In the previous articles in our series, we have seen that we need to have authority for what we do in service to God, how to go to the Scriptures to establish authority, and what is the difference between generic and specific authority. So far, our discussion has focused on what the Bible says. But what do we do when the Scriptures are silent on a particular question or topic? We will discuss that in this article.
Two Approaches to Silence
Some view silence as permissive. If a practice is not specifically forbidden, they believe it is allowed. Others consider silence as being prohibitive. They contend that if a practice is not explicitly authorized, then it is forbidden.
Which of these two approaches should we take? Consider what the Hebrew writer said about Jesus and the priesthood:
“Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests” (Hebrews 7:11-14).
Under the old law, priests came from the tribe of Levi (Numbers 3:6-10). The high priest descended from Aaron, who was also from the tribe of Levi (Exodus 6:16, 20). Jesus, by contrast, was from the tribe of Judah. Therefore, He could not serve as priest under the old law. Why not? By specifying the tribe of Levi, all other tribes were excluded, even without a specific prohibition. The law’s silence on priests coming from Judah was not permissive, but prohibitive.
The conclusion upon which this principle is derived is so settled that an exception could not be made even for the Son of God. Silence about priests from Judah meant that the law had to change – and only God could do this – in order to allow Jesus to serve as our high priest.
Application: Music in Worship
Remember how we establish Bible authority – we see what God tells us, shows us, and implies to us. When it comes to the music we use in our worship to God, singing is authorized.
- We are told to sing – “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16). James said we are to sing when we are cheerful (James 5:13). Paul also told us about singing when he made statements about how we are to sing “with the spirit” and “with the understanding” (1 Corinthians 14:15, KJV).
- We are shown that disciples would sing – When Paul and Silas were thrown in prison in Philippi, they spent their time “praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25).
- Singing in the assembly is implied – “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). The context of that passage is not about an assembly per se (and neither is the parallel passage in Colossians 3:16), but an assembly is included by implication because we follow this instruction by singing “to one another.”
What about using instruments? These are very common in the religious world. In fact, if a church does not use musical instruments in its worship, many consider that to be strange. But are we authorized to use instruments in our worship?
- There is no command or statement in the New Testament about using instruments in our worship.
- There is no example of the early church using instruments in their worship.
- There is nothing that implies that instruments were part of New Testament worship.
The New Testament specifies singing, and everyone who is familiar with the Bible knows this to be true. However, the New Testament is silent about using instruments. What does that mean?
Remember the principle we learned from the passage about Jesus and the priesthood. When God specifies something, everything else is excluded. Someone may point out that instruments were used in the Old Testament, and we will discuss the difference between the Old and New Testaments in the next lesson. We are striving to follow the pattern revealed to us in the New Testament, since this is the message the apostles taught, and the Lord expects us to follow their teaching (Matthew 28:20). Under the new covenant, the use of instruments in worship is unauthorized, even without a specific prohibition.
Aids and Additions
Some might argue that we use other things not mentioned in the New Testament in relation to our singing. The New Testament says nothing about Christians using song books, pitch pipes, or a song leader when they sang “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3:16). How are these different from instrumental music?
That is a valid question. The answer is that there is a difference between an aid and an addition.
- An aid helps us carry out what God wants us to do. In other words, it is expedient [we will consider that term in just a moment]. Using song books helps the congregation know the words of the songs so everyone can sing them. Using a pitch pipe helps the brethren start in the same key. Using a song leader helps everyone sing together. What these all have in common is that they help our singing.
- An addition introduces a new practice. In our application about music in worship, instruments introduce playing to our singing. Though some may argue that musical instruments “help” congregational singing, they only do so by introducing a new element into our worship. Song books, pitch pipes, and song leaders do not do this.
Paul talked about expedients in his first letter to the Corinthians:
“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12).
The word profitable (expedient, KJV) means “to bear together” and to “contribute in order to help” (Thayer). It is what is necessary in order to carry out a particular work. As Paul explained in the verse above, an expedient must first be lawful (authorized) before we can claim it helps us carry out what we are authorized to do. We have already seen that musical instruments in worship are unauthorized. But besides this, they do not help fulfill the purpose of singing.
One reason we sing is to teach: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16). Instruments cannot teach. They do not aid in fulfilling that purpose. Yet something like a song book is different. Song books help us teach; therefore, they are an authorized aid for that practice. Just as we can teach by reading out of a printed Bible, we can sing out of a printed song book.
Conclusion
Understanding what the Bible teaches also means understanding how to interpret its silence. Everything we do must be done by the authority of Christ (Colossians 3:17). Instead of saying, “The Bible doesn’t say not to,” in order to justify a particular practice, we should simply do what the Bible teaches us to do.
