MAN’S NEED FOR BIBLE AUTHORITY – No.4
So far, in this series, we have discussed several false standards used by religious people to justify their religious practices. The first one studied was “I do it because I like it.” Such a person thinks his feelings are more important than what God has authorized in His word. They act as if religion was a personal choice depending on what a person likes or dislikes.
The next false standard studied was “If my conscience doesn’t condemn me, it will be alright.” It was pointed out that a person’s conscience is a creature of education and if one is taught wrong, they will do wrong if they do not learn better. One can be honest and be mistaken, but once the mistake has been pointed out one can no longer claim to be honest and continue to practice that which is wrong.
In the last issue the false standard studied was “The majority does it, this makes it right.” Regardless of how many people do a wrong thing, if it is wrong to start with, it is still wrong to do it. Two wrongs will not make it right. A majority doing a thing does not mean God approves of it, not does it establish Bible authority.
There are several other false standards used by men, that could be studied, but I want to examine one more in this series before writing about how we know what is authorized and what is not. This one is entitled “GOD DIDN’T SAY NOT TO, SO IT MUST BE ALRIGHT.” This is probably one of the most dangerous and insufficient false standards ever used by men to justify their religious practices. Why? It encroaches upon God’s right to speak and command. When God is silent do we have the right to presume to speak for Him? When people are asked “Why are you doing “such and such,” they often reply, “Why can’t we do it? What is wrong with it?” “Where does the Bible say not to do it? The Bible doesn’t forbid it.” This false standard has been used to justify such things as synods and councils, mechanical music, rosaries, Christmas and Easter, burning candles, sprinkling babies, fellowship halls, family life centers, gymnasiums, sponsoring churches, and a host of other things. None of these things are forbidden by name in the Bible, neither are they authorized as we shall see later.
The above questions are the wrong questions to ask. The proper questions should be, “Where is it permitted in the scripture?” “Where has God authorized doing it?” Does the silence of God give us liberty to act? What is the meaning of His silence? Does it permit, or does it prohibit? In everyday life people have no problem understanding silence does not give consent to do a thing,so why not in religious matters? Silence authorizes nothing.
Experience teaches us that silence does not give consent. How many spankings did we receive as a child before we learned that silence does not give permission? Do you ever remember saying, “But mama you didn’t say I couldn’t do it.” How many times is a policeman permitted to enter a person’s home without a warrant?” Could he argue, “They didn’t tell me I couldn’t do it.” What if you order a tent from a mail order catalog? But, along with the order they decide to send you a lantern and a sleeping bag, and a bill, expecting you to pay for them. Would they be justified in trying to collect, saying, “But you didn’t tell us you didn’t want them also.” I believe you know the answers.
People saying, “God didn’t say we can’t do it,” reminds me of an incident in one of the Snoopy cartoons in the newspaper. Snoopy tells Charlie Brown, “I’m going to play in the Master’s golf tournament.” Charlie replies, “I thought you could only play in the Master’s if you were invited.” Snoopy answers, “That’s true, but on the other hand, they didn’t tell me not to come.”
What does it mean when God is silent? God lets us know early on in His word that when He quits speaking man must not presume to speak for Him. Think with me. How can we know what God wants? By knowing His mind. How can we know the mind of God? Only as He reveals Himself to us in His word 1.Cor.2:9-13. All we know about God’s will has been revealed. We know we please Him when we read in His word what pleases Him. We are approved of Him when we “rightly divide” or “handle aright” His word of truth 2.Tim.2:15. If this is true, and it is, then what makes us think we can know the mind of God and do something about which He has not spoken? Read again Matt.7:21-23. The people in v.22 were doing religious things for God that He had not authorized. I feel sure they were sincere in what they did, but what did God think about it? In v.23 they are condemned because they acted without authorization. They acted on the silence of God.
The silence of God does not authorize anything, regardless of what people think. If you could talk to Nadab and Abihu today they would tell you that when God has not spoken you better not presume to think for Him. When they brought strange fire (fire about which God had not spoken) to His altar Lev.10:1-4 they were burned to death because of it. I can just hear them saying, “But God, you didn’t say not to use this fire.” They learned better. Why can’t men do so today.
In Acts 15, the decision was made stopping Judaizing teachers from binding circumcism on the Gentiles. A letter was written to the various congregations informing them of this decision. In the letter they wrote, “Since 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 …” v.24. Note the phrase “to whom we gave no such commandment” Inspiration teaches that silence did not give consent. No commandment, no authority to speak. Silence prohibits, it does not permit. Other examples could be given teaching us that we must not act where God has not spoken. But I will close asking you to read 1.Cor.4:6; 1.Pet.4:11; 2.Jn.9.
(to be continued)
By Thomas Thornhill via THE BUCKHORN TEACHER Vol.6 September 23, 2007 No.9
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