Truth Magazine

By Wayne S. Walker

In a previous article we began a discussion about how the Bible says we should act when it is silent on a particular subject. The article had nothing new to say. These things have been proclaimed by faithful gospel preachers and believed by faithful Christians for years. However, they need to be brought to our remembrance from time to time, especially in view of more recent controversies regarding the subject. We began that study with Hebrews 7:14. “For it, is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.” God had specified that priests under the Old Testament were to be of the tribe of Levi. The law of Moses was silent concerning approval of priests from any other tribe. Consequently, even Jesus himself could not have been a priest on earth since he was of the tribe of Judah. The author’s argument in context is that for him to become our High Priest there had to be a change of the law.

Application of this principle was made to some problems that have arisen among brethren over the years. We saw that while the Bible does not specifically mention certain methods of assembling, singing, and giving, it is not silent about the doing of these things themselves. Therefore, we do have authority to use any expedient methods of doing them which do not change the nature of the command or violate any other teachings of God’s word. On the other hand, God is not silent regarding the kind of music he wants us to use in praising him. He specified singing. Any expedient way to help us sing falls within the general authority to do so. But anything that would add another kind of music or change the nature of the command is indeed a matter of Bible silence and silence does not give consent according to Hebrews 7. In this article we want to make further application of this principle to some other problems that have bothered members of the church.

Generic Authority

An argument is often made that there are some churches of Christ who believe that the Scriptures are silent on having divided Bible classes in the church building and on using individual communion cups. Since we go ahead and practice these things on which, presumably, the Bible is silent, why can we not also have instrumental music or other such things on which the Bible is also silent? Again, equivocation is the basis for this argument as well, and the problem is the result of a misunderstanding of generic authority (see chart).

What God Said:	This Includes:	Silence:
Teach Christ’s Commands (Matt. 28:18-20)	Bible Classes   Literature	Teaching Human   Doctrine
Drink the Cup   (1 Cor. 11:23-26)	Individual   Containers	Water   Cola

The Bible says to teach Christ’s commands (Matt. 28:18-20). It nowhere specifies a particular place or arrangement. Some would affirm that the only arrangement authorized is when the whole church is come together in one place. However, this is merely assumed and cannot be proven from Scripture. The use of graded Bible classes with literature expedites the generic command to teach Christ’s commands. Of course, teaching human doctrines instead of or in addition to Christ’s doctrine changes the command and thus cannot expedite it. The Scriptures are silent in telling us to do this and, in fact, forbid our doing so.

The Bible tells us to drink the cup (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Obviously we do not drink the literal vessel, so “the cup” must stand for the contents which we do drink rather than the container itself. Nowhere is there a specific statement as to the number of containers. Individual communion cups are expedients to following a generic command. We are still doing nothing but drinking “the cup,” regardless of how many containers we use. But using water or cola changes the command. These are not expedients and the Scriptures are silent on them. And when God says nothing, we are not at liberty to act.

So the Bible, in reality, is not “silent” regarding Bible classes and individual communion cups. While they are not mentioned specifically, they are included in generic authority and are thus permissible. They neither change the command nor add to it but are merely expedients to carrying it out. This cannot be said for instrumental music, teaching human doctrines, and using water or cola in the Lord’s supper. Thus they are wrong.

Specific Authority

However, through the years, some brethren have tried to bring other practices into the church by claiming that they are simply expedients, like the Bible classes and individual containers. In fact, there are those who have tried to establish a fourth method of determining authority. In addition to divine commands, approved apostolic examples, and necessary inferences, they have said that we can use the “law of expediency.” If it is expedient, it is authorized. I believe that it was Henry Ward Beecher, a denominational preacher, who used this same kind of argument to justify infant baptism. However, for a practice to be expedient in carrying out God’s commands, it must first be lawful itself and the thing it is supposed to do must be lawful. To put it plainly, there must be direct command, approved example, or necessary inference to authorize it. And in the area of specific authority, we must limit ourselves (see chart below).

What God Said:	This Specified:	Silence:
Mission of the Church	Spiritual in Nature (Rom. 14:17)	Recreation; Entertainment
Preaching the Gospel	Church is Pillar of Truth (1 Tim. 3:15)	Missionary Society
Benevolence	Church Helps Needy Saints   (Acts 6:1-6)	Benevolent Organization;   General Benevolence
Edification	Church Instructs Members   (Eph. 4:12)	Colleges

With regard to the mission of the church God has spoken. And he has specified that the church’s mission is to be spiritual. “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). The church may do whatever is necessary in accomplishing this mission. However, God is silent regarding the inclusion of recreation and entertainment in the mission of the church. There are many fine human organizations which are able to provide for these physical needs of mankind, but God established his church or kingdom to meet men’s spiritual needs. Recreation and entertainment are not expedients to induce people to come to church services or teach them the gospel because they are not spiritual in their nature.

