“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world” (John 17:17, KJV).
Loved ones, the Word of God refers to the 66 books of the Bible, seen as divinely inspired scripture containing God's revelation and guidance. The Word of God also refers to Jesus Christ as the incarnate Word. The Word of God refers to God's direct spoken messages to people by the prophets and apostles. The Word of God is divine truth, power, and will. It signifies ultimate authority, a source of life, truth, and spiritual transformation, acting as a lamp for guidance and a sharp sword for spiritual discernment.
Isn't it great that through the knowledge of the Word of God He has given mankind, “all things that pertain unto life and godliness…?” (2 Peter 1:3). Yet this knowledge is given in such a way as to be brief. In other words, God's Book is comprehensively detailed in regard to that which matters and is silent on things that have no bearing on what He wants His creation to do.
This construction follows what is known as the "Law of Parsimony." The meaning of "parsimonious:" Exhibiting frugality; in the case of Scripture, the use of a minimum number of words to establish a Truth. That is to say, "that no more causes should be assumed that will account for the effect" (Oxford Dictionary, 1959).
There are many people who try to argue that because God did not specifically prohibit a certain thing, it cannot be wrong to practice it. For instance: God did not say anywhere in the New Testament that you shall NOT use musical instruments in worship to Him. Does this mean we can (by faith) legitimately use such instruments and be pleasing to Him? (cf. Hebrews 11:6). Remember, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Let us see what His Word reveals, in order to determine His will.
In Genesis 6:4, Noah was instructed by the Lord to build an Ark of "gopher wood." What this wood resembled or looked like can only be left to man's conjecture, as there is no listing of such today. But what can be established is that God was specific on the type of wood Noah was to use. He was not generic in His orders.
In other words, He did not say to build the ark of just any wood. Notice, God did not waste words by saying Noah could NOT build it out of oak, pine, or cedar. In other words, He was silent in this regard. Now look at how pleased God was with His servant Noah.
The Holy Spirit inspired the Hebrews writer to tell us that, “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Hebrews 11:7).
The Strong's dictionary explains that "godly fear" is to have a state of apprehensiveness or reverence. Another way of putting it would be that Noah showed attentive respect for the words issued in regard to the construction material to be used in making the ark.
It was "by faith” that Noah moved to do that which was pleasing to God and so be written up in Hebrews chapter eleven – Faith's Hall of Fame. God did not have to enumerate a prohibited list of timbers for Noah because he understood that gopher wood was the timber to use.
Paul warned in 1 Corinthians 4:6: “And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.”
Don’t Go Beyond What Is Written – Numbers chapter 20 gives us a potent example of God's parsimony at work in His instructions to man, and of the unfortunate results of not adhering to "what [He has] written.”
“7 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. 9 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also” (Numbers 20:7-11).
Notice that verse 8 records the command for Moses to follow in order to supply water for the murmurers at Meribah. God parsimoniously said, "Speak ye unto the rock." He was silent in regard to other possible methods of extrusion. For instance, God did not say, "You (Moses) shall not kick the rock, split the rock, or strike the rock." Yet, what did Moses do? The text says, "And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice” (Numbers 20:11).
The result: “And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them” (v. 12). The consequences of this action are such that Moses is classed, along with his brother Aaron, as an unbeliever.
Although Moses makes it into Faith's Hall of Fame for the many acts of faith he carried out (Hebrews 11:24-29), yet he is recorded by the same writer as through unbelief being disobedient to the commands issued in the wilderness (Hebrews 3:16-19).
Moses was simply not "united in faith” on that occasion. Why? Because he did not carry out exactly what the Lord required him to do. “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Hebrews 4:2). “Without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
The Hebrews writer has a definitive word to say in regard to the silence of the Scriptures. In Hebrews 7:11-14, we read, "11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.”
The writer makes the point that Moses wrote only of the tribe of Levi, from which the priests must descend. There can be found nowhere in the Law of Moses a statement to the effect that a priest may NOT come from Judah, or for that matter, from any of the other tribes. Did God have to declare the prohibition of each tribe unto the office of the priest? No! Why? Because the Jews understood the law authorized only Levites to that office.
Now, apply this principle to activities with which people take liberal license today, such as: playing musical instruments in worship to God, raising finance for the church through cake sales, Bingo parties, car washes, etc. In each case, God did not say in the New Testament, "You cannot do it this way," but He did say how He expects you to conform to His will.
Concerning the music to be used as worship to God, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, and Hebrews 2:12 all say "sing." The command to sing eliminates the addition of mechanical instruments, clapping, dancing, etc. (cf. Revelation 22:18-19).
Concerning the collection for the saints, the Holy Spirit says, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him…” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). There is no authorization here for bingo, etc. as a means of funding the saints.
To practice these activities any other way than what is written is to do as Moses did in Numbers 20:11; that is, “to go beyond the things that are written.”
We can know from the example given in Numbers 20:12 that punishment will be sure to follow if we do not adhere to that which is written. To go beyond the written Word is to exhibit unbelief. This is another way of saying we lack faith.
It is our fervent hope that if you are not adhering to the Word of God, then please would you direct your eyes to 2 John 9 and note how one may fellowship the father and the Son: “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”
We must abide in the teaching of Christ, i.e., the "perfect ...law of liberty;" "the gospel of Christ;” "the faith” (James 1:21-22, 25; Galatians 1:7; 3:23-25).
Remember, just because the Lord is silent on a subject does not mean He authorizes its practice; in fact, the very opposite is true. It would do man well to have the old restoration plea uppermost in his mind in regard to silence of the Scriptures; that is, "Speak where the Bible speaks; remain silent where the Bible is silent.”
The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. Through the free gift of God’s grace by Jesus’ blood (Ephesians 2:8; Revelation 1:5) and your obedient faith (Romans 1:5; 10:17; 16:26), salvation is offered. If you have Bible questions or wish to comment on this post, please do so. Lord willing, a Bible answer will be provided for every Bible question.
The churches of Christ are neither Catholic, Protestant, nor Jew (Romans 16:16; Matthew 16:18-19). We are the loving suffering body of Christ (Ephesians 1:20-23; 4:4-6) – CHRISTIANS: “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16; cf. Acts 11:26; 26:28).
We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35). Samuel A. Matthews - Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA.
