Asher or Gad or Dan," for when God said that the Priests were to be from Levi,
that eliminated or restricted everyone else.
Thus we learn that when God stipulates or specifies any one thing, all other "options" are
cancelled. In fact, other actions would not really be options, but additions and
presumptions.
Man does not have permission or authority to add to what God said, nor to take away from
His instruction. To do so is to flirt with God's wrath. Let us never willfully do such a thing!
Let us be happy and content doing what God has authorized, and "let God be true, but
every man a liar" (Romans 3:4). "The churches of Christ salute you!" (Romans 16:16).
— via “Gospel Preceptor,” www.gospelpreceptor.com
A MATTER OF BIBLE AUTHORITY
N.B. Hardeman
My objection to mechanical instruments in worship is not out of bitterness toward them;
not because I think there is harm in the instrument, per se, but the objection is simply
this: I have adopted the principle and pledged myself to the platform of not going beyond
that which the Bible authorizes.
My digressive brother asks me, "Where does the Bible prohibit it?" I answer, "Where does
the Bible authorize it?" Christians walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7). No man can use mechanical
instruments and walk by faith.
By searching the scriptures you will find that God does not authorize it, does not command
it, does not demand it, and that there is no example in all apostolic history for such a
practice. The man who is faithful and loyal to God's word will not go beyond it. "Whosoever
goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God" (2 John 9 ASV).
-- via “Gospel Preceptor,” www.gospelpreceptor.com
PAUL’S CHARGE TO PROVE ALL THINGS
Ben Justice
The apostle Paul issued this imperative in I Thess. 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast that
which is good.” What does it mean to prove all things? The Greek word translated “prove”
carries two different senses in the NT. Thayer stated, “to test, examine, prove, scrutinize
(to see whether a thing be genuine or not); . . . to recognize as genuine after examination,
to approve, deem worthy.” The original word is found a total of 23 times in the NT. It is
translated in a variety of ways, such as “approve,” “examine,” and “try.” When we prove all
things, we are examining, testing, and scrutinizing all things, that is, all things of a
spiritual, religious, and moral nature.
“All things” does not mean “some” things or “most” things. This may sound elementary to
some, but how many are selective in proving things — proving things they want to prove,
while ignoring things that may result in them having to change their view or position (cf.
Rom. 2:17-24).
The question is, “How do I prove all things?” Since it is obvious that “all things” have
reference to all things spiritual, religious, and moral, then there are but one of two ways in
which a person can prove or test (or attempt to prove or test) all things spiritual and moral:
WITH GOD’S WORD or WITHOUT GOD’S WORD. Obviously, we must prove all things by
the authority of God’s word. Colossians 3:17, I Pet. 4:11, Galatians 1:8-9, I Corinthians 4:
6, and Revelation 22:18-19 all teach the necessity of using God’s final authority — the New
Testament — for proving all things.
Many today use standards other than God’s word, such as their own subjective feelings
and the writings of men. It is also true that many seek to use scripture, but they take
scripture out of context, including ignoring the immediate context and a failure to consider
the entirety of Bible teaching on a Biblical topic. Satan even quoted scripture to Jesus,
but he perverted it by taking it out of its context.
Why must I prove all things? In the latter part of v. 21, Paul said, “hold fast (lit. securely
or firmly) that which is good.” The meaning of this scripture is crystal clear: We have the
obligation to test all spiritual matters before we hold on to them. What the Christian is
obligated to do is distinguish between truth and error, between right and wrong, between
good and evil, between that which is biblical and that which is not biblical. What is the
implication of this verse? Very simply, if something proves to be not good (or not true),
then we must not hold to it. When a man tells me I am wrong, he must prove it. How?
Not because he says so; not because this is the way he feels; not because of his own
subjective inclination; not because somebody else agrees with him. He proves it by the
scriptures (direct statement, example, or implication).