Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 9
October 31, 1957
NUMBER 26, PAGE 1,14

Modern Problems Confronting The Church -- No. III.

J. P. Lusby, Amarillo, Texas

Nothing is expedient that is not lawful. It may be lawful and still not be expedient, but it cannot be expedient unless it is lawful. 1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23.

We could not have the meeting house lawfully if we did not have the command to assemble. Heb. 10:25. The command to assemble embraces the place of assembling. We could not have a preacher's home if there were no command to support a preacher. 1 Cor. 9. That is a part of his support. We could not have the baptistery if we did not have the command to baptize. Matt. 28:19. And we could not have the song book if we did not have the command to sing. Eph. 5:19. The meeting house would not be an expedient if there were no command to assemble. The preacher's house would not be an expedient if there were no law authorizing his support. The baptistery could not be an expedient if there were no command to baptize. Likewise, the song book would not be an expedient if there were no authorization to sing.

If mechanical instruments of music in worship were authorized, various kinds of instruments would be expedient. But since mechanical instruments are not authorized, any kind of instrument in the worship is not expedient, but is an addition.

Some people refuse to be bound by the authority of the scriptures and they rebel against God while shouting liberty. They cry silence of the scriptures and they shout where do the scriptures say thou shalt not?

I was in telephone conversation with a preacher who has been president of two or three colleges and founder of at least two. Seven men constituted "the board of elders" where he preached. They entered into a "resolution and agreement" that each would "submit his name to his fellow elders for a vote of confidence; That each of us receiving as many as three favorable votes will continue to serve on the board of elders of Church; That each of us receiving less than three favorable votes will retire from the board of elders of Church; . . . as a result of the votes cast" three of the elders had to walk the plank! I asked the preacher if he approved of or acquiesced in the action and thought it a scriptural procedure. He informed me that he had nothing to do with it, that it was their business, but if they wanted to do it that way it was all right with him. I called for the scripture authorizing such. He replied, Where is the scripture which says they shall not do it that way? He insisted that the procedure was an expedient. I asked him if part of the elders have the right to vote other elders out, do they also have the right to vote other men in as elders. He indicated they do. I immediately inquired if he thought the elders are a self-perpetuating body. He answered: "I don't know but that that's as good a way as any."

What do you think of that? A man who is reputed to be "somewhat." Paul said it did not make any difference to him what they were, it made no matter. Gal. 2:6. A man who sets himself up as an instructor of young preachers, after denominational style imply that one can do anything and everything the scriptures do not say in so many words "thou shalt not" do. Is it any wonder that ignorance, confusion and division are in the church when men of renown teach liberty of action apart from law?

Liberty Is Circumscribed By Law

There can be no liberty without law. If you attempt to have liberty without law, you forfeit your liberty, anarchy prevails, and you will be brought into bondage. Of some who ignored the law of Christ and preached liberty Peter wrote: "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." 2 Pet. 2:19. Liberty is circumscribed by the law of Christ. "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed," or "doing" (margin). Jas. 1:25. In his doing what? In his doing what the law of liberty tells him to do, not in doing something it says nothing about. The law of liberty is perfect, and we are to continue therein. We cannot add our own preferences with impunity.

"So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." Jas. 2:12. We should be governed by it for we are to be judged by it. Therefore, we must guard our speech and watch our conduct. We must teach nothing and practice nothing other than what is contained in the "perfect law of liberty."

"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." Gal. 5:13. Liberty is not license. Whenever one exalts his preferences and his wisdom and seeks to bind his opinions on the church he is using his liberty as an occasion to the flesh — the advancement of his fleshly preferences. Paul warned us not to do that. Liberty is circumscribed by the law of Christ.

Some cry liberty and use pressure tactics. If they have the liberty to do it, I have the liberty not to do it. They would force me to do that which they justify by shouting liberty. I repeat, if they have the liberty to do it, I have the same liberty not to do it.

Area Of Silence

The digressives upholding societies and instrumental music in organization and worship placed them in the area of silence. They then quoted Thomas Campbell's slogan. Thomas Campbell was a Presbyterian when he made it, but it is contained in divine language in 1 Pet. 4:11. "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." The other is human phraseology, but they mean the same. Digressives said it really meant, "Where the scriptures are silent we have liberty" to speak and to act, and to bring into the service and the worship and the organization of the church anything and everything the Bible does not specifically prohibit. If you want to know where such an attitude will lead just cast an eye at the Christian Church — and who wants to be where it is?

The silence of the Bible does not authorize anything — not one thing. There are some things that are right morally which are wrong religiously. For example: meat-eating, dish-washing, bead-counting, baby-dipping, and foot-kissing. Those things are morally all right, they are religiously all wrong. Where do the scriptures say, "Thou shalt not kiss feet"? Where is it? Did you ever see a mother walk up to her lovely child bubbling with health and happiness and kiss both his feet while he is lying in the crib? I have. That is all right. But if she did it as an act of divine adoration it would be all wrong. There are some things that are morally right which are religiously wrong, and yet the Bible does not say in so many words, "Thou shalt not do them." Bead-counting where do the scriptures say thou shalt not pull beads down a string and repeat a little sentence prayer while you are doing it? Where is the passage? Do you think it is justified by the silence of the scriptures? I repeat, the silence of the word of God does not justify anything, does not authorize a single act in religion. I am concerned, therefore, not with what God has not said, but I am concerned, supremely so, with not transgressing the law he has made. This requires faith in his word.

Faith

Faith is complete satisfaction with the word of God. It comes by hearing God's word. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. 10:17. "For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Cor. 5:7. Since faith comes by hearing God's word, and since we walk by faith and not by sight, where God's word is there can be walking by faith, but none beyond that. If a man attempts to walk in the silence of the word of the Lord he is walking by sight, human opinion, not by faith. "Walk" is figurative, it does not mean literal walking, the putting of one foot before the other. It has to do with one's religious conduct before God. "Sight" is also used figuratively. As contrasted with faith it simply means human opinion. In the realm of religion it means human opinion where God's word is silent. "We walk by faith" — by what God has said in his word; and "not by sight" — not by human opinion in the area of silence. It is impossible to please God and walk any other way. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb. 11:6. You can't be saved and not please God. You can't please God and walk in the silence of his word. It is impossible to please him without faith. But faith comes by hearing his word. Consequently, we must have a "thus saith the Lord" for our actions in the realm of religion.

Men become dissatisfied with the Lord's institutions, with the Lord's appointments and with the Lord's way because they become dissatisfied with the Lord's word. They do not have an unswerving faith in the word of God.

Any act, practice, organization, or doctrine is authorized by what God's word says, not by what it does not say.