Welcome to the ULC Minister's Network

Rev. Marilyn J. Hart

Divine vs. Human Authority in Religion

  •  

    Divine vs. Human Authority in Religion: 
    Should We Follow Man-Made Changes in Bible Teaching?

     

    What is the proper source or standard of authority in religion? Should we follow the Bible as the inspired revelation of the law of God, or should we follow man-made religious laws and rules to guide us in faith and worship? What about human tradition, church laws, decrees of councils, and creeds? May human wisdom change Divine law, or should we respect the silence of the Scriptures?

     

    All true religious authority comes ultimately from God through Jesus Christ.

    God is Lord or Ruler of the universe.

     

    Matthew 11:25 — God is Lord of heaven and earth. “Lord” means a person who has authority over others: a master, chief, or ruler. [Psalm 97:5; Joshua 3:11,13]

    Acts 17:24 — God made the world and everything in it since He is Lord of heaven and earth.

    It follows that only God possesses the ultimate authority in the universe. Man’s power is limited. Only God possesses unlimited power over all created things.

    [Deut. 10:17; Dan. 2:47; 1 Chron.29:11,12; Psalm 136:3; 95:3; 97:9; 83:18; Isa. 33:22]

    As God’s Divine Son and Lord of all, Jesus reveals God’s will for today.

     

     

    Hebrews 1:1,2 – God speaks to us today through His Son through Him He made the worlds.

    Matthew 28:18-20 – Jesus possesses “all authority in heaven and on earth,” so we should obey all His commands.

    Ephesians 1:21-23 – He is above all power and might and dominion. Specifically, He is Head over all things to the church.

    So, ultimate religious authority resides in God, and that authority is exercised through the teachings of Jesus Christ.

    [Luke 6:46; 4:32; Acts 3:22,23; 10:36; Rev. 17:14; 19:16; Rom. 10:12; 9:5; Phil. 2:9-11; 3:20,21; Matt. 7:29; 17:5; John 3:31; 6:63,68; 12:48; 16:15; 17:2,10; Col. 1:16; 3:16,17; 1 Tim. 6:3]

    Divine authority is revealed in the Scriptures.

    John 16:13 – Jesus promised the men who penned the New Testament that the Spirit would guide them into all truth.

    Ephesians 3:3-5; 1 Corinthians 14:37– What Paul received by revelation, he wrote down to instruct those who were not directly guided by the Holy Spirit. So the things he wrote were the commands of Lord.

    2 Timothy 3:16,17 - All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching and furnishing to all good works.

    2 Peter 1:20,21 - No Scripture ever came by will of man, but men spoke as moved by the Holy Spirit. This includes the New Testament (3:15,16).

    God has recorded His will in the Bible to guide our lives.

    [Luke 10:16; 1:1-4; Matt. 15:4; 22:29-32; 10:19,20; 1 Thess. 4:15; 1 Tim. 4:1; Gal. 1:11,12; 1 Cor. 2:11-13; 4:6; 2 Thess. 3:6,12,17; John 20:30,31; 10:35; 1 John 1:1-4; 1 Tim. 4:11; Jude 3]

    But what about religious practices, teachings, or organizations that are not included or that differ from what God has revealed in His will?

    When a practice cannot be found in God’s word, is that practice right or wrong? When God is “silent” or says nothing about a practice, does that silence give us consent to do the thing, or does it prohibit us from doing it?

    This issue is fundamental because people participate in many modern religious practices that are not revealed in the Bible. They often defend these acts, saying, “God nowhere said not to do it.” So, are practices acceptable as long as God nowhere expressly forbids them, or are they wrong unless He says to do them? It is the purpose of this study to examine these questions.

    Consider these Bible principles:

    I. The Bible Completely Reveals All God’s Will for Us.

    Everything that God considers to be good and approved, is revealed to us in the gospel.

    John 16:13 (14:26) — The Holy Spirit revealed all truth to the apostles. This is the truth that, as already studied, they wrote in the Scriptures.

    Acts 20:20,27 — Paul preached the whole counsel of God, keeping back nothing that was profitable.

