Listen Carefully to God's Voice
The religious creeds of men have proved to be divisive and contrary to Jesus' desire that his followers be united (John 17:21). The unity of believers is only possible by rejecting the religious creeds and traditions of men and joining upon the clear teaching of Scripture. Heirs of the Restoration Movement continue to call for the abandonment of creeds and a return to simple New Testament teaching. The plea "speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where it is silent" has been heralded as the way to unity.Slogans can, however, become creedal statements. Religious creeds divide, and apparently so do slogans. Churches of Christ have been ravaged with division even though the call is for unity. The statement "speak where the Bible speaks, be silent where it is silent" has been the center of the controversy of how one is to interpret the silence of the Scriptures. If the Bible is silent on a matter, does that leave Christians free to use judgment on the matter or does it prohibit any action at all? Is silence permissive or prohibitive? Traditionally many within Churches of Christ have taken the position that silence prohibits action. Yet this has proven inconsistent and unrealistic. The claim that we must strictly follow the "pattern" in the New Testament would prohibit the use of airplanes to preach the gospel, the use of the Internet, and even word processors to write sermons. Usually, these practices are justified with the term "expediency." Yet this term is often used in a subjective way that is inconsistent and misleading.
It seems to me all the talk about "silence of the Scriptures" and "speak where the Bible speaks, be silent where it is silent" has created a confusing religious environment among us that only results in frustration and division. Surely God's word is simple to understand and does not require intricate theological training in hermeneutical methodology. God sent his word so that everyone can understand the truth from prince to peasant (John 8:31-32). I want to present a more simplistic approach to describing the way God authorizes religious action.
When God speaks, he says what he means to say and expect us to take it seriously. Early in his Word, God continually expresses the importance to "listen carefully" to what he has spoken and commanded (Deut. 5:1; 12:1; 15:5; 17:19; 19:9; 28:13; 32:46). In the Christian age, we are instructed to listen carefully to the instructions given through Jesus Christ (Mark 9:7). We must take the Word of God seriously as being the instructions that will guide us in all matters of religious faith and practice (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
God says what he intends to say. In our faith we must operate by listening to the voice of God recorded in the pages of Scripture. God gives the level of specificity to his instructions that he intends to give. When God has been specific about something we are to do, then every other item of the same category is excluded. For instance, it can be established that the cumulative teaching of God directs that the correct method of New Testament baptism is immersion, therefore all other methods of baptism are excluded (sprinkling, pouring, etc.). The fact the the Bible is "silent" about baptism by sprinkling is really irrelevant. God was specific about what he desired. It really has nothing to do with silence; it has everything to do with the specificity of the command.
Sometimes, however, God's commands are only general in nature and he does not give specifics. When God has not been specific about a matter, then he leaves it up to our judgment and option in carrying it out. For example, God has instructed that Christians assemble together for worship (cf. 1 Cor. 11). Yet, a survey of New Testament teaching demonstrates that God has not been specific as to the location of the assembly. Therefore the decision as to where to meet is left up to the decision of Christians today (rented hall, owning a building, in a personal dwelling, etc). There are many areas in our faith that God has left up to our individual judgments or the discretion of the leadership of churches. Too much division has occurred among us when some people force their opinions and methods upon others as though theirs is the "only Scriptural way."
Too often I hear Christians say that we cannot do a certain thing in the church because "we don't have any example of that in the New Testament." Well, there are lots of things we do not have examples of that we constantly use in the church today (telephones, refrigerators, water fountains, electricity, etc.). It really is not a question of whether or not you have an "example" of something. The question is "what has God said?" We must carefully examine the total collection of God's instructions in his word and determine how specific he has been about something. If he has given specific instruction, we cannot vary from that. But if he has given general instruction, then the methods of obeying that instruction is up to our judgment and opinions.
The problem that often occurs is that some attempt to assemble verses together in such a way to make a pattern of religious methodology where God has not been specific. Thus, some have attempted to assign specificity to God's instructions where he has been general. Division occurs when these brethren force their twisted interpretations (opinions) upon others as though they were matters of faith and fellowship. Let us be very careful to listen to God's voice in Scripture. May we all strive to handle God's word correctly (2 Tim. 2:15) and determine where He has been specific and where he has left methods up to our own judgments.
5 comments:
Another great post!! Your thoughts on slogans becoming creeds is dead-on. What about the example of music? Where do you think that falls? Was God specific there??
Anonymous, I am convinced that God has been specific about the type of musical praise that he desires. There are many different types within the category of music (instrumental, vocal, vocal-accompanied by instrument, etc.). But God was specific when he gave instructions about what type of music he desires as praise under the new covenant of Christ. The Greek word psallo used in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 is a specific word chosen by the Holy Spirit that (during the time of the New Testament) had come to mean singing exclusively (see M.C. Kurfees extensive treatement: Instrumental Music in the Worship or the Greek Verb Psallo). Prior to the time of the New Testament, the word had meant to sing while playing the instrument. But the word had transitioned in meaning by the time of the first century to mean simply vocal singing. With no other evidence in the New Testament that singing was done accompanied by instruments, I am left to conclude that God has been specific about the type of music that he desires as worship. We can be confident that exclusively singing without instrumental accompaniment is approved by God. Adding support to this conclusion is the fact that congregations did not even begin to use instruments until about 1,000 A.D. Prior to that time, every mention of instrumental music in worship by the post-apostolic fathers is opposed to its usage.
Your wisdom of Gods word is a great example of (a man after Gods own heart). Keep speaking of The Way. Do you think God was specific about a certain dress code? Curious about your thoughts.
I have heard all the good reasoning about "wearing your best" to church. But the question is, "what is your best?" I have a pair of blue jeans that were more expensive that any pair of dress slacks in my closet. The idea that you must wear a suit and tie (or Sunday dress) to church is clearly a cultural thing. I find it interesting that the only instruction about a "dress code" in church in the Bible tells Christians not to wear the things that most people now wear to Sunday worship (jewelry, fine clothes, braided hair, etc) (see James 2:1-4; 1 Timothy 2:9-10). These things put the attention upon us rather than God. Also, I believe that "wearing a Sunday uniform" has caused us to tend to compartmentalize our faith into being a behavior of "putting on your Sunday best" only to "put on your Friday night worst all week long." Christians must dress modestly and discretely all the time no matter where they are. But wearing suits and ties always for worship leaves a feeling of fakeness about our faith in the minds of many today. We should keep our faith real and our clothing modest and leave it at that.
Good stuff, my friend.
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