The Silence of Scripture

[Bill]

The Silence of the Scriptures doctrine is not entirely unique to the Campbell Church of Christ, but it is one doctrine that clearly defies logic. This doctrine teaches that everything that is not explicitly requested in the Bible is forbidden. As well, all explicit requests in the Old Testament are annulled by the New Testament. In essence, this doctrine teaches that if the New Testament says neither Yes or No, the answer is No.

In addition to ignoring the specific request for musical instruments in worship, the slogan that accompanies this doctrine contradicts the actions of this doctrine. The slogan that accompanies the Silence of the Scriptures doctrine is, "We speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent." Yet, the Campbell Church of Christ is not "silent where the Bible is silent." Where the "Bible is silent" the Campbell Church of Christ speaks by saying "No!" A more correct slogan would be: We speak where the Bible speaks and speak again where the Bible is silent by saying "No!"

There are two types of biblical passages that Campbell Church of Christ members use to support their interpretation of silence as condemnation. First, they take passages were God is not silent and claim that He is silent. The other type concerns God's displeasure with someone's motives, which the Campbell Church of Christ interprets as displeasure with the action resulting from these motives. With each passage used by the Campbell Church of Christ to support the interpretation of silence as condemnation, God is either not silence, or is displeased with ill motives

[Bill]

In Genesis 4:3-5, Cain and Abel brought offerings to God. God was pleased with Abel's offering "of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions," but God was displeased with Cain's "offering of the fruit of the ground." The Campbell Church of Christ teaches that although God did not say not to offer the fruit of the ground, His silence did not permit it, which is why He was displeased. However, God was not only silent concerning an offering of plant life, but was also silent concerning an offering of animal life. In both cases God was silent; therefore, according to Campbell Church of Christ reasoning, God forbid both offerings. This is not true, and God did accept Abel's offering of animal life, even though He was silent concerning such an offering.

The Campbell Church of Christ teaches that God did not tell Noah not to use cedar, pine, oak, or any other kind of wood to build the ark, but His silence did not permit it. In reality, God was not silent. In Genesis 6:14, God specifically commands Noah to use gopher wood. If Noah used any other type of wood, he would be disobeying God's specific command. God was not silent concerning what type of wood Noah was to build the ark out of.

In Genesis 11:1-9, God confused the language of the people and scattered them. The Campbell Church of Christ teaches that God did this because His silence did not authorise the people to build a tower to Heaven. Truthfully, God was not concerned with the actual tower, but the egotistical and arrogant motives of the people, which would lead them away from God.

God devoured Nadab and Abihu with fire because they offered unholy fire before Him in Leviticus 10:1-3. The Campbell Church of Christ teaches that although God did not say not to offer unholy fire, His silence did not authorise it. However, God was again not silent in this case. In Exodus 30:9, God said, "You shall offer no unholy incense thereon."

The Campbell Church of Christ teaches that, in Numbers 20:7-13, God did not say Moses should not strike the rock twice, but His silence did not authorise it. The striking of the rock is irrelevant. What is relevant is that Moses did not "tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water," as God had commanded him. Moses was not punished for striking the rock, but because of his lack of faith in God.

In addition to these examples, Campbell Church of Christ members cite many other passages that they believe supports their interpretation of silence as condemnation, but are merely misinterpretations of Scripture, and a departure from logic. True silence can only be interpreted as consent, and to truly remain silent means to pass neither consent nor condemnation.

[X-MEMBER]

Notice that Shawn neglects many threads here. He is a cult leader from who preaches in Royce City TX and a back pocket for Johnny.

[Bobby]

I'm glad you guys have brought some rationale to this discussion.

[walkinginlove]

Hmm from a logic stand point if it is not expressly authorized we can't do it? So all those CoC posts by Heath and BF are really a sin then, since blogging is not authorized! ;)

"We speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent."

The translation of that is we manipulate where the Bible speaks and are able to judge where the Bible is silent.

