Speak Where The Bible Speaks
The idea of speaking where the Bible speaks, and being silent where the Bible is silent is a rather outmoded concept to many who hold feelings and opinions in equal or higher regard than Scripture. It is a highly esteemed and noble ideal to those who value the precious authority of the word of God. Does the motto, “Speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent” have any clout, or is it merely the product of human derivation? It boils down to a matter of authority and our perspective toward such. Are the Scriptures the only source of authority for what we say and do religiously? Is the word of God just another authority among many (oral tradition, human experience, etc.)? Or is the Bible merely (as some among us claim) a collection of “love letters” which God never intended for us to use as a blueprint or a source from which to seek out Divine authority? Those who make light of the principle under consideration would point out that the saying, “Speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent” was born out of the American Restoration Movement, and as such, is merely of human origin. It is true that Thomas and Alexander Campbell affirmed this maxim in the early 1800’s as they sought to separate themselves from man-made religious traditions that at that time were commonly practiced, but such a declaration came only after they had studied deeply from the word of God, and found the precious Book Divine to speak to this end. In other words, though not stated with the exact phraseology as found in the title of this article, the principles espoused therein are certainly found within Holy Writ.
It is imperative that we seek authority for all that we say and do in religion from the word of God. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of (by the authority of, SPM) the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). To be sure, the Bible commands us to speak where the it speaks: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11). Certainly it is a fair question to ask concerning religious teachings and practices, “By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?” (Matthew 21:23). When Jesus was approached with this question, he did not respond by saying that no authority was necessary. He lived and taught the necessity of Divine authority to direct our steps. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). It is only by and through the word of God that we find and lay hold on eternal life: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). A refusal to accept God’s guidance through His word is the height of self-righteousness.
-Patrick Morrison
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