The Authority of Biblical Silence and Instrumental Music in Worship God did not say Thou shalt not use instrumental music in worship. Is this the authority of Biblical silence to provide a legal loophole to add instrumental music in worship? That is false, after the fall into musical idolatry at Mount Sinai Christ the Rock ordained the Qahal, synagogue, ekklesia or Church of Christ in the wilderness. He excluded even preachers because the one-piece pattern which never changed was to PREACH the Word by READING the Word. He excluded vocal or instrumental music for the simple simons who cannot be silent when God speaksonly through His word.
2.09.13 Over and over the ASSERTIVE will of God is to teach His word: Jesus said the kingdom does not come with religious observations.
Christ in Isaiah 57 and the absolute Law of Silence against all of the performing arts and crafts
Isaiah 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea,
Quĭesco ,
when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
Isaiah 57:20] impii autem quasi mare fervens quod quiescere non potest et redundant fluctus eius in conculcationem et lutum
“quiērunt Aequora,” the waves are at rest, do not rise, standing waters,
2. Act., to cause to cease, render quiet, stop, etc.: “laudes,” Sen. Herc. Oet. 1584.—Hence, quĭētus , a, um, P. a., at rest, calm, quiet
4. To make a pause in speaking: quiescere, id est, hēsukhazein, “ludendi est quidem modus
Silence: lūdo , B. To play, sport, frisk, frolic: “dum se exornat, nos volo Ludere inter nos,” have some fun, dance,
Silence: A. go sport, play with any thing, to practise as a pastime, amuse one's self with any thing “carmina pastorum,
Silence: B. to sport, dally, wanton (cf. "amorous play," Milton, P. L. 9, 1045): “scis solere illam aetatem tali ludo ludere,” Plaut. Most. 5,
Silence: C. Ludere aliquem or aliquid, to play, mock, imitate, mimic a person or thing imitate work, make believe work,Mŏdus 2. The measure of tones, measure, rhythm, melody, harmony, time; in poetry, measure, metre, mode: “vocum,” Cic. Div. 2, 3, 9: “musici,” Quint. 1, 10, 14: “lyrici,” Ov. H. 15, 6: “fidibus Latinis Thebanos aptare modos,” Hor. Ep. 1, 3, 12: Bacchico exsultas (i. e. exsultans) modo, Enn. ap. Charis [grace]. p. 214 P. (Trag. v. 152 Vahl.): “flebilibus modis concinere,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 44, 106: saltare [dance] ad tibicinis modos, to the music or sound of the flute, Liv. 7, 2: “nectere canoris Eloquium vocale modis,” Juv. 7, 19.—Fig.: “verae1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a QUIET and PEACABLE life in all GODLINESS and HONESTY [gravity].
The men should TURN UP holy Palms to prevent WRATH or Orgy: David lifted His Hands to the Word of God. Men who are holy keep silence.
SO THAT:
1Ti 2:3 For this is GOOD and ACCEPTABLE in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be SAVED, and to come unto the KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTHS.
Neither preacher nor elder has ANY knowledge other than the Word of Christ.
1Timothy 2:11 Let the woman LEARN in silence with all subjection.
1Timothy 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach,
nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.MEN AND WOMEN ATTEND THE TIME OF REST, READING AND REHEARSING THE WORD OF GOD TO LEARN. Therefore, why would any godly person want to PERFORM when Jesus comes to speak through His Word only
It would be pure legalism to think that "doctors of the law take away the key to knowledge" can be enhanced by the field of "theology."
1.04.11 When people speak out of their own imagination instead of the Word as Spirit by Christ in the Prophets and Apostles, Christ calls it blasphemy. Of Hezekiah's Plague stopping exorcism used to say that "God commanded instrumental praise and we must not be disobedient" Christ calls them BLASPHEMERS."Philodemus considered it paradoxical that music should be regarded as veneration of the gods while musicians were paid for performing this so-called veneration. Again, Philodemus held as self deceptive the view that music mediated religious ecstasy.
He found it significant that, on the whole, only women and effeminate men fell into this folly. Accordingly, nothing of value could be attributed to music; it was no more than a slave of the sensation of pleasure, which satisfied much in the same way that food and drink did.
He saw the entire condition induced by the noise of cymbals and tambourines as a disturbance of the spirit.
See Christ defining Blasphemy of The Holy Spirit
For I spake NOT unto your fathers, nor commanded them
in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt,
concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: Jeremiah 7:22
But this thing commanded I them, saying,
Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: (CENI)
and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, (CENI)
that it may be well unto you. Jeremiah 7:23
Jer 23:17 They say still unto them that despise me,Despise tthe Word of God of God and using your own words is:
The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace;
and they say unto every one that walketh
after the imagination of his own heart,
No evil shall come upon you. "You can SOW discord and steal from the owners"
Blasphēm-eō , pf.A. “beblasphēmēka” D.18.10:—speak profanely of sacred things, “eis theous” Pl.R.381e; offer rash prayers, Id.Alc.2.149c; b. kata tinosutter imprecations against, Aeschin.1.180.2. speak ill or to the prejudice of one, slander, “peri tēs emēs diatribēs” Isoc.15.2, cf. D.l.c., ib.82; “b. kata tinos” Isoc.12.65, cf. Arist.Fr.44; “hosa eis hēmas eblasphēmēsan” D.51.3; “b. tina” Babr.71.6, Ev.Luc.23.39, etc.: abs., Phld.Lib.p.8 O.:—Pass., to have evil spoken of one, “beblasphēmēmenous” Id.Vit.p.12 J., cf. 1 Ep.Cor.10.30.3. speak impiously or irreverently of God, blaspheme, “eis ton Kurion” LXX Da.3.29(96); “eis to pneuma to hagion” Ev.Marc.3.29; eis ta theia Vett. Val.58.12; “tous theous” Id.67.20: abs., LXX 2 Ma.10.34, al., Ev.Matt.9.3.See Al Maxey and the Law of Silence
Read Al Maxey claiming NO authority for the fast. Thus proving that IMPROVISING was not condemned.
