This article concludes a trio of studies intended to remind us of the precision by which we must interpret the Word of God. Jesus said “whoever reads, let him understand” (Matthew 24:15). “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Paul wrote: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17). Can two or more people study the Bible and come to the same conclusions? Yes! The Bible attests to the fact that God has given us His will that we can read, understand, and have biblical unity.
We must realize that our differences result from dividing over things not found in the Bible. “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). This principle is at work in the following slogan. “We speak where the Bible speaks, and we are silent where the Bible is silent.”
Division Is Over Things Not In the Bible
The following examples serve to remind us to respect the silence of the Bible.
God appeared to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-4). What kind of bush was it? God did not reveal what kind it was, therefore we must set aside the answers of men and conclude that it is unrevealed. We can give our opinion, but we must not bind it. We must use these examples to realize God’s divine principle in matters that are revealed, and unrevealed.
Paul’s thorn in the flesh is recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:7-8. Did Paul have a thorn in the flesh? Yes. We are all agreed because this is revealed. What was it? This is not revealed, it is a matter of opinion. Commentators vary in their answers; false teachers, uncontrollable temper, fleshly desires, mental depression, eyesight. God did not reveal Paul’s thorn in the flesh, so we can conclude that Paul did have a thorn in the flesh, but we cannot say exactly what it was.
Music in the worship. What does the Bible say concerning music in worship? The following passages in the New Testament authorize singing only in worship (Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25; Romans 15:9; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13; Hebrews 2:12; 13:15). When someone wants instrumental music in worship, they want something the Bible does not authorize. We are all agreed the Bible authorizes congregational singing, but we are divided over instrumental music. Man makes divisions, not God! People add to and pervert the word of God when they add instrumental music, or anything not authorized by the scriptures!
“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11). We are not to align or associate ourselves with error, because if we do we become partakers of their evil deeds. We can understand the Bible alike when we do only what is authorized by God as revealed in His word.
SM
