Study of Authority, Part IV

Study of Authority 4 What should be our attitude concerning things the Scriptures are silent about? Want to consider today what our Attitude should be on “The Silence of the Scriptures”

Silence of the Scriptures Two attitudes toward the Silence of the Scriptures: – Where the Bible is silent, where God has not spoken, we are at liberty to act as we think best. Thus silence gives freedom to act. – Where the Bible is silent, we must be silent. We can do only those things which the Lord has authorized.

Attitudes in the Reformation These two attitudes were prevalent during the Reformation Movement:

Attitudes in the Reformation Martin Luther, the great German reformer, felt that we are at liberty to do anything not expressly forbidden in Scripture. He would remove from church services only those things the Bible condemns

Attitudes in the Reformation Huldreich Zwingli, the great Swiss reformer, felt that only that which is expressly authorized should be taught and practiced

Attitudes in the Reformation Zwingli: – Broke with Catholic church in 1520 – 1523 held a series of debates – Set forth idea of Justification by Faith

Attitudes in the Reformation Zwingli: – The Lord’s Supper became a memorial. Doctrine of transubstantiation was completely repudiated – His view of the Scripture would allow in church services only what the Bible approved – 1525 set forth his views in a treatise “A Commentary on the True and False Religions”

Attitudes in the Reformation Luther and Zwingli’s debate over the Lord’s Supper at Marburg, 1529: – Luther insisted the actual body and blood of Christ were present in the elements – Zwingli contended that the bread and the wine were “representative” of the body and blood but they were not actually present

Attitudes in the Restoration Movement Walter Scott – “We speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent.” – Those who held with this claim felt that we can only do that which God has authorized. – Some later misinterpreted this expression and began to teach “Where the Bible is silent we have liberty, freedom to act.”

Attitudes in the Restoration Movement Walter Scott came up with the Five Steps to Salvation by careful study of the conversions in the book of Acts. – 1827 persuaded by Campbell to attend the annual meeting of the Mahoning Baptist Association in New Lisbon, OH. – Chosen to be a traveling evangelist for the Western Reserve of Ohio

Attitudes in the Restoration Movement Saw he couldn’t imitate the procedure of denominational evangelists: – Mourners bench in common use – Calvinism had produced a feeling of helplessness – A sinner was told he had to plead with God in prayer to save him – Knew was not enough

Attitudes in the Restoration Movement Made a careful analysis of each case of conversion For the first time saw clearly there were logical “steps” involved in each sinner’s conversion – Hearing the word, faith, repentance, confession and baptism were necessary to receiving remission of sins. – This he called “The Gospel Restored” – Tremendous responses were gained, baptized a thousand people in first year

Attitudes in the Division of 19 th Century These attitudes were involved in the division of the 19 th and 20 th centuries – Those who adopted the view “Where the Bible is silent we have liberty thus freedom to act as we think best” became known as The Christian Church Or Disciples of Christ – This doctrine is why they accepted the Missionary Society, mechanical instruments, even though neither is authorized in the NT

Attitudes in the Division of 19 th Century These churches later added: – State-wide organizations – Choirs – Fellowship halls – Chicken dinners – Women preachers – All on grounds the Bible doesn’t say not to

Attitudes in the Division of 19 th Century Churches of Christ continued to believe “Where the Bible is silent, we are silent.” – They rejected both the societies and instrumental music on grounds they are not authorized in the Word of God

Same attitudes Today These two views are evident again today – Even some churches of Christ have those who believe “We do many things for which we have no authority.”

Same attitudes Today They feel the silence of the Scriptures permits them to do these things – Church suppers, social affairs, church supported recreation, brotherhood-wide projects, sponsoring churches – Missionary societies (without calling them that) – Benevolent Societies, home for unwed mothers, youth camps…etc. etc. etc

Same attitudes Today Still other churches of Christ stick to the idea “Where the Bible is silent, we are silent” believing there must be authority from God before we can teach and practice a thing

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? God has revealed himself to man – All that we know about the will of God is what He reveals 1 Cor (Read) [next slide]

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? (1 Cor 2:9-13 NKJV) But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." {10} But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. {11} For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. {12} Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. {13} These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? God has revealed himself to man – All that we know about the will of God is what He reveals We cannot know the mind of God by His silence, thus silence authorizes nothing We cannot know whether God will be pleased with anything unless He has revealed His will on that thing Some examples…

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? We know God is pleased when we worship Him in spirit and in truth, because He has said so. – John “"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. – 24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? We know what God wants the church to do: – Preach the word, edify the saints, and take care of her needy… Ephesians [read, next slide]

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? (Eph 4:8-12 NKJV) Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." {9} (Now this, "He ascended"; what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? {10} He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) {11} And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, {12} for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? We DO NOT KNOW if God is pleased when the church provides entertainment and recreation, because He has not revealed this to us. – It is presumptuous to assume that God is pleased when the church sponsors entertainment just because THE ENTERTAINED ARE PLEASED!

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? Example of Silence of the Scriptures: – Hebrews “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.” Moses said nothing about priests coming from Judah Should we conclude from this, that because God was silent on this matter, that priests from the tribe of Judah would have been acceptable under the Law of Moses? If so, Jesus could have been a priest on earth, since He was from that tribe

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? (Heb 8:4 NKJV) For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law.” – Therefore when God mentioned Levi and not the other tribes they were prohibited from being priests

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? Silence DOES NOT give consent Silence PROHIBITS

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? We are not to think of men above what is written: – (1 Cor 4:6 NKJV) Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? We are to act only in accordance with what is written: – 2 Peter 1.3 – 2 Tim

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? We must act only with the authority of Christ behind what we do: – Col Where the Scriptures stop, our action and teaching must stop

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? Some things taught and practiced under the guise of Silence of the Scriptures: – Burning of incense in worship – Sprinkling for baptism – Romans – Instrumental Music when singing is specified – Eph. 5.19; Col. 3.16

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? Some things taught and practiced under the guise of Silence of the Scriptures: – Missionary Societies, Benevolent Societies, human institutions, organizations other than the local church to do the work of the church (orphan’s homes, old folks homes, etc.)

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? The Lord specified the organization of the local church: – Acts “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” – Phil. 1.1 “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? Romans “…The churches of Christ greet you.” – Individual congregations, not a universal institution

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? The Lord specified the organization of the local church: – He is silent about human institutions, just as He was about priests coming from the tribe of Judah – His SILENCE DOES NOT AUTHORIZE THEM

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? Some things taught and practiced under the guise of Silence of the Scriptures: – Extended oversight of the Elders of a local church

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? God restricted the works of elders to the flock which was among them – 1 Pet. 5.2 “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers…” – Acts “"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

Does Silence of the Scriptures Authorize Anything? God restricted the works of elders to the flock which was among them – Scripture is silent about elders overseeing more than one church, or any of the work of another church, any treasury beyond their own. – Silence DOES NOT justify any of these innovations of men

Conclusion We must respect what God has said, but we must also respect what He HAS NOT SAID Our attitude toward the silence of the Scriptures is critical to our salvation