Al Maxey using the Synagogue and the law of silence to authorize instrumental music.
What is the Doctrine of Christ according to Christ?Review of Al Maxey on the Law of Silence and the Synagogue. The function of the synagogue always existed under several Hebrew words. A place of instruction is implicit in the command for the priests to instruct. Furthermore, Numbers 10:7 excludes the alarm as "playing instruments and making a joyful noise before the Lord" when the people are GATHERED for instruction.
No. Remember that Jesus said that the "Doctors of the Law take away the key to knowledge." He meant that when we see His words as a legal document the doctors of the law automatically look for loopholes to get around the clear statement of Scripture.
Once your legal loophole through the empty spaces in the fabric of God's Word allows you to add instrumental music in worship, it will not be long before another "gap" allows the exercise of sexual authority by rejecting even direct commands of Paul that women should not expose their sexuality to attract seekers nor exercise such unlawful authority in the collective assembly. Click For More.
This legalistic loophole seems to be based upon rejecting direct commands perhaps because there is no LAW which says: "Thou must obey only direct commands." And soon the law of silence begins to reject the loud direct commands of Christ through Paul.
We can use the direct command of Paul to teach and admonish one another with inspired Biblical material. This is such magic that the singing and melody is no longer like the nations of the world but is in spirit or in the mind. After all, Jesus said that He seeks those who will worship "in spirit" and according to truth.
For those who take Christ at His word there is no need for legal loopholes. For instance, those who refuse to use mechanical devices to worship or aid the worship of a Spirit God practice what the Bible explicitly teaches. That should be enough..
However, this writer has never heard of a non-musical preacher deliberately using the methods of Change Agentry to alter the minds of the congregation, and then lie, cheat, steal and threaten in order to remove an organ from a church which is happy with it.
That is, the "Authority of Biblical Silence" has never been used as a legalistic device to remove an instrument.
On the other hand: The authority of Biblical silence is only useful to those who feel the need to "go beyond what is written" and improve upon inspiration. Then God's silence or "careless oversight" is used as a legalistic device to force people to engage in practices even about which the Bible is Absolutely Not Silent.
We can look at this issue in two ways: first, Scripture speaking for itself urges us to not go beyond what is written or we will automatically take our eyes off Jesus and look to a new "revealer" of truth. It needs no proof that those who claim to be Christ-O-Centric but then put themselves as theatrical performers "at the center" can do so only by making Scripture into one of those new "rubber wineskins" which can be huffed, and puffed and blown up big enough to fit a gospel which they define as "fermenting wine."
Second. the Bible fairly screams out at us about the evil uses of music as well as its use in the Temple-State for dedications, purifications or plague stopping -- never for congregational worship.
The Scriptures Leave No Silence Loop-holes About Music
Now, in detail: First, a lot of the New Testament is devoted to teaching what is true and rejecting what is not revealed by Christ. The Corinthians tended to make favorite men into idols and thereby led to go beyond what is written:
"Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit,
so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying,
Do not go beyond what is written then you will not take pride in one man over against another." 1 Corinthians 4:6Once we begin to listen to someone tell us what Christ should have said he or she becomes the center taking the place of Jesus. Then, we get into battles over who is the Top Gun Preacher of the Brotherhood. Rather than looking for loopholes shouldn't our spirit be like that of Paul whose spirit automatically accepted the words of God:
"We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written,
I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 2 Cor 4:13
Accepting the witness of God is a primary test of fellowship:
Those who bring their sanity into question by claiming to be Post Modern or "beyond the commands, examples and inferences of God" will nevertheless fly into a fit if you try to fill in their silence of dishonesty. John warned these "mortally in danger" people that:
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 1 John 5: 5:8
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God (Spirit) is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 1 John 5: 5:9
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:
he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 1 John 5: 5:10And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5: 5:11
Secondly, the Authority of Biblical Silence is used in a legalistic way to demand that because Paul did not legislate against instrumental music in worship we should not limit ourselves to what Paul said, or, "If Paul did not outlaw instruments then we have the legal authority to add them."
God's authority cannot be restricted to a "law" which can be used to include what He has not included.
Music can be restricted because God has not been silent.
This is especially true when we look at the history of "worship" and find that music was excluded from the people's worship even under the law of Moses.
Begin by understanding that God assigned the priests and Levites to stand between His symbolic presence and the "congregation." This was punishment for the musical idolatry at Mount Sinai as Israel rejected The Book of The Covenant and demanded a "god" like the nation they had just left. This was a golden calf representing Apis the visible incarnation of Osiris. Their "rising up to play" can be understanding by understanding Osiris worship.
Next, God gave Israel The Book of The Law as punishment to enable a tiny remnant to resist the idolatry of the like the nations worship in Canaan.
Then, Israel's elders rejected God as their King and Priest and demanded a king like the nations so that they could worship like the nations.
Finally, God permitted Israel a form of worship profitable only to the purification of the body (Heb 9:9f). This legal form of worship was "like the nation's" worship because that is what Israel demanded when they fired God and demanded a king like the nations. In this new secular form of ritual:, the Levites were organized under the commanders of the army to serve in the temple. This temple worship inside the gates, was performed by priests, Levites and representatives of the people. Only mature males were required to come to the temple three times a year and from the testimony of many scholars:
The Temple Worship With Music Was not On The Seventh Day Sabbath
The Sabbath was the Jewish holy day. However, keeping the Sabbath would not and will not permit music.