    2 Timothy 3:16,17 — All good works are recorded in the Scriptures. In this way, the inspired Scriptures are profitable to teach and instruct men in righteousness, etc.

    2 Peter 1:3; 1:12-15; 3:1,2— In Peter’s lifetime, people received all things that pertain to life and godliness. He then wrote these things down so that, even after he died, we could be reminded of the words of Jesus’ apostles and prophets.

    James 1:25 — This word of truth, by which men are born again and saved (vv 18,21), is the perfect law of liberty.

    The Bible does not claim to reveal all things that are not part of Divine truth, that do not pertain to godliness, that are not part of good works or righteousness, that are not profitable to being born again and saved. But all truth that is profitable to these things is revealed. We need no further revelation because the Bible completely reveals all God’s will for man. From it we can learn all that pleases God and leads to eternal salvation.

    Consider the consequence of this for doctrines and practices not revealed in the Bible. Since the Bible contains all truth and all good works and everything that pertains to life, godliness, and righteousness, does it not follow that, that any practice not found there is not true, not a good work, not righteous, and does not pertain to life or godliness? How then can we practice these things and expect to please God?

    [Matt. 28:20; Col. 4:12; Jude 3; Hebrews. 13:20,31; John 20:30,31; 1 John 1:1-4; 2:1-6.]

    II. Practices Not Included in God’s Revealed Word Are Unacceptable.

    The previous point provides a necessary inference about unrevealed practices. But God’s word deals even more directly with such practices. Consider the following principles:

    A. The Principle of Ownership

    Everything in the Universe, especially in the church, belongs to God.

    Acts 17:24 — God made the world and everything in it since He is Lord of heaven and earth.

    1 Chronicles 29:11,12 — Everything in heaven and earth belongs to God. He reigns over all.

    Matthew 16:18 – The church, in particular, belongs to Jesus because He built it.

    Acts 20:28 – He purchased it with His blood.

    Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:23-25 – The church is His body. He is head over all things to the church, like a man is head over his wife. Therefore, the church must submit to His will.

    To practice things not authorized by God is to fail to honor our head and owner.

    Should your body obey the instructions of another person’s head? Does another man, who has no authority over your wife, have the right to tell your wife to do things you never told her to do? Does your neighbor have the right to use your house or car differently from what you have decided? May he have a party in your house or drive off with your car without your permission?

    Note that you don’t have to tell every other man specifically not to try to tell your wife what to do and not to try to get your body to obey their head and not to try to use your house and car in ways other than what you have chosen. These things are wrong because they violate the principle of ownership and headship. No one can use your property without your permission.

    Likewise, if we belong to God and if specifically the church belongs to Jesus, what right do people have choosing to practice things different from would the owner has chosen? What right do men have making rules for the church or authorizing practices that are not included in what God has authorized?

    God does not have to specifically say not to do these things. All such things are wrong because they violate the principle of ownership. No one has the right to use God’s property without His permission.

    [Colossians 1:18; 2:19-22; Psalm 95:3-5; 24:1,2; 50:10,12; Haggai 2:8; 1 Chron. 29:12,14]

    B. The Principle of Wisdom

    God’s wisdom is infinitely above that of man.

    Isaiah 55:8,9 — God’s thoughts and ways are above ours and completely different from ours. We cannot possibly know God’s will about a matter unless He reveals it.

    Jeremiah 10:23 — The way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Man is simply not wise enough to know how to live apart from God’s revelation.

    Since we do not think like God does, we cannot possibly know God’s will unless He reveals it.

    Often people will defend some religious practice because it “makes sense” to them. “I don’t see anything wrong with it.” But if our human wisdom accepts something, that proves nothing about whether or not God approves it.

    Proverbs 14:12 — There is a way that seems right to man, but the end is death.

    2 Corinthians 10:18 — Not he who commends himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commends. The fact that we approve a thing does not in any way indicate the God approves it.

    Knowing this, God completely revealed His will for us in the Bible, then He warned us not to follow human wisdom.

    Isaiah 30:1 – When people devise plans and take counsel not according to God’s Spirit, they add sin to sin and practice rebellion.

