BY WHAT
AUTHORITY ARE YOU DOING THESE THINGS? (8)
When God Says Nothing (1)
If we are to be pleasing to God in all that we do, we need to properly use His word. Paul told Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). “Rightly dividing the word of truth” has reference to using God’s word properly. This study of authority in religion is designed to accomplish that. Thus far we have noted the importance of authority as well as the three ways to properly determine how and what is authorized. We have discussed direct commands, approved examples and necessary conclusion. We have noted how each of these was implemented in New Testament times and how we apply them in what we do today. These methods were not chosen arbitrarily, but rather they are THE factual ways to ensure that you are doing what is right in whatever you do. If there are other ways to establish authority I would be interested in hearing them. Some might say, “What about silence?” It is often argued that if something is not specifically forbidden, then it is authorized. While that may be true in some worldly circumstances, it is not a reliable source of authority. And in God’s word it not a source of authority at all. In this article we will show why we cannot appeal to the silence of scripture.
First let us consider some straightforward passages that address this subject. In 1 Corinthians 4:6 Paul wrote, “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.” 2 John 9 says, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” The word transgress means “to go before” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words) and implies the idea of disregarding what is actually said in God’s word. Thayer says that in this text the word is used in a bad sense, “to go further than is right or proper…to transgress the true limits of true doctrine.” (Strong’s #4254, Thayer’s Complete Lexicon). When one appeals to what God’s word doesn’t say, he is transgressing what God DOES say. 1 Peter 4:11 tells us, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Peter’s appeal here is that when we speak; let it be WHAT GOD SAYS – nothing more or nothing less. He notes in what we say and what we do our goal ought to be “that in all things God may be glorified through Christ”. When we take upon ourselves the task of determining what we THINK God wants us to do are we truly giving Him the glory or are we giving our own desires and ways the glory? Seriously think about that.
In the final book of God’s Revelation John wrote, “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.” (Revelation 22:18-19). NOTE: The message of this text is intended specifically for that particular book, however because all of the Bible is inspired as this book is, we can conclude that God desires the same respect for ALL that He has written, as numerous other passages in this article have shown.
Even Moses in the Old Law stressed that Israel understand this. In Deuteronomy 29:29 he said, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” In this text Moses is saying, GOD MEANS WHAT HE SAYS. If He wanted to say something in a different way He would have done that. If He wanted us to do something differently, He would have told us how to do that. He also notes that what God DOESN’T say belongs to Him. That is the silence of scripture. Earlier in Deuteronomy 12:32, the Lord speaking through Moses said, “See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.” (See also Deut. 4:2; Proverbs 30:6). Let us understand that when we appeal to what God does NOT say to justify what we do we are saying that either God doesn’t care about how we do something (and many believe this) or He did not sufficiently present what He expects us to do and how to do it. I have a problem with challenging God’s ways (see Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”)
Paul wrote the book of Galatians to local churches in the region of Galatia. Note his concerns as he begins by saying, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9). As you read this letter you will see that there were Judaizing teachers who wanted to ADD to God’s law of salvation various elements of the Old Law (circumcision, possibly keeping certain feasts, what they ate, etc.). When this doctrine was started it could have been argued, “God didn’t say NOT to do that”, but as Paul and others dealt with this false teaching they basically establish that God doesn’t have to say what not to do. WHAT HE DOES SAY IS ENOUGH!
Thus we can see the inspired writings of Paul, Peter and John all clearly establish that we cannot appeal to God’s silence for authority. In our next article we will consider some Biblical examples that help us understand the silence of God.