The "congregation" was "outside of the camp" and it those who had been called. Worship during the loud noise during animal sacrifices was to bow or fall on their faces. The loud noise which we confuse with music was always a reminder that the people could not "come boldly before the throne of grace." It reminded the people every day that they had rejected the Covenant of Grace.
When Jesus came, "worship" in Jerusalem and Judea consisted of two types. First, the Sadducees were the civil authorities and the high priest got his office as "high bidder" to the Roman government. The temple and its "religion" was a creature of the civil state just as it had been under the Old Testament kings.
The "congregation" did not participate in this inside the camp ritual.
Jesus was not of the priestly line and therefore would have been put outside the temple when the real sacrificial action began with loud noise. Both the people and Jesus would have heard the horrible noise of sacrifice and "music" inside of the temple but they were never participants in this ritual.
Paul wrote:
Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. Hebrews 9:1
Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went alway into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. Hebrews 9:6But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: Hebrews 9:7
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Hebrews 9:8
Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Hebrews 9:9
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. Hebrews 9:10
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Hebrews 9:11
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12
For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: Hebrews 9:13
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:14
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:15
He continues to show that the rules of worship involved the sacrificial action of the priests and the High Priest making the blood offering for himself and the people. Paul does not implicate the Levites or their musical noise in the heavenly tabernacle. Jesus has replaced the Old Covenant frequent "act of worship" with a one-time act of offering Himself.
Second, the Hasidean which had been replaced by the Pharisees promoted the synagogue worship which consisted chiefly of reading the Word and prayer.
The "congregation" was allowed to participate in the synagogue service because it was "outside the gates" or outside of Herod's temple.
Jesus attended and participated in the synagogue reading and explaining what He read. However, this was not properly "worship" because Jesus insisted that worship be "in spirit (mind) and in truth (His Word)". He further told the people to pray in private and he spoke harshly about the prayers as "acts of worship" which are always, by clear definition, to be seen of men.
The synagogue had absolutely no instrumental music and what we call "singing" was cantillating the Biblical text to learn the Word of God.
Paul told the Hebrews that they would have to go "outside the camp" in order to find and worship Jesus. Because Jesus eliminated the two temples He reinforced His direct command that worship be "in spirit and in truth."
Paul also spoke of the animal sacrifices, inside the camp and accompanied with loud noise like all of the other surrounding nations. He told the people that their individual sacrifices were to be "the fruit of the lips" as they came "boldly before the throne of grace in heaven itself."
Therefore, it is not very informed to say that the Bible is "silent" about instrumental music and we therefore can add instruments simply by arguing that the "law of silence" is not valid.
Now, Let's Recycle by Looking Back Over the Legalistic Worship and see that there is no place for music in the people's worship
From the garden of Eden to the Exodus people found favor with God by obeying His commandments. Abraham's justification by faith meant that he kept all of God's laws (Genesis 26:5). All instances of music have an evil connotation and no one attempts to "come into the presence of God by "polluting Him with a flute."
Even the meaning of the "serpent" has roots into Chaldean soothsaying with music and Jubal was the father of those who handle "without authority" musical instruments because they were involved in mind control. The non-canonical literature of the ancient world says that Satan taught Jubal how to seduce people with music and mixed-sex choirs.
God's Covenant of Grace included no clergy and no music.
After Israel's Musical "Play" at Mount Sinai God said:
"Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. And they shall keep all the instruments (carriage, furniture, utensils etc.) of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priests office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. Numbers 3: 6-10
The Temple was the headquarters of a like the nations civil state after Israel rejected the Theocratic rule of God and demanded a king to rule them like the nations so that they could worship like the nations. God warned that this Monarchy or Kingdom Period would see the kings confiscating the people's property, persons and lead them into captivity and almost total destruction.
The Law of Moses was unalterable and anyone who amended it was condemned. It included the silver trumpets as signaling devices and they were not to be used in the triumph-over or rejoicing sense when the congregation was called into assembly Numbers 10:7
I don't see how anyone could read the many accounts--including Acts 7--of the FALL FROM GRACE because of musical idolatry and see AMOS is just condemning a "bad mental attitude." Sure, a father and son going in to the same temple prostitute was JUST a bad attitude.
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel;
Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. Jeremiah 7:21
21. Put ... burnt offerings unto ... sacrifices ... eat flesh--Add the former (which the law required to be wholly burnt) to the latter (which were burnt only in part), and "eat flesh" even off the holocausts or burnt offerings. As far as I am concerned, saith Jehovah, you may do with one and the other alike. I will have neither (Isa 1:11 Ho 8:13 Am 5:21,22).For I spake NOT unto your fathers,
Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Isaiah 1:9
Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. Isaiah 1:10 [John calls Jerusalem Sodom]
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. Isaiah 1:11
When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
Isaiah 1:12
nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt,
concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: Jeremiah 7:22
The ONLY rationale for the LOUD NOISE never called music was as SERVICE (hard bondage) to the priests in making animal sacrifices.
If the Sacrificial System was Sabazianism or worship of the STARRY HOST (Acts 7) and the LOUD was only in connection with the sacrificial system and in Jerusalem around but NEVER in the Holy Place (type of the church)--
Then, Peck and friends are ACTIVELY PROMOTING the worship of the Starry Host, restoring the SACRIFICIAL NOISE (never called music), and restoring the SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM of all pagan religions and REPUDIATING BEYOND REDEMPTION the Once for all times Sacrifice of Jesus Christ prophesied to be and performed with MUSICAL MOCKING.