    Whenever we practice things not revealed in the Bible, we are following fallible human wisdom instead of God’s infallible wisdom! Instead, we must practice only what is revealed.

    [1 Corinthians 1:21-24; 2:5,10-13; Isaiah 65:2; Jeremiah 8:9; 17:5; Psalms 81:12,13; 94:11; Proverbs 28:26; 14:14; 21:2; 16:2; 20:24; Ezekiel 13:2,17]

    C. The Principle of Worship

    Worship that pleases God must be directed by His truth.

    John 4:23,24 — To please God, worship must be in spirit and in truth.

    John 17:17 - But God’s word is truth.

    John 16:13 - And all truth is revealed in the gospel (as already discussed).

    Matthew 21:25 - But every religious practice is based either on God’s authority or else on man’s authority. If God did not originate a practice, then man must have invented it.

    Since the gospel reveals all truth, then any practice which is not revealed in the gospel must not be part of the truth but is human in origin and therefore vain.

    Matthew 15:9,13,14 — Worship is vain (worthless) when based on precepts of human origin.

    The purpose of worship is to please and glorify God. We honor and respect Him when we do what He says. If we do what men say to do instead of what God says, then we are not showing respect for God and His will. Instead, we are showing respect for the men who invented the practice. So instead of pleasing God by our worship, we displease Him.

    [1 Kings 12:32,33]

    D. The Principle of Love

    Love leads us to do what pleases the one whom we love.

    Matthew 22:37 — Loving God is the most important command there is.

    John 14:15 — But Biblical love requires keeping God’s commands. [1 John 5:3; 2 John 6]

    Sometimes people think that, as long as they claim to love God, it doesn’t matter whether or not the things they do are in the Bible. But love leads us to seek to please the person we love, rather than pleasing ourselves.

    To invent unauthorized practices is to show love for men, not for God.

    People often defend their religious practices saying, “I think it’s beautiful,” “I like it,” or “We’re satisfied with it.” All that is proved by such statements is that we are pleasing ourselves, not God. When we love God, we do what pleases Him, not what we want.

    Luke 16:15 — What is highly esteemed by men is an abomination to God. The fact that we like a thing does not at all mean that God likes it.

    Doing what we want in worship is like a man who gives his wife a chainsaw for her birthday, because that’s what he wants. Does that show love for the wife? No, it shows love for himself.

    2 Timothy 4:2-4 – When men seek teachers and teaching according to their own desires, the result will be to turn away from the truth and follow fables. Instead, we must “preach the word.”

    If we love God, we will do only what He wants, not what we want. But remember that we can’t know what He wants except as He has revealed it in the Bible, and the Bible completely reveals what God wants.

    Rather than being an excuse for overlooking what the Bible says, love is actually a reason for doing only what the Bible says.

    E. The Principle of Faith

    Faith also requires that we do what pleases God.

    Hebrews 11:6 - Without faith it is impossible to please God.

    2 Corinthians 5:7 — We walk by faith, not by sight. Faith involves a way of “walking” (living); it must be demonstrated in action. [Cf. Galatians 2:20; 5:6; James 2:14-26; Hebrews chapter 11.]

    Proper faith must be based on God’s word.

    Romans 10:17 — Faith comes by hearing God’s word.

    Some people think that, as long as they believe in God and claim to trust Him, He will accept what they do, whether or not it is in the Bible.

    One man said He trusted God, so he was sure God would accept what he was about to do. When asked if he could find in the Bible where God approved the act, he said no, but he still felt sure God would accept it. What he was about to do was to commit suicide!

    To follow man-made doctrines is to put our faith in man, instead of God.

    Proverbs 3:5,6 — Trust in the Lord and don’t lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. True faith will teach us to do only what the Lord reveals.

    Proverbs 28:26 – He who trusts in his own heart is a fool. To do what we think is right, even though it is not revealed in the Bible, is to trust in our own hearts and lean on our own understanding, rather than allowing God to direct us.

    It is impossible to practice anything by faith if it cannot be found in the Bible. People who practice things they cannot find in the Bible, do not really trust in God. Instead they trust in the wisdom of the people who invented those practices. To truly walk by faith requires us to restrict ourselves to doing only what God has revealed.

