BEN F. VICK, JR.
Does the above question contradict the Restoration slogan: Speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent? Many items are not explicitly mentioned in the New Testament yet are rightfully placed under some general command. Anything that is expedient in carrying out the order is authorized if not an addition to the command.
Some argue that the New Testament does not mention a baptistery, church buildings, songbooks, microphones, pitch pipes, multiple containers for the Lord’s supper, PowerPoint slides, or children’s homes. Therefore, if these items are allowed, then why cannot instruments be used in worship? However, this is mixing “apples with oranges.” The mechanical instrument is not on the same ground as these other items, contrary to the thinking of many. The use of the instrument is an addition to the worship. It adds another kind of music. The Lord said to sing. But the use of a mechanical instrument in worship is an addition. So are clapping and humming unauthorized additions in worship.
When God told Noah to build an ark of gopher wood, there was nothing said about the means of getting the gopher wood to the site where it would be used. There was nothing said about a hammer, a saw, or scaffolding. But these items may have been necessary to carry out the command to build the ark. Any tool needed to carry out the command to build the ark would not be an addition to the command. Thus, they would be authorized.
In a recent discussion, a man continued to ask me, Where’s the baptistery in the New Testament, as if that authorized mechanical instruments in worship. The fact that one item is authorized does not mean another is. Each must stand or fall on its own merits. The command to baptize (Matt. 28:19) permits a baptistry. It is not necessary to have a baptistry, but it is essential to have enough water somewhere to immerse an individual. The baptistry is an expedient. Paul wrote, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Cor. 6:12.) For something to be expedient or advantageous, it must first be lawful. Though the Scriptures are silent on a baptistery, it can be had under the purview of the command to baptize.
Is the New Testament silent about a church building? There is not one word in the New Testament about it. So, where is the authority for a church building? The saints of God are to assemble (Heb. 10:25; 1 Cor. 11:17ff; Acts 20:7). Since the church is obligated to come together, there is a need for a place to assemble. It is left to the reasonable judgment of the overseers as to the place. I knew of a group years ago that did not have a church building in which to meet. I suppose they thought it was a waste of the Lord’s money. However, when they needed a baptistery, they called upon us to see if they could use our building. Of course, we did not object.
Some have attempted to place songbooks, microphones, pitch pipes in the category with mechanical instruments of music. They are not equivalents. When songbooks (or PowerPoint slides), microphones, or pitch pipes are used, they are not additions to the singing. Songbooks (PowerPoint slides) are used to carry out the command to sing. They are not additions as the instrument or clapping or humming are. It is necessary to get the pitch of the song. Some song leaders use a pitch pipe to help them get the pitch. But the pitch pipe has enough sense to stop before the singing starts. It is not an addition to the singing. A microphone merely amplifies the voice of the song leader. It is not an addition to the singing. One is still just singing when a songbook (PowerPoint slide), pitch pipe, or microphone is used.
A few argue that one cannot read in the New Testament of multiple containers for the Lord’s Supper. They may be right, though there seems to be an implication of multiple containers when the Lord instituted his supper. During the Passover, Jesus “took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this [the cup], and divide it [the cup] among yourselves.” (Luke 22:18.) The cup stands for the contents, not the container. Jesus did not say take the container and divide the container. He was not saying break the container and give each a part of it. He was speaking about the contents. Divide the contents. There must have been more than one container. Then on that first Pentecost in which the church began, there were about 3000 souls added to the body of Christ. Did they all drink out of one container?
Regardless, Jesus said concerning the Lord’s supper: “This do in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19, 1 Cor. 11:24-25). Even if we grant that one container was used in the Lord’s supper, it is what we eat (unleavened bread) and what we drink (fruit of the vine) that is bound. Whether we have one large piece of bread and each breaks off a little or individual pieces of bread, or one container or multiple containers, we are still partaking of the one bread and one cup. Multiple containers are not parallel to mechanical instruments of music. The former fulfills the command to drink; the latter is an addition to the command to sing.
The brother of our Lord wrote, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (Jas. 1:26-27.) We are bound to care for the fatherless and widows. Since the church cannot function as a home, and the fatherless and widows need a home, the church can help to provide a home. Whether the children and widows are in a private home or a children’s or old folks’ home is a matter of judgment. Someone says: Where does the New Testament authorize a children’s home to care for the needy children? It is found in the same verse that permits the private home to care for the children. The Bible does not say. Thus, it is left to individuals and congregations as to how best to carry out the command. The children’s home is not parallel to mechanical instruments of music in worship. When the church helps a children’s home, it does what James says; but when the instrument is used in worship, it goes beyond the Scripture.
So, items or practices are permissible under the purview of a command or background information. However, when the practices go beyond the command, they are wrong (Rev. 22:18-19).