But this thing commanded I them, saying,
Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people:
and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you,
that it may be well unto you. Jeremiah 7:23
But they HEARKENED NOT, nor inclined their ear,
but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart,
and went backward, and not forward. Jeremiah 7:24
Here is the only motive people who have been "set as kings" over the flock lust for the use of music:That is why the common people were quarantined FROM the sacrificial system and NEVER did "congregational singing with instrumental accompaniment.
They were to hold synagogue or school of the Bible to rest, read and rehearse: that is the ONLY way to know God's WORD and not the words of the teaching elders.
ALL of the prophets who spoke by the Spirit OF Christ repudiate the Law, the king, kingdom, sacrificial system and necessarily the EXORCISM music:
Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law,
nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies,
wherewith thou didst testify against them. Neh 9:34For they have not served thee in their kingdom,
and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them,
and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them,
neither turned they from their wicked works. Neh 9:35Behold, we are servants this day,
and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof
and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it: Neh 9:36
And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings
whom thou hast set over us because of our sins:
also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle,
at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. Neh 9:37Psalm 41 prophesied that Judas would not triumph over Jesus. That is, as agent of Satan and the Jewish leaders Jesus would not be permanently defeated by the same process the army used to panic the enemy into cowardice.
The Jews saw Jesus as the Enemy and therefore to be defeated by warriors: the musical (noise-making) Levites were under the king and commanders of the Army. The War rules of the Dead Sea Scrolls is Clickable Here.
And the attack against Jesus is seen as a musical assualt here.
Paintings of the then and now assualt upon Jesus is here.God Was Clearly Not Silent in the Law
The evidence is clear that the people were not involved in the musical animal sacrifices in the temple. For instance, in Hezekiah's cleansing of the temple of idols and the restoration of the Passover, the king, civil authorities, priests, and buildings and grounds were cleansed of idolatry along with a great, crashing noise made from instruments which were not truly "musical." This involved "destroying the church houses of the false religions." Not too ecumenical, our Holy God!
When the cleansing had been completed to stop the plague, the Passover was restored for the "congregation" outside of the camp and without instrumental noise which simply had no rational role when animals were not being sacrificed. Click for More.
Alfred Edersheim summarizes the sacrificial action which excluded the congregation.
Edersheim points out that the "stationary men" represented the 'congregation" but that the people were shut out of the sacrificial action:
First: "As the last great gate slowly moved on its hinges, the priests, on a signal given, blew three blasts on their silver trumpets, summoning the Levites and the 'representatives' of the people (the so-called 'stationary men') to their duties, and announcing to the city that the morning sacrifice was about to be offered. "
Second: "As the president gave the word of command, which marked that 'the time of incense had come, the whole multitude of the people without' withdrew from the inner court, and fell down before the Lord, spreading their hands in silent prayer." This is never seen as waving the hands around in the air.
Third, "The temple Music was blown and songs sung. This excluded all people not of the tribe of Levi. It also excluded all women."
Fourth: "This closed the morning service. [Note: only representatives of the people were present. The common Jews did not participate in this temple service] It was immediately followed by the sacrifices and offerings which private Israelites might have to bring, and which would occasionally continue till near the time for the evening service. "
Conclusion: the sacrificial worship with Music was for the secular Temple-State and not for the congregation of Israel.
We do not have to depend upon silence to reject musical instruments (just noise). Music was not commanded in the unalterable law; it was permitted when Israel became a secular state, the "congregation" did not participate. Furthermore, we have no command, example or inference that the people worshiped with instruments.
The entire Biblical record imposes musical silence for the "congregation" in Numbers 10:7. To their credit, most of the kings did not involve them in this civil worship.
The Musical Praise of David was By David and for David's Use as King.
The musical prophets from the Philistine high place drove Saul into "prophesying" or madness as one of the signs of Israel's rejection of God's rule and worship out in the communities or wherever the Tabernacle rested.
Next, when the wars were over David and the commanders of the army reassigned the musical Levites to be the musicians for the Jerusalem capital of the new civil state under David the secular king.
The Bible always identifies the musical instruments with David and Chronicles gives us a good picture that the instruments were ordained for the king of the civil state. When Hezekiah later stops a plague as David stopped his plague, the writers leaps all of the way back to David for their example.
While there is some unclear evidence connecting the true prophets and the harp, none of the Israelites in private or in public assembly usurp the kingly role of using music. This is consistent with all secular temple-states beginning with Babylon.
Therefore, the authority of Biblical silence makes no sense because the inspired Word of God is not silent about anything of spiritual importance.
When the temple was dedicated, the people were outside of the temple and could see the fire come down. Their worship consisted of bowing to the ground and praising God. And God responded by answering from heaven. The Bible is not Silent!
When the writer uses the term "congregation" we should understand that this was never over a million senior males. Rather, it was a much smaller representative group.
Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. 2 Chronicles 5:2
And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 2 Chronicles 7:5
And the priests waited on their offices: (Religious),
the Levites also with instruments of musick of the Lord,which David the king had made to praise the Lord, (Civil)
because his mercy endureth for ever,(Stephen spoke to this in Acts 7. This "mercy" was God's agreement to stop the plague as an act of mercy to the innocent. David could never return to Gibeon to inquire of the Lord because of fear.)
The "congregation" of Israel was not involved. The Bible is still Not Silent!
Hezekiah's Stop-The-Plague Purification of officials, priests, Levites, King and buildings and Grounds.
