Where Is The Scripture?
Ever since the church was built by Jesus, those who were desirous of pleasing God above man have insisted that every practice in the realm of religion have the authority of God behind it. The apostles themselves had this characteristic. They could bind only what was bound in Heaven; they could loose only what Heaven had loosed (Matt. 16:19; 18:18).
1. Peter put it this way: "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." (1 Peter 4:11).
2. John said by inspiration, "Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God," (2 John 9), 3. Paul taught that "These things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other." (1 Cor. 4:6ASV).
4. James said, "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein. he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:25).
Why did they have this disposition? Why did they urge such upon those who would read their message? Simply because Jesus himself taught it,. Hear Him: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Jn,. 8:31-32). This is emphatic! We are Jesus' disciples only if we continue in His word, Once we err from that word, we cease being disciples indeed since we have ceased following Him. He taught that it is not enough to say, "Lord, Lord." He taught that more is required than saying, "Have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works." (Matt. 7:22-23). We might do these "many wonderful works" and still have Him say in the judgment: "I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity." Since iniquity (Greek, anomos) means "without law or without authority," we realize that their practices were without the authority of God and Jesus said they were wrong. Why? "The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48).
During this dispensation Jesus is the "head over all things to the church." (Eph. 1:22-23). This means that our every practice must be authorized by Him. We dare not go beyond his word; add to his word; or preach anything not in His word (Gal. 1:8-9).
The Apostasy
Only when men ceased following the word of God did an apostasy come. And what an apostasy it was! It resulted in the Roman Catholic Church. This is the end result of turning loose of the Scriptures as the only guide and the only authority in things religious, If there had only been more people who would have stopped to ask, "Where is the scripture that authorizes that practice?", maybe such a tide of apostasy could have been swept back. They needed someone to ask constantly: "Where is the Scripture?"
The Restoration
Over a hundred years ago, a group of men determined to restore New Testament Christianity once more in the world and began travelling the long road back to God — back to the Scriptures. Thomas Campbell realized the necessary thing and expressed it in this manner: "We must speak where the Bible speaks; and be silent where the Bible is silent." This was simply saying, "We are going to demand, scriptural proof for our practices and our doctrine. We are going to ask, 'Where is the Scripture?' " And they did. They asked, "Where is the scripture that authorized infant membership?" There was no scripture then, and there is none now. They gave it up. They asked, "Where is the scripture that authorizes sprinkling for baptism?" Again there was none, and again they gave it up and taught and practiced immersion (Col. 2:12). They demanded the scripture for instrumental music and found none; thus, they did not use it in worship. They restored the church as Christ built it. How? By demanding chapter and verse for their practices!
The Digression
But alas! the time came when men filled with the "bug for bigness" and the desire to "be like the nations" began to advocate things not authorized by the Scriptures. The Missionary Society was started in 1849. A few brethren (classed by the digressives as "old fogies," etc.) asked, "Where is the Scripture?" W. K. Pendleton, defending the Society, said:
You say, "Your Missionary Society is not scriptural" — and you mean by this, that there is no special express precept in the Scriptures commanding it. We concede this without a moment's hesitation. There is none; but what do you make of it? Is everything which is not scriptural therefore wrong? (West, Search for the Ancient Order, Vol. 2, P..,50)
This was a clear-cut admission of the lack of authority. But the tide of digression was rising. And many churches were swept away by its onrushing currents.
In 1859 the instrument of music was first used in the worship of the church in Midway, Kentucky. As time went on more churches began using it. Other brethren humbly asked, "Where is the Scripture for it?" There was none, but many wanted it regardless of authorization. And they used it.
Division resulted over these innovations — the Society and instrumental music. And I ask, "Who was responsible for the division?" Was it those brethren who asked, "Where is the Scripture?" or those who insisted on having them even if there were no scripture? You know the answer. Those who introduce a practice without authority from the scriptures are guilty of causing the division! The Christian Church today is the result of that digression.
The Church Today
But have we advanced beyond such a thing as being so impudent as to ask, "Where is the Scripture?" No, there is no advance at all without scriptural authority; and it is not impudent to ask for it. People in the church today are human. They can err as easily as people in past centuries. And when anything arises that even hints at a departure from the pattern, we must solemnly and humbly ask, "Where is the scripture?" If it can be given, then let's engage in the practice. If there is none, let us have the wisdom to know that we dare not practice that which is unauthorized. It not only would divide us, but it would lead to another general apostasy.
And, in view of the alarming conditions today, there are thousands who are desirous of following only the Lord, and are, therefore, asking, "Where is the scripture?" Where is the scripture that authorizes the church to donate to a human institution as a means of accomplishing its work? Where is the scripture that authorizes the churches to pool their funds into the treasury of one church that it might do and oversee a general work of evangelism? These are pertinent questions. And, humbly, we want to know the scriptures, if there be such that authorizes these practices. If there are none, let us be content with God's plan and with the Scriptures as our guide.