By What Authority When God Is Silent Part

By What Authority? When God Is Silent – Part 2

When God Is Silent In Part 1 of this lesson we examined some attitudes and principles relating to God’s silence. We either take the attitude that God’s silence is permissive or prohibitive. Many principles in the Bible, however, teach us that God wants us to live by what He says, not by what He does not say (his silence). Let us now explore some examples and illustrations of God’s silence in the Scriptures. We will find that certain persons respected God’s silence, did not act, and were blessed; others had no respect for God’s silence, acted on their

When God Is Silent God is silent on matters, so what are we to do? God’s silence: permissive or prohibited? Two attitudes have existed down through time regarding this matter: When God is silent we can act (permissive) When God is silent we cannot act (prohibitive)

When God Is Silent “One of the reasons that Catholics get criticized is because Catholics baptize infants. One often hears it said, `…There is not one text in the Bible that says that infants should be baptized!. ’ True, there is not one text that explicitly says that infants should be baptized. On the other hand, there is not one text that says explicitly not to baptize infants. ” (“THE BIBLE, AND INFANT BAPTISM: WHY DO CATHOLICS BAPTIZE INFANTS? ” by Matt 1618, Matt's Catholic Apologetics Page, http: //pw 1. netcom. com/~matt 1618/)

When God Is Silent "This principle is pretty basic to our religious FREEDOM, even in regard to the Lord's Supper. “So, to re-emphasize the point, it would NOT be a sin or unscriptural to have `meat and potatoes', `pie or ice cream', or any other healthful, helpful food `on the table' as an aid in our worship, providing that our spiritual purpose was to meet HIM there, and to thankfully remember Him for His death and ALL that He means to us, physically as well as spiritually. " (Francis J. Winder, Music of the Saints, p. 123)

God’s Silence: OT Examples Israel and the case of blasphemy (Lev. 24: 10 -16) Israel and the post-exodus Passover (Num. 9: 114) Israel and the Sabbath-breaker (Num. 15: 32 -36)

God’s Silence: OT Examples Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10: 1 -3) Wicked Israelites (Deut. 17: 3; 18: 20; Jer. 19: 1 -6) Uzziah (2 Chron. 26: 16 -21)

God’s Silence: NT Examples Judaizing teachers (Acts 15: 24) God and the angels (Heb. 1: 5, 13) Moses and the priesthood (Heb. 7: 11 -14)

God’s Silence: NT Examples Do not go beyond what is written (1 Cor. 4: 6) Do not go beyond the doctrine of Christ (2 Jn. 910)

When God Is Silent By exploring some OT and NT examples we have learned: 1) like the Israelites, we must wait to get an answer from God before we act; 2) like Moses, we must tell others to stand still and wait until they get permission from God before they act; and, 3) those who do not act when God is silent are blessed; those who do act when God is silent are condemned. Let us be content to do only what God tells us to do; no more, no less.