1. Arguments from silence are logical fallacies. COC states that musical instruments are prohibited because the NT does not speak of them. However, the NT doesn't speak of such things as hymnbooks, songs sung in English, or music leaders, Does this mean to include them as well is unbiblical?
I thank you Scott for your questions and now I will answer you questions to the best of my ability based off the word of God. You have basically stated with you argument above that just because musical instruments are not specifically mentioned in the NT as being part of Christian's worship that it does not mean they can't be used. First of all you admit that they are not mentioned or found in the NT being used in Christian worship. Then in you latter arguments you try and show that they are mentioned. Then you compare hymnbooks, songs sung in English, or music leaders to that of using musical instruments.
First lets deal with your silence of scripture argument. I don't think you put much thought into this my friend. You have just put yourself in one hairy predicament. This is what you are stating with your argument. IF THE BIBLE IS SILENT ON A SPECIFIC ISSUE THAN ITS OK TO DO IT. I really don't think you are willing to stand on what you have stated. I want to know where would you draw the line and why?
. Which of the following practices, if any, would you oppose if offered by Christians as worship to God?
(a) Burning incense
(b) Using rosary beads
(c) Religious dancing
(d) Handling snakes as a token of worship
(e) Using meat and potatoes on the Lord's table
. If you would oppose any of the foregoing items, please state on what Scriptural basis you would do so.
If the silence of the scriptures are fallacy according to your view, then anything and everything that is not specifically mentioned in the bible can be done. I believe with all my heart that the bible teaches that only that which is authorized by the Bible is or can be pleasing to God. To clarify your position to me and the others reading this please answer the following questions.
1. Please indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false:
(a) Worship must be offered to God as authorized by Divine truth. True or false?
(b) Worship may be rendered to God according to that which one devises and prescribes for himself. True or false?
(c) It is possible for there to exist in our day such a thing as vain worship. True or false?
2. Are there any restrictions on what a New Testament Christian may offer as worship to God? If so, please state what they are and how they may be determined.
I have a great respect for the silence of scripture and here is why. In Gen 6:14-22 God instructs Noah to make the boat out of Gopher wood. When God told him what to make it out of he excluded any other kind of wood. He did not have to say you cant use pine, oak
.etc because God told him to use Gopher Wood. Another example is found in Lev 10:1-2 When Nadab and Abihu offer a STRANGE/UNAUTHORIZED FIRE. Obviously they did not follow what God said in Lev 16:12. He did not specifically condemn using some other kind of fire because he doesn't have to. When the word of God says something and you do something other than it says you will be doing something that is not authorized. So just because something is not specifically said it does not authorize you to do it.
"And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Col. 3:17). This verse says that regardless of our teaching or practice, it must come under the shelter of "doing all in the name of the Lord Jesus." "In the name of," means "by the authority of" and this is easily proven by Acts 4:7-10. The bible makes it crystal clear that we are not to go beyond that which is written 1Cor 4:6. Of course Scott would have us to believe that we can go beyond that which is written. We as Christians today should abide in the doctrine of Chirst (2John 1:9) and not doctrines of men (Mat 15:9) Again, in 2 John 1:9 it is said, "Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God." Doctrine is not to be treated frivolously. Paul said to Timothy, "Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee" (1 Tim. 4:16). He instructed Titus, "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1).
Now here is another powerful point I want you notice in 2 Cor. 5:7, Paul says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." Again, in Heb. 11:6, "Without faith it is impossible to please him." Christianity is a system of faith, and our worship to God must be offered in faith in order to please Him. Where there is no Word, there can be no faith, for "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Watch it, now -- no Word, no faith; no faith, no walking by faith; no walking by faith, no pleasing God! Now, that is simple, but it is Biblical and shows that we are to respect the silence of the scriptures.
Now with all this in mind I want to introduce 2 verses that tells us how it is we are to sing in our worship to God.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.
Ephesians 5:19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
Now consider the following chart.
The Bible The The
Commands voice Instrument
Speak in song can cannot
Eph 5:19
Teach can cannot
Col 3:16
Admonish can cannot
Col 3:16
Make melody can cannot
In the heart
Eph 5:19
Both of these verses are telling us the same thing. In both verses one another is the same Greek word which obviously means everyone. Everyone is to speak, teach, and admonish one another in song. This is the only authority we have for singing. Everyone in the assembly must participate in the singing or they are in violation of these two passages. Then I want you to notice that both these passages teach that the type of singing is to be Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. I would also like to add the following information on these 2 verses.
In Eph. 5:19-21 there are five plural participles which have imperative force in agreement with the verb: speaking ([@lalountes]), singing ([@adontes]), making melody ([@psallontes]), giving thanks ([@eucharistountes]), submitting yourself ([@hupotassomenoi]). These are plural, and the idea, therefore, is all of you speaking, all of you singing, all of you making melody, all of you giving thanks, all of you submitting yourselves." Notice further that the speaking is [@heautois], which is plural, meaning "to yourselves, to one another." Thayer defined it, "reciprocally, mutually, one another."
In Col. 3:16 we read, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you ... (The expression "in you" there is [@en] [@humin]. That is plural.) richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another ... (The word there is [@heautous].) ... in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Observe to whom the Colossian epistle is addressed: "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colossae" (Col. 1:2). Notice the language: "let dwell" (present imperative), "in you" (plural, that is in all of you), "one another" (a reciprocal pronoun denoting an interchange of action, according to Dana and Mantey's grammar, page 131). Please note that this construction is used when an "interchange of action" is suggested by the verb. This is accomplished when the church is engaged in congregational singing. When on group (such as a choir) sings for another group ( the listeners), no such interchange of action is involved. There is no authority for me to sing to you while you sit and listen in silence. Therefore solos and choirs are excluded from the worship God describes in the NT. Generally, people will admit that hymns, and spiritual songs mean sing. But some have tried to say that Psalms means instruments because the Old Testament Psalm included instrumental music. It should be noticed though that the instrument and the Psalm are not the same. Notice the words of Psalm 81:2 "Take a psalm, and bring hither the Timbrel, the pleasant harp with the Psaltery.
