"It Doesn't Say Not To"

People often use the silence of Scripture to justify what they do in religion. In my discussions with people about various features of a church’s worship assemblies, program of work, or organization, I sometimes ask where the Bible authorizes this or that. The most common response is, “The Bible doesn’t say not to, ” or “If God did not want us to ______, surely He would have condemned it.”

History shows that this question is an old one. The Albigenses of 12th century France rejected priestly garments, altars, and crosses in their worship assemblies because they found no New Testament authority for them. A few years later, another French group called the Waldenses rejected the Roman Catholic hierarchy, finding no New Testament priesthood except the “royal priesthood” of all believers (1 Peter 2:9). Both of these groups were persecuted ruthlessly for their beliefs, which I think shows that they had serious convictions about these matters.

Even leaders of the Protestant Reformation had differing views on the Bible’s silence. Swiss reformer Ulrich Zwingli taught that what the Bible does not command, we may not do. On that basis, he rejected the use of images, crosses, and instrumental music. In contrast, German reformer Martin Luther taught that what the Bible does not forbid, we may do. Casual observation shows that most religious folks have a decided preference for Luther’s view.

Is the Bible’s silence permissive? Are we free to do anything and everything that God does not specifically prohibit? Does “it doesn’t say not to” give us a blank check?

We certainly don’t think so in issues of everyday morality. Consider polygamy, for instance — a person’s having more than one spouse at the same time. You’ll find no New Testament passage that reads, “Thou shalt not have two or more wives.” But nearly all professed Christians recognize that God does not permit polygamy. Why? Because there are New Testament passages which specify that marriage involves one man and one woman (1 Corinthians 7:2; Romans 7:1-3). That rules out anything else. Do you see? God doesn’t have to specifically prohibit a thing for us to know that it is wrong.

Consider another example. Under the Law of Moses, God instructed that Aaron and his sons, of the tribe of Levi, be set apart as priests (Exodus 28:1-3). The Law said nothing about priests coming from any other tribe. God did not say, “You shall not appoint priests from Reuben, or Simeon, or Judah, or Dan, or Naphthali, or Gad, or Asher, or Issachar, or Zebulun, or Benjamin, or Ephraim, or Manasseh.” He simply said the priests would come from Levi. Yet the author of Hebrews says that God’s silence regarding the other tribes meant no one from those tribes could serve as a priest under the Mosaic Law — including Jesus Himself (Hebrews 7:13-14). To that inspired writer, God’s silence was prohibitive, not permissive.

This case is not merely theoretical. God’s will on this matter was put to the test several times. In each case, non-Levites who tried to perform priestly functions were punished: Dathan, Abiram, and On, of the tribe of Reuben (Numbers 16:1-35); Saul, of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 9:1-2; 13:8-10); and Uzziah, of the tribe of Judah (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). In the matter of priests, God’s silence about the other eleven tribes was prohibitive.

Now, apply that same principle to some other matters.

Infant baptism. The Bible says that penitent believers are to be baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). We have no authority for baptizing infants, who can neither believe nor repent. No, the Bible does not say, “Don’t baptize babies.” But what it does say excludes that practice.

Baptism as a burial. The Bible describes baptism as a burial (Romans 6:4), an action involving much water (John 3:23). We have no Divine mandate to pour or sprinkle water on a person and call it baptism.

The Lord’s Supper. The elements of the supper are identified as bread and fruit of the vine (Matthew 26:26-29). We are given no permission to use pizza and beer or hamburgers and coke in observing this memorial.

Music in worship. The New Testament teaches us to sing praises to God (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 14:15; James 5:13). It does not instruct us to praise Him with instruments. One we can do with full assurance of God’s approval. The other is sheer presumption.

The same principle applies to any number of innovations in the church’s work, worship, and organization. Remember, if God has specified what He wants, we are not left free to make additions or substitutions.

The solution? We need to stay focused on what God has said He wants. “The Bible doesn’t say not to” is not sufficient reason for us to engage in this or that activity. Let’s be content to do what God has commanded.

Mission Creep

I’m reading more and more about “mission creep” these days. I see the term in columns about politics, business, even education. “Mission creep” is when an organization gradually drifts away from its original purpose, taking on new and different functions. Eventually that original purpose may be minimized or even abandoned in favor of new goals.

Mission creep happens all the time in business. A company starts out producing one thing, then expands into other areas, perhaps even leaving behind its original business altogether. Just one example: Sony, which today produces everything from portable stereos to motion pictures, started out making rice boilers.

Mission creep sometimes affects political and social organizations. A group is founded to promote a certain agenda or address a certain need. But with passing time and changes in leadership, the emphasis of the group’s activities change, maybe even to the point that its original work is no longer considered important.

Mission creep happens in churches, too. The church is “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Our mission as a local church, as outlined in the New Testament, is proclaiming the gospel, providing spiritual strength for the disciples, and assisting needy Christians when the need arises. But many churches have expanded their operations to include secular education, physical fitness, child care, financial services, recreation, entertainment, community services, health services, political activism, and just about anything else you can imagine. Some are so busy preparing people for next week or next month that they have little concern with preparing them for eternity.

Preachers can also experience mission creep. The evangelist is given the mission of proclaiming the gospel (2 Timothy 4:2). He teaches the lost how to be saved, and he teaches the saved how to build lives that glorify God. But many preachers are occupied with other things. They work as counselors, social directors, or administrators in the diversified operations of their churches. Some spend most of their time organizing community events, serving as activists for various causes, writing books, or selling something. Some misguided brethren make the preacher a de facto overseer of the church, while others expect him to be always on call as a taxi driver, dispute settler, janitor, and general assistant for the church and its members. Often, “preach the word” is very low on his to-do list.

In fact, any disciple can struggle with mission creep. A Christian’s mission is to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness above all else (Matthew 6:33). But Satan is always working to get us sidetracked. He pressures us to change our priorities, to push God into the background and replace Him with something else. Usually that “something else” isn’t inherently bad — work, family, recreation, prosperity, education — it just doesn’t belong in the position of directing and driving our lives.

Let’s be diligent. Mission creep, as the name implies, happens gradually. People don’t abandon their prime directives all at once. Churches don’t morph into country clubs or social service providers overnight. Preachers don’t change their job descriptions all of a sudden. And nobody just wakes up one morning and says, “I think I’ll quit trusting God today.” These things happen slowly. If we aren’t careful, we won’t even notice. “For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:1-3).