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(continued from previous page)
 And
because application of scriptural sufficiency may be painful, we
sometimes paint our motto upon the wall, then seek ways around
it. "This is expedient (profitable)," we say. We may
judge that infant membership makes for "ties" that
will profit the church in the long run. Or, the use of an organ
will draw larger crowds, and prevent our being thought a bit
"strange" or unusual. We can "do more for the
Lord" we judge, if we develop an organizational structure
better "suited to this age." In all these matters,
human judgment is presented as superior to divine wisdom. If God
has spoken on the subject for baptism (and He has — Mk.
16:15-16) then we may rest assured that only the taught who
believe are fit subjects. To speak where God is silent (re
infants) is presumptuous sin. And if we can see that point on
infant baptism, why can we not see it on music in N.T. church
worship, or church organization?
Expedience
is no law. A thing can be considered expedient only if it
is first proven lawful; and there are things lawful which are not
expedient (1 Cor. 6:12). Surely human judgment is not equivalent
to divine mandate. God has not abdicated His throne.
Another
effort to negate God's silence is to seek shelter under some
generic command. It is oft cited, and true, that a generic
(general) command such as "go" or "teach"
also authorize methods of carrying out that command. God does
not specify that we must "go" by mule, etc., so we are
free to "go" by plane, auto, etc. We have no quarrel
with this. But "go" authorizes methods of locomotion.
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"Go"
authorizes methods of travel. It does not even authorize
preaching, or handing out tracts; when you get wherever you are
going. Authority for that must be found in "teach."
And neither of these generic commands are authority for church
organization. We have long conceded that "teach" does
not authorize a separate "Sunday School" organization;
what makes some think it authorizes a separate Benevolent
Society, or a combine of funds and executive functions under
some "sponsoring church"? God has spoken on the
matter of church organization: independent, autonomous local
churches under their own elders, and operating within their
ability. He is silent regarding any other organization, and we
must respect His silence.
Then
when someone says, "He didn't say NOT to do it;" you
know this person has flatly repudiated the principle of
"Silent Where the Bible is Silent." To be consistent
they would have to expect God to say, "Do not" to
every wrong possible in the universe. On this basis, when they
send their child to the store for a loaf of bread, they would
have to say, "Don't get onions, catsup, candy, etc
" naming every item in the store. But the parent who speaks
with authority can name what he wants, and that is it. Should we
expect less of God?
The
wise respect God's authority. They have confidence in the
completeness and adequacy of His revealed will. If He has spoken
upon a matter they seek to learn what He has said, and abide
within this boundary. They believe, "The Lord is in His
holy temple —" and they keep silence.
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