    [Hosea 10:13]

    F. The Principle of Authority

    The Lordship of God requires us to do everything according to His authority.

    Colossians 3:17 — All we do, in word or deed, should be done in Jesus’ name. To act in Jesus’ name is to follow His authority (Acts 4:7-10).

    But we have seen that Jesus’ authority for today is completely revealed in the Bible. Practices not included in Bible teaching, therefore, cannot be done in Jesus’ name.

    To do things that differ from what God said is to fail to follow His authority.

    Galatians 1:6-9 — Any man is accursed if he preaches a gospel different from what inspired men taught in the first century. That gospel completely reveals all good works God wants us to do. If a practice is not included in the gospel, then, for us to say it is acceptable, would be to preach a different gospel.

    1 Timothy 1:3 – Instead of justifying doctrines that differ from the gospel, we must charge men to “teach no other doctrine.” [Titus 2:14]

    2 John 9 — Whoever goes beyond and does not abide in Jesus’ teaching, does not have God. To have God we must abide in Jesus’ teaching. But all Jesus’ teaching is revealed in the New Testament. So to practice things we cannot find in Jesus’ teaching would be to separate ourselves from Him.

    When we study a practice, we should not ask, “Where does God say not to do this?”, but rather “Where does God’s word authorize this act?”

    Although the Bible does expressly forbid some acts, God never intended for His word to specifically itemize all the things He does not want us to do. Had He done that, the Bible would have been so huge we could never digest it. Instead, God tells us what He does want us to do. Then He tells us that other things are unacceptable.

    Jeremiah 7:23,24 – God accused His people of not obeying what He said, but walking in their own counsels and the imagination (stubbornness – ASV) of our own hearts. To be God’s people, we must obey His voice and walk in the ways He has commanded. Then it will be well with us.

    When we practice that which we cannot find in God’s word, we walk in the counsel of our own hearts. We fail to honor God as our owner, we fail to honor Jesus as head of the church, we fail to truly love and trust God, we fail to worship God in truth, and we fail to respect the wisdom and authority of God.

    When an act cannot be found included in God’s will for us, then God’s true people will refuse to participate in it. They will practice only what they find authorized in God’s word.

    [Revelation 22:18,19; Cf. Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; 1 Peter 4:11; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Romans 10:1-3; Colossians 2:8,22; Jeremiah 9:14; 11:8; 18:12; 16:12; 13:10; 3:17; 23:16,17,21,26,32; 14:14; Deuteronomy 29:19; Numbers 24:13; Hebrews 13:9]

    III. Some Applications of Divine Authority
    (General and Specific Authority)

    We have learned that, in order to please God, we must do only what is included in His instructions. Our practices must fit the definition or fall within the meaning of what He teaches.

    However, we should not conclude that an act must be expressly named or specifically mentioned in order to be authorized. Some people conclude that any act is acceptable unless it is expressly, specifically forbidden. Others conclude the act is wrong unless it is expressly, specifically mentioned. Neither view harmonizes with what we have learned.

    A statement of the principle of general and specific authority

    When God wants man to do a thing in a particular way, He instructs us by choosing words that are specific or narrow (limited, precise, restricted, detailed, exclusive) in their meaning.

    He has told us not to practice things that do not fit the meaning of His instructions. So, when He wants a thing done in a particular way, He words His instructions in such a way as to leave us no choice. If we then do things differently, outside the limits of the meaning of the terms He uses, we displease Him. In this sense, God does not have to specifically say “not to” do certain acts. He just specifies what He wants, and anything different from that is unacceptable.

    Note that this principle will determine what constitutes an acceptable aid or tool. Any action, including an aid or tool, must fit the meaning of God’s instructions. If what we do differs from the meaning of God’s instructions, then the act is not an aid but an unauthorized change.

    When God wants to leave men free to choose from several alternative ways of doing a thing, He instructs us by choosing words that are more general or broad (inclusive, comprehensive, all-encompassing) in their meaning.

    We are still restricted to doing only what fits the meaning of what He said, but in this case there are various ways of doing what fits the instruction. We can then use our own wisdom to choose from any course of action that fits the meaning of what God said to do. Any such choice that we make would be acceptable because we would still be doing what God said.