In another model of this King-Priest worship when Hezekiah removed the idols and idolaters from the temple and Jerusalem. This was not a congregational worship but a plague stopping ritual:
Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord. And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the Lord. After killing all of the bullocks, lambs and rams and sprinkled the blood and they had made an atonement for all of Israel 2 Chronicles 29:20-21
And he set the Levites , in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps,
according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the kings seer,
and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets. 2 Chronicles 29:25The musical instruments cannot be by the command of God and David at the same time. Later, we see that David "ordained" the added instruments. This was never the "worship" of the larger congregation of Israel who were considered "strangers" from the Tabernacle and Temple where the "debt paying" or "hard bondage" which is defined as worship was born by the tribe of Levi.
If there is any authority it is for the Plague-Stopping-Animal Sacrifice for the Civil state and it was not congregational worship with instrumental accompaniment. The Bible is not silent.
Therefore, what follows agrees with the fact that the command for the trumpets is the only command God ever issued. Musical instruments are not called the instruments of God!
And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and (Civil) the priests with the trumpets. 2 Chronicles 29:26 (Religious)
And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. 2 Chronicles 29:27
If you believe that Jesus didn't pay the price by His sacrifice with music then you may proceed at your peril to adopt the "sacrificial noise making" while pretending that you are not triumphing over or silencing Lord Jesus.
Next, notice that the people "worshiped" or fell down prostrate outside the gates. Again, this was not the total nation but representatives including the city officials, the Levites, the king and the priests. This was all that was necessary for the temple ritual:,
the congregation (officials) worshipped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded, and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 2 Chronicles 29:28
Neither the singers nor trumpeters are said to have worshiped. The Bible is not silent. After this purification ceremony was over the Singers sang without instruments being mentioned.
The selected people "worshiped" by prostrating themselves or falling down. You should be reminded that when Solomon dedicated the temple, the musicians played and the priests could not minister because of the dark cloud. However, the people prayed from "outside the camp" and God heard from heaven totally bypassing the temple.
This agrees with all like the nations temple state where the secular worship was merged with the religious rituals.
The "musicians" never entered the holy place representing the church or the most holy place where believers worship God "in spirit" or in the mind.
In the Legalistic worship (hard bondage) under the kings we do not depend upon the authority of Biblical silence. Rather, the positive information is like a trumpet blast: the congregation did not worship at the temple. The people who did participate were the priests, Levites, civil authorities and the king.
This agrees with the evidence that David made the instruments for his personal, kingly praise. And Solomon who followed after David and Hezekiah who followed much later make it clear that instrumental music or noise was for the king and the temple and not for the congregation of Israel. Fulfillment in the New Covenant: The animals were burned outside the "worship center."
Because the loud noise was inside the camp or inside of the temple and Paul commands us to go outside of the camp. The blood and choice pieces of the animal were offered to God as the primary "act of Worship. Because the civil king was assumed to be God's "agent" in all like the nations surrounding Israel, David's instruments were made for his personal praise. In actual praise, the evidence is that David the King praised by the instruments.
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
<>For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us
offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. Hebrews 13:12-15Again, the authority of Biblical silence cannot be used for instrumental music without denying the positive command that we are not to worship at the place where music was played in connection with animal sacrifices for the nation.
Jesus agreed by saying that worship is not at temples but in the spirit or mind. This is a loud sound which removes Jerusalem as the place of worship. And without Jerusalem and the temple all Jews knew that the use of music was unlawful.
No Animal Sacrifices, No Temple, No Jerusalem, No Instruments. Our God is not Silent.
Musical noise connected with the Temple-State was intimately connected with animal sacrifices, in Jerusalem and inside of the Temple. If Christ has replaced the animal sacrifices, and we can worship outside of Mount Gerizim and outside of the Jerusalem temple then to break the silence and add the instruments would be equivalent to replacing Christ's sacrifices with renewed animal sacrifices. This is true because the one "act of worship" which replaced all of the sacrifices in the temple has removed the ordinances by Christ's sacrifice.
If by extreme straining one could prove that instruments were authorized under the first law we should remember that Israel rejected the Covenant of Grace proven by the phrase "they rose up to play" which involves an Egyptian ritual drama with singing, dance and music. God then gave the Law of Moses which Jeremiah says "is not good" because it punishes the guilty and had absolutely no spiritual value to most Jews. The "act of worship" by the priests amidst loud musical noise has been replaced once and for all by Lord Jesus Christ--
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Colossians 2:14-17
Even under the Law, the music was associated with keeping of days and animal sacrifices. It cannot be restored without repudiating the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels (messengers), intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Colossians 2:18-19
Paul will identify the "authority" of non-sedentary women who were almost always the musical performers or speakers in tongues (along with effeminate men). The authority is "sexual authority" which is openly used to attract the seekers who would never come out to hear the solemn, ethical preaching of the Word. Instruments such as the "familiar spirit" of the witch of Endor or that mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13 was "from below" or related to carnal seeking of the lost god. However,
IF ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above,
not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3
"Seek" is one of those worship words and agrees with Jesus' loud demand that worship be in spirit and in truth:
Zeteo (g2212) to seek (lit. or fig.); spec. (by Heb.) to worship God
If Worship is in Spirit and in Truth the Authority of Biblical Silence should, in the name of decency, eliminate "worship" which blatantly appeals to the sexual appetites of people.
The carcasses or refuse was burned outside the camp:
The priests offered the sacrifices while the Levites made loud noise. These were offices which have been fulfilled by Christ. Therefore, there is no role for mediating priests, animal sacrifices or musical noise.
