By What Authority?By What Authority?

When God Is Silent – Part 1

Bible AuthorityBible Authority Religious authority comes from God

because he is our Creator (Gen. 1:1) and God expresses his authority through his word (Heb. 1:1-2)

Both the OT and the NT exemplify the need for God’s authority in our life

There is also a need to distinguish the different covenants in the Bible and handle accurately the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15)

Bible AuthorityBible Authority God authorizes a practice sometimes by

speaking generically (allowing for aides, expediencies) and sometimes by speaking specifically or explicitly (not allowing any additions)

How does God authorize something in the NT? How is authority established? God establishes authority the same way governments establish authority through their own written documents … directly (statements, examples) and indirectly (implications / inferences)

Bible AuthorityBible Authority God is silent on some matters, so what are

we to do? God’s silence: permissive or prohibited?

Two attitudes have existed down through time regarding this matter:

When God is silent we can act (permissive)

When God is silent we cannot act (prohibitive)

When God Is SilentWhen God Is Silent We expect our silence to be respected in

everyday affairs. For example, you send your child to the store to by a newspaper and he/she comes back with a newspaper and a few other things. You order something by phone and get what you ordered and a few other things. You order some work done on your car; the problem is repaired and a few other items were added. In each case they say, “But you did not say not to...” You will refuse what you did not order! When we say what we want, we do not have to say all the things we do not want.

When God Is SilentWhen God Is Silent In the same, way God wants us to respect

His silence. When God is silent on a matter - he has not given his word in the Bible - we cannot act. He will refuse any action or practice upon which he has been silent.

Attitudes Toward God’s SilenceAttitudes Toward God’s SilenceThe Protestant Reformers (A.D. 1500's)

 Martin Luther of Germany said, “We may do what the Bible does not forbid.”

 Huldrych Zwingli of Switzerland said, “What the Bible does not command we may not do.” In 1528, Zwingli rejected the doctrine of purgatory saying, “Scripture is silent about a purgatory after this life.”

Attitudes Toward God’s SilenceAttitudes Toward God’s SilenceThe Restorationists (A.D. 1800’s)

Thomas Campbell said in 1809, “Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent.” When Andrew Munro heard these words he said, “Mr. Campbell, if we adopt that as a basis, then there is an end of infant baptism. “ Campbell replied: “Of course, if infant baptism be not found in the Scriptures, we can have nothing to do with it.”

Isaac Errett said that when the Bible was silent “we allow the largest liberty.”

Attitudes Toward God’s SilenceAttitudes Toward God’s Silence One common question asked when God is silent on

a matter is the “Why can't we” question: “Why can't we do this, or that?” For example, “Why can't we use instrumental music in worship to God?”

The other common question is the “Where does the Bible say not to?” question. For example, "Where does the Bible say not to sprinkle or pour when baptizing?"

 People who ask this often want the “freedom” (liberty) to do as many things religiously as possible.

Attitudes Toward God’s SilenceAttitudes Toward God’s Silence It is obvious that men approach the matter

of God's silence differently. What approach does God take toward his silence? After all, God knows what he means by his silence, and God knows that man is going to react to his silence in some way.

7 Biblical Principles7 Biblical PrinciplesRelating to God’s SilenceRelating to God’s Silence

1. We are not to add to, or take from God's word (Deut.4:1ff; 5:32; 12:32; Num.22:18; 24:13; Josh.1:7; Psa. 89:34; Prov.4:26,27; 30:5,6; 1 Cor.4:6; Gal.1:6ff; 3:15b; 2 Jn.9; Rev.22:18,19)

2. We can know what pleases God or what God wants, only from what he has revealed by his words (Deut.29:29; 1 Cor.2:10-11). We cannot know the mind or will of God from his silence. If we say, “This is what God wants,” or “This pleases God,” we better have a Bible verse to back it up. It is presumptuous to conclude that God is pleased with something when God is silent on the matter.

7 Biblical Principles7 Biblical PrinciplesRelating to God’s SilenceRelating to God’s Silence

3. We must act by authority, not silence (Col.3:17; “in the name of” = “by the authority of”; see Ac.4:7ff). There is no “authority” in silence. “Authority” is expressed by God in words; words that come in the form of:

a) generic or specific wordsb) explicit statements (commands, statements)c) approved examplesd) implicit statements (implications). There is no

other way in which God has expressed his authority in words.

7 Biblical Principles7 Biblical PrinciplesRelating to God’s SilenceRelating to God’s Silence

3. To act without expressed “authority” is to act without law – “lawlessness,” “transgression,” “iniquity” (Mt.7:21; 13:41; 23:28; Heb.1:9; 1 Jn.3:4; etc.). To act where God is silent is to act without God’s expressed law, and to act without God's law is sin!

4. Faith comes by hearing God’s word, not God’s silence (Rom.10:17). We must “hear” God’s “words” before we can have faith. We cannot “hear” silence! There are no “words” to be “heard” in silence! Therefore, there is no “faith” in silence.

7 Biblical Principles7 Biblical PrinciplesRelating to God’s SilenceRelating to God’s Silence

5. When we speak (preach or teach God's word), we must use God’s words, not God’s silence (1 Pet.4:11; 1 K.22:14; Jn.12:48-50; Jn.16:13)

6. “Good works” are contained in Scripture, not in silence (Eph. 2:10; 2 Tim.3:16,17)

7. God wants us to pay attention to his words (speech), not to his silence (Mt. 4:4; 12:48; 7:24; 17:5; Ac.3:22,23; Rom.2:16; Heb. 1:1-2)

When God Is SilentWhen God Is Silent Some religious people say that God’s silence is

permissive. But what does God say about it? After all, God knows what he means by his silence. The above principles state that God wants us to live by his speech - what he says; not by his silence - what he does not say.

God’s silence, therefore, is prohibitive. Silence does not express authority. We cannot determine what God’s will is by what he does not say. Therefore, when God is silent on a matter (he does not authorize a certain practice), we must be silent on the matter (we do not engage in that practice).

““Written in the book…”Written in the book…” We will be judged only by what is “written

in the book…” (Rev. 20:11-15) – what is written, not silence

We will go to heaven only if our name is “written in the book…” (Rev. 20:11-15) – what is written, not silence