Does Silence Give Sanction?

It is a matter of verbal conjecture on the part of many that God’s silence on a subject of human preference makes such allowable. Such is advocated by those who presume to use mechanical instruments in New Testament worship. It is assumed that since there is no declared prohibition against it such is then allowed. It seems the battles of the past fought in this same arena must again occur. The same questions need to be asked again. The same simple lessons must be learned again.

WASN’T GOD SILENT ABOUT ALL OTHER WOOD EXCEPT GOPHER IN BUILDING THE ARK?

Such seems to be a foolish question to those who read Genesis 6:14. In fact, as you read this verse, and others related to the ark, you would affirm the silence of God on all other kinds of wood to be used in the ark. This would be a good place to show His silence.

Would you at the same time argue that His silence would give sanction to the use of any other kind of wood? Would you even care to assume that His silence gave sanction to the use of such? In fact, wouldn’t you oppose the use of any other kind of wood? If you did, on what basis would you oppose it?

Would you argue that His silence does not sanction it and that you would have to have His Word to authorize the use of any other kinds of wood? Shouldn’t it follow then that the silence of the New Testament does not authorize the use of mechanical instruments in New Testament worship?

WASN’T GOD SILENT ABOUT THE KIND OFFIRE USED BY NADAB AND ABIHU?

“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon and offered strange fire before the Lord which he commanded them not” (Leviticus 10:1).

What did they do? They did something God had not commanded. They used a kind of fire about which God was silent. Did His silence give sanction to what they did? If such were sanctioned, why were they punished for such?

Would God by His silence sanction a practice, and then punish those for doing what He sanctioned? You and I know better. We wouldn’t dare argue that His silence gave sanction to what they did, but we do have to admit that God was indeed silent about the kind of fire they did use.

WASN’T GOD SILENT ABOUT THE NEED OF GENTILES TO BE CIRCUMCISED TO BE SAVED UNDER THE GOSPEL?

Do you remember those who went from Jerusalem to Antioch saying such was the case (Acts 15:1-2)? Do you recall that the apostles and elders met in Jerusalem about this question? Do you remember that they sent an epistle back to Antioch and other places saying, “We gave no such commandment” (Acts 15:24)?

They were silent concerning the necessity for Gentiles to be circumcised. To add such to God’s requirement for salvation was equal to the invasion of God’s silence. This would constitute an addition and perversion. For men to add the mechanical instrument to New Testament worship is no less an invasion of God’s silence.

WASN’T GOD SILENT ABOUT WASHING HANDS BEFORE EATING?

Some would add such and seek to have the Lord endorse it, bid to no avail (Matthew 15:1-9). Jesus showed such to be nothing more than a human tradition. It has its origin with men and not with God. God was silent concerning such, and Jesus did not accept that as authorization to bind such on His disciples.

WASN’T GOD SILENT CONCERNING ONE SERVING AS A PRIEST UNDER THE LAW FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH?

One has but to read the following, “For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribeMoses spake nothing concerning priesthood” (Hebrews 7:13-14). The Hebrews writer used this as an argument to show that Jesus was of a higher order of priest.

Wouldn’t you think the overall priesthood would be better by having one perfect priest such as Jesus? Surely we would, but such wouldn’t authorize invading God’s silence and making Jesus a priest from the wrong tribe. The unanswerable argument is that since nothing was said concerning one from the tribe of Judah serving as priest, then one from Judah was not authorized to serve as a priest. Then what would it take for one to be authorized? Certainly not silence, but rather a statement to that effect.

What would it take for the authorization of the mechanical instrument in New Testament worship? Wouldn’t it take a supporting statement like we have in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 for singing? You certainly don’t have any authorization based on silence. If so, there is absolutely no limit to the additions one can make. No, silence doesn’t give sanction and God doesn’t need to be treated as an idol that cannot speak. He has told us how to worship and in doing this we have His sanction based on His Word.

J. Winfred Clark
1923-1997

The Appropriateness of Warnings

When compared with his letters to the Corinthians, the Galatians, or to Timothy and Titus, Paul’s letter to the Philippians is couched in very mild terms. The Philippian Church was apparently free of such major problems as those he addressed in the aforementioned epistles. Paul was thus able to devote more of his letter to Philippi to commendation and instruction, rather than to correction. However, there is one explosion of forceful terminology in Philippians – a stringent, explicit warning:“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision” (3:2). My purpose is not to provide an exposition of this verse nor identify those to whom it originally applied. Rather, I want to emphasize the fact that, even in an otherwise mildly-worded letter of encouragement, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to caution those brethren.Warnings about spiritual dangers posed by false teachers and their doctrines are appropriate or the Bible would not be so full of them, as every Bible student knows it is. Please consider the following thoughts concerning some of the “whys” and “hows” of these necessary warnings:

There is a need to issue such warnings as a preventive measure. Preventive medicine is the best kind and usually the least painful. While no righteous person rejoices in the news of a brother, a school, or an entire congregation that has abandoned the Truth, it is better to be warned of such than to be led astray by them through ignorance and/or innocence. Appropriate and timely warnings of men gone astray and of what they are teaching (whether within or without) are a necessary preventive measure brethren can be fortified. By sounding forth warnings of the errors being circulated we can fortify many brethren and prepare them to withstand the errors. This is what Paul did in his three-fold “beware” of the foregoing passage.