Concerning one aspect of the church’s mission, preaching the gospel, God has again spoken. He specified that the church is to be the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15). The church is the only institution specifically designed by God to do this. (This statement is not intended to deny the right of individual Christians, whether singly or together, to fulfil their personal responsibilities in proclaiming the truth.) Any expedients which would enable the church to carry out this work would be within the realm of that which is lawful. However, the Bible is silent about a union of congregations in a missionary society which then does the work. The missionary society is not an expedient way to preach because it is not the church acting as God ordained it.

In reference to the work of benevolence, God has specified that the church is to help needy saints. We have one example of this in Acts 6:1-6. This is what God has spoken. But there is an area of silence. God has not spoken about church sponsored benevolent homes taking care of needy saints, nor has he spoken about churches helping the poor nonChristians with their physical needs. You can read the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation and you will not find one shred of precedent for benevolent institutions supported by churches for the general benevolence by churches. These are not expedient ways of carrying out the work of benevolence because they are not doing what God specified.

There is another area of the church’s work – edification. As to this work, God has spoken and he has specified that the church is to instruct its members. Ephesians 4:11-12 says that God gave certain gifts to the church – apostles and prophets to reveal the word, and evangelists, pastors, and teachers to proclaim the word, “for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ” (ASV). Ephesians 4:16 goes on to say, “From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes the growth of the body [church, WSW] for the edifying of itself in love.” God is silent about a church or churches setting up an independent organization, such as a Sunday School Society or a “Christian” college, to provide edification for its members. (This statement is not intended to deny the right of individual Christians to establish a school, separate and apart from the church, as a business enterprise to teach both secular and religious subjects.) Therefore, such church-supported entities are not expedient means to edification because they are not the church acting as God intended, since God specified that the church is to edify itself.

The fact is, when God has given specific authority for what he wants done, whom he wants to do it, and how he wants it done, we have no right to generalize that something else will do and then call it an expedient. This principle holds true whether one is considering the mission, work, worship, organization, message, or behavior of the church. When God says to do something, we must do what he says. We may use whatever expedients are necessary to accomplish it. However, when God says nothing, we have no right to act. God said nothing about priests from any tribe other than Levi. Using men from Judah, Benjamin, etc., to serve at the altar would not have been an expedient method of offering sacrifices because it was different from what God specified.

Our Authority

How, then, can we solve the problem of what to do when God says nothing? First, we must realize that God has spoken to us and that the Scriptures are a complete revelation of everything that God wants us to know. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). If it is a good work, so far as God is concerned, he has authorized it in the Scriptures. If it cannot be found in the Scriptures, then it is not a good work in God’s sight.

This is the only conclusion possible if we accept the Bible as God’s final word.

Therefore, we must understand that what God wants us to do has already been bound and loosed in heaven. “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. It will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:17-18, NASB). The same promise made here specifically to Peter is also made to the other apostles in Matthew 18:18. When the apostles preached God’s word, they did not speak off the top of their heads. They proclaimed what God had previously bound and loosed in heaven. Thus, we have no right to bind or loose anything other than what God has plainly revealed in his word through the holy apostles and prophets.

And, finally, we must remember that the curse of God rests upon all who would add to, subtract from, or change his will in any way. “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18-19; cf. Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:5-6). Those who sought to add priests from other tribes when God said nothing about them had to face his wrath. And those today who add things to God’s word, such as instrumental music, when God has said nothing, will have to answer for violating this passage. I would not want to be in their shoes at judgment for anything in the world.

Conclusion

Very simply, when God says something, we must do i We must have the attitude expressed by young Samuel “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears” (1 Sam. 3:9). But when God says nothing, we had better do nothing with regard to that particular subject. This principle can also be illustrated from Acts 15:24. In the discussion over whether the Gentiles must be circumcised, the apostles and the elders of Jerusalem said, “We have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law’ -to whom we gave no such commandment.” Now, the apostles and elders had not said, “You must not go and preach that the Gentiles must be circumcised.” They simply gave no commandment to do it.

Did the fact that the apostles had given no such commandment, that they were silent on this matter, that they had not said, “Thou shalt not preach circumcision,” give these false teachers the right to proclaim their doctrine? Certainly not! And when we cannot find authority in God’s word for a belief, a teaching, or a practice, we have no right to accept it as true and we had best leave it alone. When God says nothing, we have no right to presume upon his silence and we have no liberty to act. May those who truly want to be his people here upon the earth and desire to go to be with him in heaven when this life is over learn this lesson well.

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 15, pp. 456-458
August 3, 1989

By William C. Sexton

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed (Gal. 1:8).

Paul stated a principle in the above verse to the Galatians which all of us need to be aware of and apply in our lives, always. Even a great apostle as Paul, should he declare something other than the primitive, revealed gospel, has a curse on him and should not be accepted. Even an angel can’t change the gospel without being “eternally condemned” (NIV).