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Hebrews 9:11
"David" Who found favour before God,
and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. Acts 7:46But Solomon built him an house. Acts 7:47
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet. Acts 7:48
No singer or musician could come near the sacred things.:
Num 18:2 And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister BEFORE the tabernacle of witness. [never IN]
H8334 sharath shaw-rath' A primitive root; to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively to contribute to:--minister (unto), (do) serve (-ant, -ice, -itor), wait on.
Num 18:3 And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle:
only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar,
that neither they, nor ye also, die.
No one not of the tribe of Levi could come near the sanctuary
Num 18:4 And they shall be joined unto thee,
and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation,
for all the service of the tabernacle:
and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.Num 18:5 And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar:
that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.
"A stranger," that is, one, neither a priest nor a Levite, who should intrude into any departments of the sacred office, should incur the penalty of death. ROBERT JAMIESON
None of these served in the Qahal, synagogue even in the "church in the wilderness."
<>The writer of Hebrews understood:
<>We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. Hebrews 13:10
For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Hebrews 13:11
There is NO silence: this is both inclusive and exclusive.Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Hebrews 13:12
Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. Hebrews 13:13
For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Hebrews 13:14
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,
that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. Hebrews 13:15But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices
God is well pleased. Hebrews 13:16The priests under the legalistic system which was just like the nations had no compassion. They refused to teach the people and they filled their lives with killing and offering animals in a bloody, screaming, gagging atmosphere which had to be filled with loud noise to keep their sanity. However, the Spiritual High Priest has compassion on His people whom He calls "lambs."
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:13
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
All of what we call "musical worship" is dug out of the hole of deep silence. Because there can be nothing similar to Legalistic sacrifices, there can be nothing which reminds us of the horror of a sacrificial system. The "Mass" keeps up the sacrifice of Jesus including eating His literal flesh and drinking His literal blood. It was the "mass" which called for the clergy musical presenters which are identified as Levitical singers. And so are Protestant Musical Worship Teams.
Direct Command of Paul -- God was not silent about Musical Worship
The "ordinance of worship" under the law involved animal sacrifices with the high priest presenting the blood to preserve the physical lives of the people. He went once a year into the Holy of Holies.
This "ordinance of worship" in the New Covenant has its replacement in the one-time blood offering of Lord Jesus Christ. This is why He demanded that our worship be "in spirit" and not in the body.
Paul clearly taught that animal sacrifices had been replaced with the fruit of the lips as we tell others about Jesus using the words of Jesus. He also replaced animal sacrifices with "communicating and doing good." That is the only worship God accepts. Paul did not command: "Sing sentimental poetry as an act of worship because God just loves your talented performance." And "you might at least give your songs a bible-sounding title." The purpose of this is work of human talent is claimed "to transport the audience into the presence of God."
No. What we have just described is the pagan understanding of singing with musical instruments. Rather, Paul insisted that to begin the process you must understand what the will of the Lord is. We don't have to worry about the authority of Biblical silence if we just honor Christ by doing what He inspired Paul to tell us to do.
Paul left no loopholes of silence into which we might insert our own songs which are claimed to be "Spirit anointed or inspired." Rather, the clear, loud command is:
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:17
In the following charts notice that there are two different paths of information flow. The first is to yourself or to one another; the second is to the Lord. The one another task is to use the Word of Christ (Spirit) to teach and admonish one another. The singing and melody is directed to God. Everything involved with the spiritual aspect of worship is "in the heart" and not on the instruments.
The Non-Silent Direct Command to the Ephesians
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (the word Col 3:16; John 6:63); Ephesians 5:18
In the knowledge base of Paul in the ONLY "singing" cities, don't get drunk with wine always shows up as "don't get fluted down with wine" even in the perverse symposium because Simple Simons knew that this disabled DIALOG or instruction.
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Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Ephesians 5:20
In the name of Jesus Christ means by the AUTHORITY of Christ. Because He said "My words are SPIRIT and LIFE" (John 6:63) we know that to be filled with SPIRIT is to be filled with the WORD of Christ. Paul made sure that we COULD NOT make a mistake.
The non-silent direct command of Paul to the Colossians:
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15
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And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17
The BUT clause:
BUT, you forgot that Paul did not say, "Don't use musical instruments. Therefore, I can use musical instruments."
But, Paul didn't say, "Don't sing the Hymns of Homer." Therefore, we can sing the hymns of Homer. Right? No! When God tells us what we should do it should never enter our heads to suggest that there might be a legalistic way to get around the direct commands and use the authority of Biblical silence to do something which is pleasant to our own senses. In Job, Amos and Isaiah this resulted in feeding the people with the "empty spaces in the Word of God" so that they hungered and thirsted right into Assyrian captivity. The priests, Levites and elders absolutely did everything in their power to keep the "doctrine" of the Bible out of the hands of the "paying audience."
Uses of music . --In the private as well as in the religions life of the Hebrews music held a prominent place. The kings had their court musicians, (2 Chronicles 35:25; Ecclesiastes 2:8) and in the luxurious times of the later monarchy the effeminate gallants of Israel amused themselves with devising musical instruments while their nation was perishing ("as Nero fiddled while Rome was burning"). But music was also the legitimate expression of mirth and gladness The bridal processions as they passed through the streets were accompanied with music and song. (Jeremiah 7:34) The music of the banquets was accompanied with song and dancing. (Luke 15:26) The triumphal processions which celebrated victory were enlivened by minstrels and singers. (Exodus 15:1,20; Judges 5:1; 11:34) There were also religious songs. (Isaiah 30:29; James 5:13) Love songs are alluded to; in (Psalms 45:1) title, and Isai 5:1 There were also the doleful songs of the funeral procession, and the wailing chant of the mourners. The grape-gatherers sang at their work, and the women sang as they toiled at the mill, and on every occasion the land of the Hebrews during their national prosperity was a land of music and melody. (Smith's Bible Dictionary, Music)
If the object in these passages was "making music" then it probably wouldn't matter much how we made music. However, the object was "to teach and admonish one another with inspired Biblical materials." Loud noise which we call "music" was to accompany the sacrifice of the Lord by killing and burning animals. Loud music in many clear Old Testament statements was to silence the Word which comes by the Spirit of Christ (1 Peter 1:11).