    Note that, in this case, God does not have to spell out all the details of what we should do. He simply instructs us in general terms; then any action – including the use of tools or aids – is authorized, so long as it fits the meaning or definition of the instructions given.

    We will illustrate these principles with examples.

    A. Bible Applications that Demonstrate the Need for Bible Authority

    Some Bible events or teachings illustrate the principles we are studying. They show that certain acts or ideas would be wrong simply because they were different from, or were not part of, what God said. But other acts would be acceptable when they fit general instructions.

    Noah making an ark of gopher wood— Genesis 6:14

    God told Noah to make an ark of gopher wood. Metal, pine, walnut, etc., do not fit the definition of gopher wood. They constitute different kinds of materials. God did not expressly say not to use them, but they would have been wrong because He said “gopher wood” and was silent about metal, pine, etc.

    Had God wanted to leave Noah free to use any kind of material, He could simply have said to make an ark, and specified no material at all. Then Noah could have chosen any kind of material. But when God specified the material, Noah was left with no other choice.

    On the other hand, God said to “make” an ark, but there are many things a person can do that would fit the definition of making an ark. He might use a hammer and saw, an ox cart to carry the wood, etc., as tools to “aid” the work. None of these things are specifically mentioned, but they would have been acceptable because, Noah would still be just making an ark.

    Naaman dipping in the Jordan – 2 Kings 5:10-14

    Elishah told Naaman to dip seven times in the Jordan and his leprosy would be cured. The instruction was specific regarding what action to do, what river to use, and how many times to dip. But he wanted to do something else, such as have Elishah wave his hand over him or dip in some other river (the Abanah or the Pharpar in Syria).

    Elishah did not say “not to” dip in the Abanah or Pharpar, but would that have been doing what God said or doing something different? Likewise, it would have been disobedience to dip a different number of times. Had God wanted to leave Naaman free in these matters, he could have simply said to dip in water. Then Naaman could have dipped in any body of water any number of times. But God’s instructions left no choice but to dip seven times in Jordan.

    But the instruction was general in the sense that God had not said where in the Jordan to dip: northern Jordan or southern Jordan? Nor did it specify whether or not the servant might help put him under. If the servant put him under what would Naaman be doing? Dipping in the Jordan. That would be a legitimate aid, because it still fit the instructions God gave.

    Nadab and Abihu offering incense – Leviticus 10:1-3

    Nadab and Abihu were Old Testament priests who offered incense. But they used “profane” fire (“strange fire” - ASV) that God had not commanded them to use. So, God destroyed them.

    Note that the problem was not that they disobeyed a specific prohibition – God had not said “not to” use the fire they used. The problem was that they used fire different from what God said. They did what God had not commanded or authorized them to do.

    Some today might justify such an act by saying the fire was just an “aid” to offering the incense. But God disagreed. The fire was not just an aid but different fire from what God specified.

    (The passage does not give enough information for me to give a good example of acceptable alternatives they might have had: perhaps how much fire they used?)

    The temple as a house of prayer— John 2:13-16

    Jesus cleansed the temple twice. The first time He said not to make His Father’s house a house of merchandise. The second time He quoted Scripture saying it should be a house of prayer (Matthew 21:12,13), and condemned them for making it a den of thieves. Note that, in the first cleansing (in John 2), Jesus said nothing about thievery. He objected simply on grounds that doing business for profit (“merchandise”) did not fit the intent of the temple.

    Jesus here argued from the “silence of the Scriptures.” He did not cite Scripture that expressly forbade doing business for profit in the temple. But He concluded that such would not fit the authorized spiritual purpose of the temple and on that basis cast them out of the temple.

    This is exactly the kind of reasoning we do when we conclude that local congregations today should not operate money-making businesses or provide entertainment, recreation, etc. Such acts do not fit (are not included in) the spiritual purpose God has stated for His church. So we believe they should be rejected from the work of local churches.

    On the other hand, Jesus’ statement is general as regards how long the prayers should be. That is not specified, so the length would not matter (so long as it was otherwise Scriptural). But activities that did not constitute authorized worship were eliminated.

