Sunday, May 15, 2014 am
BACK TO BASICS 2014
A Study of Authority
The Nature of Authority: Generic or Specific
This month we are addressing the subject of authority.
Thus far we gave defined what authority (simply stated –
permission) is and emphasized its importance.
Last week we discussed how authority is established noting there
are 3 ways to legitimately establish authority – Command, Approved
Example and Necessary Inference.
We also discussed last Sunday night “the new hermeneutic” which
is not really new, but a different (and unscriptural) way to establish
authority – it dismisses the importance of an objective approach and
lends to subjective conclusions (what you THINK it should be).
As
we continue our study of authority, today we want to discuss the nature
of authority. We have noted
that the Bible is a book that answers what we are to do and how we are
to do certain things. There
are also times when we have discretion.
How do we determine the difference?
Also, it has been noted that the Bible is as applicable today as
in the first century. But
how can it be relevant when times have changed so much?
For example: How can the Bible govern our driving habits?
And how can we use technology to further the cause of Christ when
there were no computers in the first century?
In our lesson today we want to address how to consider what is
and is not authorized in such matters.
It boils down to the nature of authority.
Today we are going to discuss the two types of authority: generic
and specific authority. We
are also going to discuss the distinction between additions and aids.
a.
When plans are made for
a building or even a renovation the first step is to produce a blueprint
of what is wanted. When that
blueprint is completed and approved, it becomes the standard that will
be used to complete the project.
Whatever is specified HAS TO BE followed or the finished product
is not going to be the original standard.
That is why, in construction, standards are very exact.
b.
When something is
specified that means there is no room for deviation.
By its nature it excludes that which has not been specified.
For example: In the blueprint we just mentioned, suppose it was
for a house with 10 rooms in it, including 3 bedrooms.
If as the contractor you decide that 4 bedrooms would be better
OR that the house only needs 2 bedrooms, you have rejected the blue
print. 3 bedrooms excludes
either 2 (1 less) or 4 (1 more) bedroom.
Specifics LIMIT your choices!
c.
In scripture we have
specific authority –
i.
Joshua 1:7-8, “Only
be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to
all the law which Moses My servant commanded you;
do not turn from it to the right
hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book
of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in
it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is
written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you
will have good success.”
ii.
When given instructions
concerning the tabernacle and priestly garments (Ex. 25-28), God was
very specific and even warned Moses and the builders to follow the
pattern (Ex. 25:40, 26:30, 27:8, etc.)
iii.
Noah was told to build
an ark of gopher wood (Gen. 6:14-16) and given specific dimensions.
To be pleasing to God, Noah needed to follow those instructions.
The boat needed to be an “ark” which would exclude any other type
of boat. It needed to be
gopher wood (whatever that is) which would exclude cypress, pine, cedar,
oak, (unless gopher wood is actually one of those- tt), etc.
The dimensions were specific as was the 3 decks.
iv.
Moses was told by God on
one occasion to strike a rock and water came forth (Ex. 17:5-6).
But on another occasion, the Lord told him to speak to the
rock.(Num. 20:7-11), but on this occasion Moses struck the rock twice
and water came forth. As a
result of his disobedience (not following God’s specific instructions)
he was forbidden to enter the land of Canaan.
v.
Naaman, a leper, was
told to dip into the Jordan River 7 times to be cleansed of his leprosy.
(2 Kings 5:10) He
could not choose any other river, nor could he choose the number of
times to dip. In fact he
protested (11-12). But when
his servants reminded him of the benefit of obeying, he complied and was
healed.
vi.
In John 9 Jesus sees a
man born blind from birth.
He spits on the ground and makes a clay and applies it to the eyes of
the blind man. The man is
then told to go and was in the pool of Siloam (Jn. 9:7).
The blind man obeyed and came back seeing.
d.
Some examples of
specific authority –
i.
Matt. 28:19 – Go and
make disciples of all nations – the command to “go” specifies our need
to take action – namely to make disciples.
Also, they were told to make disciples of “all nations” meaning the
whole world – it was not exclusive to certain parts of the world (though
there was a plan that was set – Acts 1:8)
ii.
Ephesians 5:19, we are
commanded to sing. Singing
is a specific type of music.
That is why we do not use musical instruments in our worship – God
specified SING! And this
concurs with every other passage in the New Testament dealing with our
music in worship (Col. 3:16, 1 Cor. 14:15, etc.)
WE are also told that our singing is to be “to one another”
(excluding choirs and entertainment) and in our songs we are to be
teaching one another. We are
also told the types of songs to sing - psalms, hymns and spiritual
songs.
iii.
1 Timothy 2:9 speaks of
women adorning themselves in “modest apparel” as well as other
descriptions of proper clothing.
We need to figure out what “modest” means and we ought to do so
according to Biblical standards.
That which is NOT modest is forbidden.
a.
While a blueprint is
specific in its instructions, there are often details that are left to
the discretion of the builder (or buyer) – for example the color of the
house might not be specified, or the type of carpeting or flooring.
(NOTE: Some of these things MAY BE specified – if so then the
generic choice is not there)
Furthermore, in building the house which tools are to be used may not be
specified so the construction worker is at liberty to use whatever tools
he wishes, so long as it gets the job done right (while respecting the
details of the blueprint).
b.
When something is
generic in nature it means that it is up to the discretion of the person
as to how he carries something out.