When "doctrines" come out of the expansive imagination of men, Jesus said that worship is vain. Sing Homer if you wish. Use instruments if you wish. But if it does not agree with the Doctrine of Full Deity then it is vain or empty. However, how we treat the Word of God Incarnate may be much more important than what we do in the name of "worship."
Again, those who do not use musical instruments simply follow the loud, direct command of Paul where he describes the human voice as the "instrument" allowed to accompany Psalm singing. Furthermore, by putting the "melody" in the heart he spoke of spiritual worship which replaces the "ordinances of worship" under the first law which involved animal sacrifices.
Those who feel the need to add instruments use a legalistic approach called "The Law of Silence" in order to add instruments simply because Paul did not make a law against instrument by explicitly stating: "Thou shalt not use machinery to worship a Spirit God Who will not judge by what He sees or what He hears" (Isaiah 11:1-3).
Jesus Was Not Silent in Removing Spiritual Agitation and Theatrical Performance
The "burden laded" on the backs of people like pack horses is defined by the Greek as "spiritual anxiety created by religious ceremony." Jesus came to remove that burden and fire the performers whose ritual performance "took away the key to knowledge." Jesus specifically identified these people as "children playing musical games." They piped but Jesus didn't get carried away and sing or dance.
Most ancient scholars understood that musical and theatrical performance was a competition and that applause was to mock or ridicule the loser.
Just as you feel embarrassed foreigners looking at you, speaking and laughing, you feel the same way when people believe that they are soothsayers and begin speaking in tongues. In reality, most people might come for the show but they will understand that the talent and aura of the team has effectively "put you down, down, down."
In churches featuring theatrical performance, the beautiful, gifted but presumptuous are in reality in competition with the Word of God and with those who are not cute and talented. The literal or mental applause is to tell the "audience" of the old and untalented that "you lose and I win." The result is not truly admiration but the normal contempt of the oppressed.
In the Amos example, the leadership and their women were the performers supported by the audience. The audience understood that the leaders and their female devotees were stealing the Word of God and leaving them with "no abiding value." This is why they were enraged, bitter and hated the leadership who were foolish enough to believe that if it felt good to them it must feel good to God. Paul's LOUD direct command:
Any alert observer understood that music or any kind of mental excitement destroyed the ability to understand the Word in order to be instructed.
- Ro.15:1 WE then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to PLEASE ourselves.
- Aresko (g700) ar-es'-ko; prob. from 142 (through the idea of exciting emotion); to be agreeable (or by impl. to seek to be so): - please. <>Areskô I. of pers. only, make good, make amends, spondas theois aresasthai make full drink-offerings to the gods, please, satisfy, despozô 2. c. gen., to be lord or master of, h.Cer.365, Hdt.3.142 as law-term, to be the legal proprietor,
Tertullian, without a Phd, understood the destructive effect of spectacle on the human body. For instance we discuss the creation of endorphins in the body by music or any visual-audible performance.
"and not to vex Him with rage, ill-nature, anger, or grief. Well, how shall this be made to accord with the shows?
- For the show always leads to spiritual agitation,
- since where there is pleasure,
- there is keenness of feeling giving pleasure its zest;
- and where there is keenness of feeling,
- there is rivalry giving in turn its zest to that.
- Then, too, where you have rivalry,
- you have rage, bitterness, wrath and grief."
- (Tertullian, de Spectaculis, Ante-Nicene, III, p. 86).
- Before defining "in spirit" singing Paul wrote:
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor (croak, intreat, cry out) , and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Ephesians 4:31
Paul understood that the pagan religions featuring ceremonial contrary to the Word of God were pagan women.
Strabo in Geography wrote of performance worship ritual which Jesus and Paul outlawed:
for all agree in regarding the women as the chief founders of religion, and it is the women who provoke the men to the more attentive worship of the gods, to festivals, and to supplications, and it is a rare thing for a man who lives by himself to be found addicted to these things.
By silencing the Women in Corinth and elsewhere Paul was silencing paganistic women who with effeminate men in tow concoct theatrical performance and call it worship because it produces zest which leads to rivalry, bitterness and grief. Therefore Paul defined worship as did Jesus "in spirit" or in the Mind and "in truth" or filled up with the Word of Jesus which He called "Spirit and Life" John 6:63
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Ephesians 5:18
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:19Paul was not silent: the historical context into which he delivered the definition of worship "in spirit and in truth" loudly condemns theatrical performance by either men or women.
It is common for people to listen and "watch" an exciting sermon from an excitable person, or listen to the performance of even congregational singing with complex harmony and have that feeling which the theatrical performers peddle as "spirituality" or even "moving you into the presence of God." However, they have injected a large dose of a morphine-like drug. Very quickly you are into a mood which says "I gotta get outta here." You are "damaged goods" and the feeling is not spiritual but rage and bitterness. That is why about everyone has "preacher" for main dish for Sunday lunch.
