Approved examples

[kf4zmt]

There are many examples (i.e. accounts of action) in the NT. Some of these we consider approved examples and therefore binding. Others we believe are incidental and therefore not binding.

Perhaps many accounts could be cited, but for now allow me to use the Lords Supper as an example. Unless I am forgetting something, the passages that record the place where the Lord's Supper was eaten state that it was done in an upper room. We say that meeting in the upper room was incidental and is therefore not binding.

My question is, "What OBJECTIVE criteria can we use to determine when an example is binding and when it is not"? I've recently listened to sermons and read articles that give guidelines. But the guidelines were all based on subjective means of making the determination between binding and not binding. Any subjective criteria will ultimately lead to division since opinion is going to become part of the decision making process and this troubles me.

 

[- DRA -]

There are many examples (i.e. accounts of action) in the NT. Some of these we consider approved examples and therefore binding. Others we believe are incidental and therefore not binding.

Perhaps many accounts could be cited, but for now allow me to use the Lords Supper as an example. Unless I am forgetting something, the passages that record the place where the Lord's Supper was eaten state that it was done in an upper room. We say that meeting in the upper room was incidental and is therefore not binding.

My question is, "What OBJECTIVE criteria can we use to determine when an example is binding and when it is not"? I've recently listened to sermons and read articles that give guidelines. But the guidelines were all based on subjective means of making the determination between binding and not binding. Any subjective criteria will ultimately lead to division since opinion is going to become part of the decision making process and this troubles me.

Don't know if this article was one that you considered. If not, it might help deciding which examples are binding and which are not.

http://truthmagazine.com/archives/volume22/TM022078.html

As for eating the Lord's Supper in an upper room, that upper room also had a window and many lamps (Acts 20:8-9).

Also, the binding versus non-binding methodology you seek should also apply to commands. Unless, of course, all are binding e.g., Luke 24:49. See the point?

 

[SoulFly51]

I use my God-given brain. That's not exactly objective, is it?

 

[elliotps932]

I use my God-given brain. That's not exactly objective, is it?

heh, nice one!

 

[archie.dean]

There are many examples (i.e. accounts of action) in the NT. Some of these we consider approved examples and therefore binding. Others we believe are incidental and therefore not binding.

Perhaps many accounts could be cited, but for now allow me to use the Lords Supper as an example. Unless I am forgetting something, the passages that record the place where the Lord's Supper was eaten state that it was done in an upper room. We say that meeting in the upper room was incidental and is therefore not binding.

My question is, "What OBJECTIVE criteria can we use to determine when an example is binding and when it is not"? I've recently listened to sermons and read articles that give guidelines. But the guidelines were all based on subjective means of making the determination between binding and not binding. Any subjective criteria will ultimately lead to division since opinion is going to become part of the decision making process and this troubles me.

This is a question that I have also been asking for a while now. I have read tons of articles (including the one submitted by DRA), studied with other Christians who are good Bible students and spent a considerable amount of time pondering this question myself. I have yet to find an answer which adequately addresses this question. Unless someone can show me some pretty convincing evidence, I don't think there is a logical way to tell the difference. Every "rule" I've encountered which claims to reveal the distinction is either misapplied or the rule itself depends upon another question which can't be answered logically.

I hate to say it, but if there is no absolute way to tell the difference, then I think attempting to bind based on examples is a flawed means of deriving authority.

 

[SoulFly51]

Any subjective criteria will ultimately lead to division since opinion is going to become part of the decision making process and this troubles me.

You ever think God may have meant for us to have opinions? You ever think God may have understood that we wouldn't agree on everything, but expects us to be unified anyway?

 

[archie.dean]

You ever think God may have meant for us to have opinions? You ever think God may have understood that we wouldn't agree on everything, but expects us to be unified anyway?

Good point and I agree - God does expect us to be united despite differing opinions. However, this does not address the question at hand.

 

[Caleb4387]

The last supper wa sin the gospels witch finished off the OT. He told his disciples to eat and drink in remebrance of him. He never tells the church of Christ to do it. We still do in our fellowships as honor and remebrance for us of what he has done.