(More Bible Studies Available @ www.marktabata.com)
To Receive These (And Other) Free Bible Studies And Updates Via Email, Contact Mark Tabata @ 606-216-1757 (Text Message) Or hazardhomecoc@gmail.com (Email)
Colossians 3:17-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.
Years ago, before I started preaching, I worked for a sandwich company in Charleston, WV. I remember a day that a denominational preacher came in and we had a Bible study while I was making his Blimpie Best.
Josh (not his real name): I’ll never understand you church of Christers.
(Now let’s be clear: I’m not a “church of Christer.” I’m a Christian and a member of Christ’s church).
Mark: What do you mean?
Josh: You won’t even use a piano in your church services!
Mark: Have you ever asked one of us why not?
Josh: No, why don’t you?
Mark: Well, it’s because we don’t have any authority for their use in the worship assembly according to the apostolic teaching in the New Testament Scriptures.
Josh: (Pointing his finger over the glass partition at me): You show me the verse that says, “Don’t use a piano in church service,” and I won’t use one!
Mark: Okay. What would you like on your sandwich?
Josh: Lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and onion.
(I put on lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, onion, pickles, banana peppers, sweet peppers, jalapeño peppers, regular mustard, spicy mustard, and I think I also added oil and vinegar).
Josh: (Looking astonished): What are you doing?! I said lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and onion!
Mark: But you didn’t tell me NOT to put on those other things, now did you?
Josh ended up getting two free sandwiches that day, and I almost lost my job.
But it was worth it because it gave Josh opportunity to ponder a very simple but often neglected principle that relates to the study of God’s Word:
Bible Silence Prohibits.
If the Bible is silent about a teaching or practice,, is that teaching or practice therefore permissible?
Stated another way: if the Bible does not specifically condemn a teaching or practice, is that teaching or practice thereby allowed by God?
Many would answer “yes,” so long as such does not contradict a specific prohibition in Scripture.
So (for example), many argue that because the New Testament does not say, “Don’t use instrumental music in public worship,” it is okay for us to add that in, even though the New Testament does not specifically authorize the use of such in the public worship assembly.
How should we approach issues like this?
Is Bible Silence Permissive Or Prohibitive?
Let’s study.
First, the principle of authority drawn from every day life teaches us clearly that silence is prohibitive.
When a man goes to a public restroom, he sees a sign on the door that has either a picture of a man or a woman. He uses the door that applies to him as indicated by the sign. Now, there aren’t glowing letters on the men’s room door that say, “NO WOMEN ALLOWED!!” However, he clearly understands from the sign on the door that men are authorized to use those facilities, but women aren’t authorized to go into the men’s room (and so aren’t authorized to use them).
Silence prohibits.
Consider another example.
When the doctor writes you a prescription, does the pharmacist fill only the medicine that he is authorized to? Or does the doctor believe he has the right to also give you every other medication in the pharmacy? Obviously, the pharmacist understands to give you the medicine that he is authorized to provide! The specific authorization for what he is allowed to give you, coupled with the lack of authority for other medications, provides another clear indicator of this principle:
Silence prohibits.
This obvious, recognized, and well used principle should not be accepted in every day life, and then discarded when it comes to the Bible!
(Just ask Josh).
Second, there are numerous examples of this principle being used throughout the Bible. One we will notice here is from the Old Testament and dealt with the transportation of the Ark of the Covenant.
Deuteronomy 10:8-At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day.
Please notice that the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to move the Ark. There is not a passage that specifically forbids every other tribe from moving the Ark!
How did the Jewish people understand this?
Did they believe that because God had not specifically forbidden every other tribe from moving the Ark, that those tribes could then move the Ark with Divine approval?
Or did they understand that God specifying the Levites to move the Ark, and being silent about the other tribes moving it, forbad the others from doing so? We don’t have to look far for the answer.
1 Chronicles 15:2-Then David said, “No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.”
King David understood that God specifically authorizing the Levites to move the Ark, coupled with a lack of authority for the other tribes to do so, meant that those other tribes were indeed forbidden to carry the Ark of the Covenant.
Bible silence is prohibitive, not permissive.
This is why we must have the authority of God for the things that we teach and practice in the worship assembly and as the body of Christ (Colossians 3:16-17). Ignoring this principle is one of the many things that resulted in the Great Apostasy and the formation of the man of sin (the pope) that Paul warned us about (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12).
As God’s people, may we always do our best to honor and respect what His Word says.
And may we also strive to respect the silence of His Word as well.
Lord, give us wisdom as we go forward in this life. Please walk with us every step of the way. Amen.