    Jesus at God’s right hand – Hebrews 1:5,13

    Comparing Jesus to angels, the writer asks what angel God ever told to sit at His right hand as God’s Son. The fact that God said that to His Son Jesus, but did not say it to an angel, constitutes sufficient proof that it is not true of any angel! God did not have to say the angels would not sit at His right hand. When He specified that Jesus would sit at His right hand and mentioned no angel, that eliminated the angels. (Of course, the same reasoning would eliminate a man or anyone but Jesus sitting at God’s right hand.)

    (Again, the passage does not give enough information to discuss what might be authorized alternatives.)

    Priests of the tribe of Levi — Hebrews 7:11-18

    Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy that He would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek (v17). But Jesus could not be high priest under the Old Testament, because the Old Testament said priests were of the tribe of Levi, and Jesus (as a descendant of David) was of the tribe of Judah. The Law of Moses said “nothing” about priests from the tribe of Judah. Hence, the only way Jesus could be priest would if there was a change of the law (v12).

    This argument is also based on “silence of the Scriptures.” God said priests would be of the tribe of Levi, but said “nothing” about the tribe of Judah (v14). Therefore, people of the tribe of Judah could not be priests under the law.

    Some people today might think, “Where does it say priests can’t be of the tribe of Judah?” But the Hebrew writer did not so reason. The law designated the tribe of Levi and said nothing about tribe of Judah. That was enough to prove tribe of Judah was wrong.

    Notice, however, that this was true under what Moses said (v14). It would not be true under some other law. So, the author points out that Jesus could be priest when the law changed to the New Testament.

    Marriage joining one man and one woman — Matthew 19:3-6

    Jesus was asked about the grounds for divorce. He said that His teaching would differ from Moses’ teaching and would agree with God’s original marriage law. That law God joined two people — one man and one woman — as one flesh. Therefore, divorce is wrong.

    This is an argument from the silence of Scripture. God joined the two and said nothing that permitted breaking the bond or being joined to a third party. It follows that breaking the bond and joining to another person would violate God’s will. The conclusion is that divorce is forbidden (though Jesus allowed an exception when one spouse violates the one-flesh covenant by having the sexual union with someone else — v9).

    God specified what He wanted. Therefore, other arrangements are wrong. We must limit ourselves to doing what God authorized, no more.

    Note that Jesus did not reason that divorce would be acceptable because “God never said not to get divorced.” The passage He cited said “the man is joined to his wife and the two become one.” That was enough to prove that undoing the bond would be wrong.

    The same reasoning would show that the sexual union is wrong outside of marriage, before marriage, with several wives, or with someone of the same sex. True, these are all expressly forbidden in other passages, but the kind of proof Jesus used here is an additional valid proof. All of these practices differ from what God said at creation and no passage elsewhere authorizes them, therefore they are all wrong.

    On the other hand, subject to other requirements, a preacher would be an authorized “aid” to a wedding. Even though no passage specifically mentions preachers performing weddings, what does he do? He joins a man to his wife, as God authorized.

    B. Modern Applications of the Need for Bible Authority

    We have examined how the principles we are studying are demonstrated by various Bible events or applied by faithful Bible teachers. Let us now apply the same principles to some practices we may consider today.

    Note the chart below that summarizes these points:

    Going and preaching the gospel — Mark 16:15,16

    God said to go preach the gospel to every creature. If we preach man-made doctrines, we are not preaching the gospel. Therefore, to preach them is unacceptable.

    On the other hand, there are many ways a person might “go” into all the world. He might walk or use an “aid,” such as riding a donkey, car, chariot, plane, etc. These things may not be specifically mentioned, but any or all of them would be acceptable because they fit the definition of what is stated: “go,” preach the gospel.

    In the same way, there are many things a person could do that would constitute preaching the gospel. He might speak directly to a group of people, write them a letter, divide them up into classes. Or he might use an “aid,” such as radio or TV, blackboard, projector, or Internet. All such would be acceptable, though not specifically mentioned, because they fit the meaning of what God said to do. When doing them, we are simply doing what God said: preach the gospel.