Don’t follow “great men,” people who have gained great respect from us, to accept views that are not scriptural. Paul’s point is this: Don’t allow anyone to persuade you to accept something that has not been revealed in the original gospel message!

This constitutes a great danger for us. We are not likely to follow people we don’t respect. When people whom we have come to respect and think of as being “great” teachers speak, we listen! They have a great deal more influence on us than others, so we should be careful. Men of repute have been the cause of many people turning down a road of departure from the revealed will of God.

Peter turned aside to practice something that was contrary to the original gospel, and Paul was obligated to withstand him to his face, because he was to be blamed (Gal. 2:11). Peter’s action caused one of lessor repute (Barnabas) to “be carried away” with this “dissimulation. ” Paul was faithful in his duty; he called on Peter to repent of his sinful behavior, showing how sinful his action was and the consequences of his inconsistency. Galatians 2:17 says, “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.”

With equal zeal and determination, we, too, should act as Paul did. “Great men,” are still just men, having no right to teach anything other than what God’s holy men moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:20-21) have taught.

It is my observation that men who seem to be “somewhat” (Gal. 2:6 “God [really] accepteth no man’s person”) have been able in most of the departures to lead men away and get them involved in things they would otherwise not have gotten into.

All of us have been helped by other men and women who have studied the Bible and gained a reputation for their knowledge and dedication to Christ. However, we must always be able to listen and reason, accepting only that which we can see as being the real teachings of the Holy Scriptures.

We need not stop listening to or seeking the sound teachings and wisdom of men and women who over the years have shown their dedication to the Lord. May we ever be a bit skeptical, however, and not be willing to accept anything they say if it is not based solidly upon holy writ.

The time comes in each of our lives when we need to question another’s views on things that he is teaching, regardless of his experience, devotion, and reputation.

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 14, p. 431
July 20, 1989

By Dennis Abernathy

In Acts 10, 11:1-18 and 15:6-14 is found the account of the conversion of Cornelius and his house. From these verses you will find that Cornelius was a devout man (a man of deep religious feelings). He was a man who feared God and gave generously to those in need. He prayed to God regularly, and was respected by all the Jewish people.

At first glance, it might appear strange that such a man should stand in need of conversion, but I am convinced that there are people yet today who are like Cornelius. Perhaps you are reading this short article, while entertaining the thought that your prospects for eternity are good. You are honest in your business, honorable in your association with men, a good husband or wife, generous to your neighbors, and benevolent to the poor. You may even attend worship services quite regularly. You may be thinking: “What have I to fear at the hands of a just and merciful God?”

But listen! Cornelius was a good man. His friends referred to him as a “righteous and God-fearing man, respected by all the Jews.” But the question remains, did he need to obey God? Was he in need of salvation? Yes indeed! How can we know this? Read further.

In Acts 10:6, Cornelius is told to send for Peter and “he will tell you what you must do.” Do for what? Acts 11:14 says: “who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.” Cornelius understood this and was anxious to listen to Peter, so he sent for him immediately. When Peter arrived at his house, Cornelius said: “Now, therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God” (10:33). Verse 34, says, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said. . . ” What did Peter tell this good and devout man?

He began by stating that God was not a respecter of persons, “but in every nation whoever fears him and works righteousness is accepted by him” (10:34-35). He then told of Jesus’ personal ministry, of his death, burial, and resurrection and how his resurrection was verified by witnesses (10:36-41). Peter then said, in verses 42-43: “And he commanded us to preach to the people . . . that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Peter continued in verse 47: “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized?. . . And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” In Acts 15:7, we read: “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” He states further in verse 9: “And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” After hearing Peter rehearse his preaching to the Gentiles, the circumcision concluded, “Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18).

Let us now sum up what we have discovered thus far. (1) Jesus of Nazereth was preached (his personal ministry, his death, burial and resurrection). (2) Also preached, was faith, repentance and baptism. (3) Those who reacted to this teaching (i.e., believed or obeyed) received remission of sins (life) and had their hearts purified.

I now call your attention to Luke 24:46-47. “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” In the second chapter of Acts we find devout men from every nation under heaven dwelling in Jerusalem. The gospel is preached. Peter is the preacher on this occasion also. When asked what they must do in order to be saved, Peter responded: “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:5,38). Thus, repentance and remission of sins was preached in the name of Jesus, to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. The Jews who heard, believed, repented and were baptized received the remission of sins. At the house of Cornelius, the Gentiles who heard, believed, repented and were baptized received the remission of sins. The same preacher preached the same message to both Jew and Gentile and when they obeyed that message they received the same blessing -the remission of sins!