Warnings are also needed to cure problems that have already developed from false teaching. Paul did not get the warnings about the evil workers to the Galatians in time to prevent grievous problems from occurring. However, he did not hesitate to sound forth the warnings of the follies and consequences of succumbing to the false teachers although they had done their dirty work. Problems caused by false doctrines can never be cured by ignoring them. The sources of the heresies, as well as the errors themselves, must be exposed by due warnings concerning them if any of those ensnared by them are to be rescued.

When warnings are given they must be in such terms that those who hear may recognize and identify the source of the danger. Otherwise, the warnings are of little worth. Paul used great plainness in the warnings of our text, identifying the “dogs” and the “evil workers” as the Judaizing teachers. He was even more specific when he warned Timothy to shun Hymenaeus and Philetus because their doctrine (that the resurrection was already past) was erroneous and cancerous and had already corrupted some (II Timothy 2:16-18). We are commanded to mark those who cause division through false doctrine so as to identify them, and warn others of them (Romans 16:17). We should always take great care not to slander or falsely accuse others, nor should anyone want to defame another person or institution unnecessarily for any reason. However, when souls are at stake we are derelict in our duty if we do not sound the warnings plainly, including calling the names of men, institutions, or congregations where necessary. May all of our warnings be issued from a broken heart full of love for the sinner, but even more for the Lord, His Word, and His people. 

There is the need to hear and act upon the warnings. We live in a strange time in church history when even the elect have come under the influence of so much human philosophy that they do not want to hear the warnings upon which the salvation of their very souls depends. Because of such shallow and perverted thinking, many brethren are critical of preachers, churches, or publications that are “issue-oriented,” as they are wont to say. Some members of the church are hypersensitive to any exposure or identity of a false teacher or his doctrine, regardless of how destructive he or it may be. Others will come right out and tell you that they do not want to hear about any “problems” in the church, as if ignorance of them would cause them to disappear. Ira Y. Rice, Jr., is right: “You just cannot warn some brethren!”

The Scriptures frequently admonish us to hear reliable spiritual warnings so as to act upon them and thereby avoid many dangers. The Lord wrote seven letters to as many churches, issuing many warnings designed to save their souls (Revelation 2-3). At the conclusion of each letter He urged, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches” (Revelation 2:7, et al.). Clearly, He not only intended for them to hear, but to heed and act upon the warnings He issued. Some preachers take pride in not keeping up with “the issues,” as if to do so were somehow an unspiritual or vain activity. Too few elderships in my acquaintance are careful to stay abreast of the many winds of false doctrine that are blowing ever more strongly and of the men that are blowing them. Preachers and elders who are wise will stay informed themselves and will keep their respective congregations informed. Not all will listen with appreciation, but all need to hear the warnings anyway. Paul wrote the warnings in Philippians (and in many other) because he knew brethren needed to hear them for their own spiritual safety.

Dub McClish

“Getting the Cart Before the Horse”

We hear much today of love, grace, mercy, tenderness, kindness, longsuffering, etc. So much of it is an abuse or misuse and accomplishes very little in the way of saving the lost. Here is the reason that such is the case. Love, etc. only has meaning to the person who is under the guilt of sin. Most people, at least in America, feel no guilt of sin. Thus, they are not interested in love,etc. This is also true of many members of the church regarding their Christian duties.

This is not to say that such people are happy. So many are miserable; but, they do not equate their unhappiness with the fact that they are sinners before God (Romans 3:23). Hence, they continue to seek happiness in the “...lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride (vain glory) of life...” (I John 2:16). WHAT DOES GRACE AND MERCY MEAN TO A PERSON WHO DOES NOT SEE THE NEED OF IT? The answer is: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

God’s grace has also provided God’s Word (the standard of conduct for man) (II Timothy 3:16, 17; James 1:25; Colossians 3:17; John 12:48). The Word of God reveals to man what sin is (I John 3:4; James 4:17); that man is a sinner (Ezekiel 18:14); that he has no one to blame for his sins but himself (Isaiah 59:2); and, that man must change his thoughts, words, and actions to comply withGod’s infallible Word (Acts 17:30; Matthew 3:7, 8; Acts 8:22).This is the approach found in every single, solitary sermon recorded in the Bible that was addressed to men who needed salvation but did not know it!