    Baptism — Romans 6:4; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38

    God said people should be “buried” in baptism. Sprinkling and pouring do not constitute burial. They do not fit the definition. If God did not care what action was involved, He could have simply said, “Put water on the people,” or “Make them wet.” But when He said to bury them, and nowhere said to sprinkle or pour, then sprinkling and pouring must be wrong.

    Likewise, we are told that, before they can be baptized, people must hear the gospel and believe it, and repent of sins. Babies and animals cannot do these things, so to baptize them would be to do differently from what God said. This would not fit the meaning of God’s instructions. God may not have expressly said not to baptize babies or animals, but to do so would be wrong.

    Suppose someone says, “I think it would be beautiful to dip a rose in water and sprinkle the water for baptism.” Would the rose be a legitimate “aid” to baptism? No, the rose might be an aid to sprinkling, but baptism is a burial and sprinkling does fit. So the rose is not a true aid.

    On the other hand, you can bury someone in water in a river, lake, or man-made baptistery. No matter which you use, you are doing what God said. You are burying people in baptism. So the river, baptistery, etc., are all legitimate aids to baptism.

    The collection — 1 Corinthians 16:1,2

    God said for the church to obtain funds by taking up a collection of the first day of the week and each person gives according to his prosperity. Nowhere did He say for churches to have rummage sales, bake sales, or to operate businesses for profit to make money. To do these would be to do something different from what He said.

    Likewise, to take up collections on some other day of the week would be different from what He said. He may not have expressly said not to do these things, but when He said to take up collections on the first day, and He never said to do these other things, then we can know that to do them would be to displease Him.

    On the other hand, God said the first day of the week, but no particular time is mentioned. So whether we do it morning, afternoon, or evening would not matter, as long as it was the first day of the week.

    Suppose, someone says, “I think we should start a grocery store to raise money.” If someone objects, they say the store is just an “aid” for raising money. A store may be an aid for operating a business, but operating a business is different from collecting money that people give as they have prospered.

    On the other hand, when we take up collections, there are many different kinds of containers we might use: hat, basket, tabletop, etc. Any of these would be legitimate aids, because we are still doing what God said: taking up a collection.

    The Lord’s Supper — Matthew 26:26-29; Acts 20:7

    Regarding the Lord’s supper, Jesus said to use bread and fruit of the vine. And we are taught by inspired example that the church did this on the first day of the week, the same day on which they had the collection. To have the supper on some other day of the week would be to do different from what Jesus said. Likewise, if we added hamburger and Coke, they would be additions, not “aids” to the Lord’s Supper. God specified bread and fruit of the vine. That would displease Him as surely as would the pine wood in the ark or the sprinkling for baptism.

    On the other hand, like with the collection, God has not specified any particular kind of container, nor any particular time on the first day for the Lord’s supper. The container(s) would be legitimate aids, and the time of day would not matter, because we would still be doing what God said: eating the bread and drinking the fruit of the vine on the first day of the week.

    Music in worship — Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16

    God said to “sing” psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, making melody in your heart. Every New Testament passage that mentions music in worship says to “sing.” Nowhere does God say to play on instruments. To play on instruments then, would fall outside the meaning of what God said to do. God does not have to expressly forbid them. The fact that He expressly said to sing, but nowhere says to play instruments, shows they are displeasing.

    Suppose someone says, “The piano is just an aid to the singing.” No, a piano is an aid to playing, but playing is a different kind of music from singing, just like pine is different from gopher wood in the ark, and hamburger is different from bread on the Lord’s supper. The piano is unauthorized because when we use it we are doing something different from what God said to do.

    On the other hand, if we sing songs that we find in a songbook, or if we sing various parts (soprano, alto, etc.), we are just doing what God said. We are singing and making melody in our hearts. The songbook is a legitimate aid.

     

1 comment
  • Rev. Marilyn J. Hart
    Rev. Marilyn J. Hart Thank you honey! God loves us for the love we have for Him! For it is the love of Christ that has brought us together and whom keeps our love strengthened!

    We love Jesus! Praise the Lord!
    August 10, 2009