Dear reader, are you a devout, deeply religious person who fears God? Have you done what those in Acts 2 did? Have you done what Cornelius and his house did? Have you obeyed the Lord’s commands (Acts 10:33; Lk. 24:46-47; Acts 10:43,47; Acts 2:38)? Do you need to obey God?

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 14, p. 429
July 20, 1989

By Charles C. Andrews

It was the week of Thanksgiving, 1974; my wife, Patti, and I were in the midst of our second Nebraska winter. For a Florida native the “thrill” of seeing snow was short-lived. We had only been married and away from the “Sunshine State” for 18 months, and we were suffering from a terrible case of homesickness. To make matters worse, my immediate supervisor, Sgt. Umholtz, had just informed me on the day before Thanksgiving, that I would probably spend the rest of my four year Air Force enlistment right where I stood at that moment, on the flight line at SAC HQ, Omaha, Nebraska. I was desperate to leave Nebraska!

The following Monday, I made my way (through three feet of snow), to the Consolidated Base Personnel Office where I filled out a new “dream sheet” (really a request for a permanent change of location, but since you rarely went where you wanted too it was truly a “dream”). My request was simple, “World-wide, any tour length.” What I was telling the Air Force was, “Hey guys, I’ll go anywhere you want me to go, for any length of time, just get me out of here! ” And, to my astonishment, the Air Force took me seriously (be careful what you ask for, you may get it, is the moral of that story). In less than two months I had orders to Incirlik Air Base, in Adana, Turkey, a city of 300,000 people, some 15 miles east of Paul’s old stomping grounds, Tarsus.

In May of ’75, 1 left the U.S., and in less than a day I was 10,000 miles away, standing on Turkish soil. In July Patti joined me there, and thus began our year-long pilgrimage together in a foreign land.

The Air Force told us that as strangers among the Turkish people certain things were expected from us, and others were not. We were required, for example, to obey Turkish laws and submit to Turkish authorities. Unlike diplomats, who have immunity, if we were involved in a traffic accident then we would be subject to the Turkish version of traffic court. And I can guarantee you that Judge Wapner does not preside over Turkish courts!

On the other hand, we were not expected to learn the language, even though it was helpful to do so, nor were we required to adopt the customs of the Turks, After all, we were strangers!

While we were in Turkey, we spent countless ” hours talking about home. Remembering, missing and longing for the good old U.S.A. Even a “Big Mac” sounded good after being deprived for a year. We marked the days off on a calendar, and very few military personnel could not tell you, to the day, how much time they had left before they get to go “home!” Finally, our day came. It was in August of 76, a day we will long remember and cherish!

Christians are to view their life on this earth in much the same way. We are pilgrims in a very real sense. Peter said in 1 Peter 2:11, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” W.E. Vine tells us that a pilgrim is one who is “sojourning in a strange place, away from one’s own people . . . used . . . of those to whom Heaven is their own country, and who are sojourners on earth” (An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. W.E. Vine, p. 183).

We sing in the song that this world is not our home. We also sing that we are just straying pilgrims. Is this true? Why does Peter call us such? Because we are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people” (1 Pet. 2:9). But siniply, we belong to God now, no longer to the world. We have been adopted into the family of God (Rom. 8:14,15) as God’s sons (Eph. 1:5). Through our obedience to the gospel of Christ we are not only saved from our past sins, we also change addresses (1 Pet. 1:17-25). That means that, although we live on this earth, we are not really at home here.

Therefore, as pilgrims and strangers certain things are expected of us, and others things are not expected. We live in the world, but we are not to be of the world (1 Cor. 5:10). We are to submit to the laws of the land and obey those who rule over us (1 Pet. 2:11-17), but we are not to love the world (1 Jn. 2:15-17), conform to the world’s standards (Rom. 12:2), or set our minds on the things of the world (Col. 3:2). We can’t even be friends with the world without becoming the enemy of God (Jas. 4:4). Consequently, we should not learn the language, wear the fashions, adopt the standards of behavior, nor accept the customs of those around us. After all, we’re strangers here.

As pilgrims and sojourners we are here for a very short amount of time. Our thoughts, speech, behavior and hearts should be set on the things above, in our heavenly home, where our Father is.

We must avoid becoming so enthralled with the foreign land that we don’t want to leave it. While we were in Turkey we made friends with a sergeant who had married a local Turkish girl. Even though he was an American, he had already extended his initial stay there some 10 years, and he was planning to retire and live out the rest of his life in a foreign land. He even thought about giving up his American citizenship and becoming a Turk! How sad it is when a saint turns his back on the one who died for him, on the one who sent his Son to die, to give up his heavenly citizenship and return to live in the world.

Patti and I enjoyed (?) our stay in Turkey, but we cheered when the plan touched down on the runway at J.F.K. Airport. We were finally home, back to the place we longed for such a time. Shouldn’t we all feel this way toward heaven, our real home?

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 14, p. 430
July 20, 1989