Until Christians, especially preachers, supply sinners with that specific truth(s) that exposes and condemns their sin(s) we have not loved them enough to provide them with the wherewithal for them to see their need of God’s love, mercy, grace, etc. (Acts 2:23,36; 24:25; Galatians 2:11)! Jesus, our loving Savior, said more about hell and who is going there than anyone else. Does anyone wonder why (Titus 2:11, 12; Revelation 21:8)?

The material above should be among the first things taught one who desires to be a preacher. If one never learns these points, he will misuse and abuse the marvelous and “Wonderful Story ofLove” as well as wonder why he is not an effective preacher.

David P. Brown

Are Women Permitted to Teach?

What may women Scripturally do in the worship and work of the church? This question over which there has been much contention. There are some who say that a woman has no place in the active role of teaching in the church while others go to the opposite extreme and say there are no limitations on the women’s work in the church. But the question is: What does the Bible teach?

There was confusion in the church at Corinth, and Paul wrote to correct it. He admonished the prophets to speak by two or three, and that by course, whereas, they apparently had been all speaking at one time and causing confusion; and the brethren were forbidden to speak in tongues which the audience did not know unless they had an interpreter, for Paul said, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (I Corinthians 14:33). In reference to the women in the church at Corinth, Paul said, “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church” (I Corinthians 14:34-35). Apparently they were asking questions during the worship, also causing confusion. Paul told them if they would learn anything to ask their husbands at home.

In Paul’s instructions relative to women in the church at Corinth, he said, “But they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” He referred to the Old Testament law that women, as a result of Eve’s sin in the garden of Eden, would be ruled over her husband. However, women were permitted to teach in certain capacities under the Old Testament law, but not over the man. Moses’ sister, Miriam, was a prophetess (teacher) (Exodus 15:20); but when she tried to usurp authority over Moses, she was smitten by God of leprosy; not because she was teaching, but because she usurped authority over the man (Numbers 12:1-2).

In I Timothy 2:12, Paul discussed the question of women’s teaching. He said, “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” Over the man modifies both infinitives, to teach and to usurp. She cannot teach over the man; she cannot usurp authority over the man. We might illustrate it this way: An officer of the law, placed at a bridge which was needing repair, would tell a motorist, “I don’t allow you to drive nor to tow a car over the bridge.” Would the motorist assume that he could not drive the car anywhere? Of course not. He would readily understand that over the bridge modified his driving.

We know that the apostle did not forbid women’s teaching in every capacity, for they did teach. Philip “had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy” (Acts 21:9). Those daughters of Philip were teachers of the Word of God. But the Bible forbids women to usurp authority over men. That does not mean they cannot teach man, for Priscilla helped her husband teach Apollos, a mighty man in the Scriptures.

Women have a Scriptural right and duty to help in the work of the church in teaching children and women. But their teaching must be in subjection to the elders, and they must not usurp authority over the men. Let us not try to deprive them of their Scriptural rights.

W. L. Totty

February 20, 1972

What the World Needs Now. . .Is More Weeping Prophets!

Jeremiah has long been recognized as the “weeping prophet” because of his lamentations for Israel and Judah. Jesus wept over Jerusalem and no doubt countless other prophets of old and preachers of today have cried over the sins of the city. But as these great men of God wept they also “cried” out concerning the sins they beheld! Notice, “I have spoken unto you the word of Jehovah, rising up early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened (Jeremiah 25:3). And again, “And Jehovah hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, (but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear), saying, return ye now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doing...and go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the work of your hands; and I will do you no hurt. Yet ye have not hearkened unto me” (Jeremiah 25:4-7).

Jeremiah had become so discouraged with the wickedness of his brethren and their refusal to hear. He thought that he would shut up the Word of the Lord and speak or make mention of His name, but it burned like a fire, and he grew weary with his silence (Jeremiah 20:9). He had to speak!

The shepherds of Jeremiah’s day were responsible for scattering the sheep by refusing to visit them and God promised vengeance on such elders (Jeremiah 23:1-3). Elders today can be busy as a proverbial“cranberry merchant” and never do the work of elders – visit, counsel,guide, and succor the sheep. They, too, shall pay a terrible price for their negligence.

God pronounced a curse on all those who are negligent and who keep their sword back from blood in the service of the great king(Jeremiah 4:8-10). Oh, that such words would jar us out of ourcomplacency, compromise and conformity, and make us weep for the slain of our people!