Generic authority by its definition is INCLUSIVE.It is based upon
specific commands and addresses the choices we have in obeying the
command.
c.
The Bible gives examples
of general authority
i.
When Noah was instructed
to build the ark, he was not told what tools to use in building the ark.
He was at liberty to use whatever resources he had as long as
they did not reject the pattern.
ii.
When the disciples were
told to go and make disciples, how they were to go was not specified.
They could utilize whatever means were available– by foot, by
ship, by chariot, by animal, etc.
iii.
When they were told to
“make disciples” of all nations – the method of teaching was not
specified – they could do it in public assemblies, or house to house,
orally or in writing. All of
these different methods were still “teaching”.
d.
Some examples of generic
authority –
i.
We are commanded to
sing, but what types of songs is not specified – we can use unison,
four-part harmony, responsive, fast or slow pitched, etc.
As long as our singing complies with all the specific details,
the other aspects are our discretion.
Furthermore, the number of songs we sing, the order of songs in our
assemblies is left to our discretion.
ii.
The command to “go”
would authorize us to use a car, airplane, train or walk.
Any of those methods is still “going”
iii.
There are also many ways
that we can “teach” or “make disciples” today – we can write, teach
publicly or privately, use a website, correspondence courses,
newspapers, television, etc.
WE can teach in classes and in public assemblies.
We can have gospel meetings, etc.
Each of these could be utilized while still respecting the
command to teach.
NOTE: There is some limitations as to what the church can do based upon
other passages. We will
discuss these at a later time, BASED upon what we have discussed dealing
with authority.
iv.
Hebrews 10:25 commands
us to assemble. But where we
assemble is left to our discretion.
WE can provide a place (such as this building) to fulfill the
command, meet in a home, rent a store front, or find some other place to
assemble. But we MUST
assemble (and that includes at least once on Sunday to fulfill other
commands). How many times we
assemble, as well as the time of day is left to our discretion.
e.
Observations:
i.
Generic authority is
always based upon a specified command and deals only with those aspects
of the command that are not specified.
IF something in its proper context is specified, then that
excludes all other options.
ii.
Generic authority is NOT
a blank check to do whatever we want to do provided something is not
specified. We must still
respect the boundaries of scripture.
This will become clear when we discuss what the work of the
church is – what it can and cannot do.
iii.
Silence is NOT generic
authority. We will address
this next week.
a.
In dealing with the
nature of authority one of the challenges we face today is to
distinguish between that which is an addition and that which is an aid
to carrying out a command.
b.
An aid is something that
helps us facilitate a command.
WE sometimes call these expedients.
i.
A building is an
expedient to help us fulfill the command to assemble.
When someone asks what is the authority for a water fountain
(usually because they want to justify something that is NOT authorized)
the answer is – it’s part of the structure that helps us facilitate the
command to assemble (just like electricity, pews, etc.
ii.
We are commanded to sing
– we can use pitch pipes, song books, a song leader, etc.
All these are aids in carrying out the command to teach one
another in song.
iii.
Trays and cups help us
to carry out the command to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
iv.
PowerPoint, black
boards, bulletins – are aids in carrying out the command to preach the
gospel.
v.
It has been observed
that aids are only scriptural if:
1.
They are left
unspecified in scripture (otherwise they would be essential)
2.
They are expedient
(helpful) – and thus non-essential – while not wrong, you don’t have to
have a song book, bulletin, etc.
1 Cor. 10:23, “All things are lawful for me, but not all
things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things
edify.”
3.
They edify (build up the
body) – it is something that builds us up rather than dividing us.
c.
An addition is something
that is added to something else.
i.
It is something outside
the boundaries of what is commanded. It
is of a different type.
ii.
Instrumental music is an
addition. It is ADDED to the
command to sing, not merely helping us sing.
There are 2 types of music – singing and playing.
They are DIFFERENT types of music!
If He had simply said, “make music” then we would be at liberty to
choose what type of music.
But God specified that we sing (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16).
BUT someone might argue, “we are told in Eph. 5:19 to “make melody”
but the text tells us the “instrument” our heart.
That is used in our singing.
Some argue that instruments are expedients to our singing – NO!
Singing is a different TYPE of music than playing.
Specific instruments are the expedient to playing which is NOT
what we are commanded to do.
Some argue that instruments (piano, organ) are aids to facilitate
singing - like a cane to facilitate walking or glasses to facilitate our
seeing. But the
argument is not valid when you understand specific and general
authority. A cane is
used exclusively to help one walk and glasses to help one see.
They are not different types of the activity – i.e. a cane is not
a type of walking, or glasses a type of seeing – they are purely AIDS to
help one walk or see. An
instrument is a different category of music, independent of singing. To
call an instrument an aid is akin to saying that walking and a cane are
different forms of “going” and seeing and glasses are different forms of
perception (like seeing and hearing).
The arguments are not parallel.
iii.
WE are told not to add
to God’s word!
1.
““Whatever I command
you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away
from it.” (Deuteronomy 12:32) – Under the Old Law
2.
“For I testify to
everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone
adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written
in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of
this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from
the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
(Revelation 22:18–19)
3.
“Now these things,
brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your
sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written,
that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.”
(1 Cor. 4:6)
4.
“Every word of God is
pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to
His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:5–6)
And
there you have the nature of our authority.
As we can see, we need to use reason as we study and apply the
word of God to our lives.
Let us respect His boundaries and thereby achieve the true unity He
desires.