The Silence of the Scriptures

In the previous lessons, we have discussed the need for authority, how authority is established, and the difference between generic and specific authority. In this lesson, we are going to talk about the silence of the Scriptures. We have discussed how to interpret what the Bible SAYS. What do we do when it is SILENT on a particular question or topic? That is what we will discuss here.

Two Approaches to Silence

• Viewing silence as PERMISSIVE – if a practice is not specifically forbidden, it is allowed
• Viewing silence as PROHIBITIVE – if a practice is not explicitly authorized, it is forbidden
• Example of Jesus and the priesthood (Hebrews 7:11-14) – priests came from the tribe of Levi (Numbers 3:6-10) and descended from Aaron, a Levite (Exodux 6:16, 20); Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, so He could not serve as priest under the old law; why not?
  • By specifying the tribe of Levi, all other tribes were excluded, even without a specific prohibition
  • This is so settled that an exception could not be made even for the Son of God
  • Silence about priests from Judah meant the law had to change to allow Jesus to serve as priest

Application: Music in Worship

• Remember how we establish Bible authority – see what God tells us, shows us, and implies to us
• Singing is authorized – we are told to sing (Colossians 3:16; James 5:13; 1 Corinthians 14:15, 26); we are shown that disciples would sing (Acts 16:25); singing in the assembly is implied (Ephesians 5:19)
• What about using instruments? – no command or statement about using them in worship; no example of the early church using instrumental music in worship; nothing that implies that instruments were part of NT worship
• The NT specifies singing, but is silent about using instruments – remember the principle that when God specifies something, everything else is excluded; the use of instruments in worship is unauthorized, even without a specific prohibition

Aids and Additions

• Some might argue that there are other things we might use that are not mentioned in the NT – ex: song books, a song leader, a pitch pipe, etc.; how are these different from instrumental music?
• There is a difference between an AID and an ADDITION
  • An AID is something that helps us carry out what God wants us to do – it is expedient
  • An ADDITION introduces a new practice – instruments introduce playing to our singing
• An expedient must first be authorized (1 Corinthians 6:12) – we already saw that instruments are unauthorized; one purpose of singing is teaching (Colossians 3:16); instruments cannot teach, so they do not AID in that; just as we can teach by reading a verse out of a printed Bible, we can sing a verse out of a printed song book

Conclusion

• Understanding what the Bible teaches also means understanding how to interpret its silence
• Everything we do must be done by the authority of Christ (Colossians 3:17)
• Instead of saying, “The Bible doesn’t say not to…,” we should do what it teaches us to do