Yes, what the world needs now is more weeping prophets dedicated to restoring the Will of God in our lives and spreading the Kingdom of God on this earth. Men and women who wield the Sword of the Spirit to separate us from idols. The idols of materialism, sensualism, negativism, liberalism, and procrastination. These are damning multitudes in the valley of decision and causing great men of God to weep for they see the patterns of history being repeated. Let us arise and weep, but let us cry too!

Andrew Connally

What Kind of Member Are You?

There are all kinds of members referred to in the New Testament. Some had lost their first love (Revelation 2:4-5). Others had become only lukewarm (3:14-19). Some had forsaken the assembling of themselves together (Hebrews 10:25). Others had gone all the way back and had fallen from grace (Galatians 5:1-4). Some never did return to the right way (John 6:66; I Peter 2). There are many other classifications of members in the New Testament. Then there are some modern groups each of which has quite a following. What kind of a member are you?

Are you a “oncer”—one who attends church services only once per week—on the Lord’s day morning? Such members enjoy good health, but they never come at night. Had they been at Troas, they would not have heard Paul preach until midnight, and would have missed the fine fellowship of the occasion, plus the witnessing of the miracle of raising a man from the dead there that night (Acts 20:7-14).

Some are church “tramps”—they go tramping from one congregation to another, worshiping here and there, so as to dodge any responsibility for doing anything in the church and having any part in any real program of work. They are often called“Church Drifters.” They never settle down so as to work and grow in the church (I Corinthians 16:13).

Others are simply “leaners”—they “lean” on the church in every time of illness, misfortune, and the like, but they never contribute to its work. They are out to “get” and not to “give.” They are like the Dead Sea which has no outlet. They have no life. They are like sponges—they take in all they can hold but you have to squeeze them to get anything out of them!

Some others are “specials”—they work for the church on some special occasions which happen to appeal to them. But the regular work of the Lord has no appeal unto them. The every-day matter of being Christians is to them a drab affair. When they are tuned up they work enthusiastically, but no one ever knows when they are going to get rubbed the wrong way about something. They are “supporters” of that part of the work of the church that they like, but they oppose the other good works being done by others.

But some are “pillars”—they are always dependable. Without them the church would be a laughingstock in the community. They stand ready at all times to do what they can for the glory of God. They are happy that they have been saved, and feel that if they had a thousand lives to live, they could not do all they would like to do for the wonderful Saviour who came, bled, and died, that they might be children of God and have the happiness which they enjoy in the Lord, every day, along the way.

What kind of member are you?—You need not try to deceive anyone by your answer, for the way you are living proclaims daily the kind of member you are! Maybe you need to change your ways, and move up in the church—up to higher ground ofChristian living. Many have changed who found themselves in a failing group, doing little or nothing for the church.

Gus Nichols

3,000 BAPTIZED!! WHY WAS IT NEVER MENTIONED AGAIN?

“...the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:42)

We all know the church has entered the age of promotionalism – the age of drum-beating. We constantly hear of THE BEST, THE MOST, THE BIGGEST, THE GREATEST: any triumph in one congregation gets the publicity experts at work to try and top that in some other congregation. The trumpets sound when some activity is successful.

We’ve said that to call attention to the fact that this very atmosphere is foreign to the New Testament. In the text cited above, we find that about 3,000 were baptized on the day of Pentecost. The interesting thing about this is: it never was mentioned again in God’s Word! Never once! We wonder why! We have the rest of Acts, twenty one other letters, and we have seven different congregations addressed in the book of Revelation, and never once did any of the inspired writers ask, “Why can’t 3,000 more be baptized like they had on Pentecost?” It wasn’t that many years and many congregations were yet covered in the New Testament, for the events of Acts 2 take place in the very FIRST congregation. It wasn’t that no apostle knew of the events of that day, for twelve apostles were there at the time. It wasn’t that the apostles didn’t want the church to grow. It wasn’t that they weren’t interested in baptisms, for the Great Commission put them into that business (Mark 16:15-16).

Again we wonder: why wasn’t the success in Acts 2 mentioned in each and every epistle? Why didn’t the inspired writers take advantage of this whooping it up before all other congregations? Now, notice that this fits in with the low-profile given to programs and successes in the entire New Testament. While every letter deals with the importance of study, growth, increasing in godly attributes, and the need for improvement in every spiritual area, very little in the way of publicity is given to actual circumstances of sums and numbers, and certainly not in any way to “beat the drums” before the brotherhood. We do not believe the early church wanted second-rate performance, but we note they also didn’t whoop and yell about BIGGEST, GREATEST, LARGEST, TREMENDOUS...they didn’t even mention that they had 3,000 to be baptized on Pentecost! We can learn something from this in the age of the promotional, sensational, and publicity!

Bill Jackson

1929-1991