"But we have already spoken of spectacles: there remains one thing which is to be overcome by us,
that we be not captivated by those things which penetrate to the innermost perception. (emotions only)
For all those things which are unconnected with words, (just speaking in tongues)
that is, pleasant sounds of the air and of strings,
may be easily disregarded, because they do not adhere to us, and cannot be written...<>Is God, therefore, the contriver both of the mind, and of the voice, and of the tongues, unable to speak eloquently? Yea, rather, with the greatest foresight,
He wished those things which are divine to be without adornment,
that all might understand the things which He Himself spoke to all."
Therefore God made all things to supply a contest between two things.
- Those enticements of pleasures, then, are the instruments of that
- whose only business it is to subdue virtue,
- and to shut out justice from men.
- With these soothing influences and enjoyments it captivates their souls;
- for it knows that pleasure is the contriver of death. (Lactantius, The Divine Institutes, Ante-Nicene Fathers, VII, p. 188).
God was not silent when He through Amos warned that music was taking away the key to knowledge so that the common people were hungering and thirsting for the Word but never found it.
You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. Amos 6:5NIV
In the version which Jesus read because it is quoted by the writers -- the Septuagint or LXX -- God through Amos agreed with Lactantius:
- who excel in the sound of musical instruments;
- they have regarded them as abiding,
- not as fleeting pleasure." Amos 6:5 LXX
It is difficult for this technical mind to believe that show casing theatrical performance in the name of worship is not taking price in one man or woman against another. For instance, in the history of applause we learn that it was to ridicule the losing flute-player as much as to honor the winner.
"In a musical contest between Pan and Apollo, Pan's flute was judged by Tmolus to be inferior to Apollo's lyre. Everyone agreed with the result of this contest except King Midas, who called it unjust. It is for this reason that Midas acquired, through Apollo's will, the ears of an ass, which he tried in vain to conceal under a turban."
"Marsyas, a Phrygian satyr, was so proud of his skill with the flute that he presumed to challenge Apollo, god of music and master of the lyre. The myth appears to be a record of the supersession of the flute by the lyre in Greek favour.
"There is likewise a palace of the Great King in Celaenae, strongly fortified and situated at the foot of the Acropolis over the sources of the Marsyas river; the Marsyas also flows through the city, and empties into the Maeander, and its width is twenty-five feet. It was here, according to the story, that Apollo flayed Marsyas,
after having defeated him in a contest of musical skill; he hung up his skin in the cave from which the sources issue, and it is for this reason that the river is called Marsyas. Xenophon Anabasis [1.2.8]
If you believe that you can appease the Master Musician with music or "feed" Him Who owns all of the cattle on a thousand hills you have commited presumptuous sin.
Knowledge of the Bible or common sense warned against musical contests because even the mediators or meadrix can come too close to God and, in reality, compete with him and get their hides tacked to the barn door.
Musical and theatrical performance by the "priests, soothsayers and prostitutes" of Tower of Babylon fame took away the key to knowledge and it took away the people's right to worship God for themselves. The "gods" are dangerous, you know, and if you get too close they might damage you. That is why you must allow the talented few to approach the gods with music, drama, dance and even ritual prostitution. This was the like the nations worship God warned Israel about when they fired Him as the King and Priest.
Conclusions:
"Speaking where the Bible speaks" has been the cry of scholars from the earliest church "fathers." This is important because Christianity is not only a religion of God in Christ but it is a religion whose external practices are built upon a "book." This book reveals the Mind of Christ which is the Holy Spirit or mental disposition of God (1 Cor. 2; John 6:63). Once the Words of Christ are abandoned there can be no certainty that what we build on our own is a Christian church.
Those who deny this often believe that they are inspired or have their more powerful than Jesus "assignment from God" to be the new Christ in the church. We have the loud voice of God that we should repudiate such people as having been sent strong delusions.
God is not silent about any issue which relates to "life and Godliness" and we should shudder at the notion that the silences in the inspired Word is just a "Godly oversight."
3. These are therefore an argument to stimulate virtue, not a permission or a liberty to look upon heathen error, that by this consideration the mind may be more inflamed to Gospel virtue for the sake of the divine rewards, since through the suffering of all these labours and pains it is granted to attain to eternal benefits.
For that Elias is the charioteer of Israel is no defence for gazing upon the public games; for he ran his race in no circus.
And that David in the presence of God led the dances, is no sanction for faithful Christians to occupy seats in the public theatre;
for David did not twist his limbs about in obscene movements, to represent in his dancing the story of Grecian lust.
Psalteries, horns, pipes, drums, harps, were used in the service of the Lord, and not of idols. [This was for burning animals and for the temple in Jerusalem only] Let it not on this account be objected that unlawful things may be gazed upon;
for by the artifice of the devil these are changed from things holy to things unlawful. Then let shame demur to these things, even if the Holy Scriptures cannot.
For there are certain things wherein the Scripture is more careful in giving instruction.
Acquiescing in the claim of modesty,
it has forbidden more where it has been silent.
The truth, if it descended low enough to deal with such things, would think very badly of its faithful votaries.For very often, in matters of precept, some things are advantageously said nothing about;
they often remind when they are expressly forbidden.
So also there is an implied silence even in the writings of the Scripture;
and severity speaks in the place of precepts;
and reason teaches where Scripture has held its peace.Let every man only take counsel with himself, and let him speak consistently with the character of his profession, and then he will never do any of these things. For that conscience will have more weight which shall be indebted to none other than itself.
Kenneth Sublett Comments Welcome -- Editing/Formatting Ken Ball
Al Maxey on the Law of Silence
Richard Kirby and the Law of Silence
Musical Worship Index authority of Biblical silence, authority of Biblical silence,
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