It's just sad that they also include Ezra 10 as a teaching for the New Testament and that is clearly a false application of scripture, and at the same time deny communion to anyone except those they deem worthy, and this is again clearly a false practice based on self-righteous pride and not on the actual practice of the original Church who are never recorded refusing communion to anyone but left it up to the believer to judge themselves.

Thus by their actions they have assumed the roll of God and judge others where the Bible does not!

Finally the myth that they are the original Church handed down through the ages is simply a lie, they came from the 1800s as part of the Cambellite restoration movement, they point to things like Novotus as Shawn as attempted and have found that he was elected Pope in the North African Churches after the split with Rome, this is hardly their doctrine today since they condemn the catholic church and pope.

And yet even though the holes are clearly visable they cling to this belief that they are the original church though they deny the power of God today and leave it up to their ability to walk the christian walk and even deny the Holly Spirits indwelling today, yet the original church clearly believed in the indwelling and saw the Holly Spirit as the seal of our salvation.

Yet it is the same church as the church in Acts?

[heath]

Progressive Bill, why don't you practice infant baptism or pray to Mary?

www.roysecitycoc.org

[Bill]

The one cup Church of Christ will not meet with you on the Lords day for communion. Just like some Church of Christ who believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in the believer only by the Word will not fellowship with the Church of Christ that believe that the Spirit personally indwells the believer. Just like some Church of Christ believe in mental divorce….must I continue?

Again, you PRACTICE the very things you condemn others for. Matter of fact, your denomination is far more divisive than most other denominations.

Please tell us all clearly which Church of Christ SECT is correct on ALL doctrine !! Pretty please, Shawn.

You and Johnnie are part of the Church of Christ that even conservatives call Cult. You are not just merely conservative but you are hyper-radical with your inconsistencies of doctrine. You aren’t even accepted by many conservatives. I had a conservative preacher tell me yesterday that Johnny is a cult leader, which caught me off guard coming from another conservative, but the more I weigh the facts, the more I am beginning to think he may be right.

Again, tell us all here the doctrines that each and every Church of Christ agree upon. You cant! You already shown here the double standards used by you guys. I am stepping away from this forum rest of today, I have too much on my plate right now. When you are ready to really discuss the issues within your SECT, I will be glad to continue this conversation.

[Bobby]

Bill wrote:

The one cup Church of Christ will not meet with you on the Lords day for communion. Just like some Church of Christ who believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in the believer only by the Word will not fellowship with the Church of Christ that believe that the Spirit personally indwells the believer. Just like some Church of Christ believe in mental divorce….must I continue?
Again, you PRACTICE the very things you condemn others for. Matter of fact, your denomination is far more divisive than most other denominations.
Please tell us all clearly which Church of Christ SECT is correct on ALL doctrine !! Pretty please, Shawn.
You and Johnnie are part of the Church of Christ that even conservatives call Cult. You are not just merely conservative but you are hyper-radical with your inconsistencies of doctrine. You aren’t even accepted by many conservatives. I had a conservative preacher tell me yesterday that Johnny is a cult leader, which caught me off guard coming from another conservative, but the more I weigh the facts, the more I am beginning to think he may be right.
Again, tell us all here the doctrines that each and every Church of Christ agree upon. You cant! You already shown here the double standards used by you guys. I am stepping away from this forum rest of today, I have too much on my plate right now. When you are ready to really discuss the issues within your SECT, I will be glad to continue this conversation.

Heath, I hope you are listening. Bill is saying the same things that I have for months. We don't even know each other but we can see clearly that the coc has never been in complete unity.

Bring on those ad hominem attacks because that is all you've got.

[heath]

Bill wrote:

The one cup Church of Christ will not meet with you on the Lords day for communion. Just like some Church of Christ who believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in the believer only by the Word will not fellowship with the Church of Christ that believe that the Spirit personally indwells the believer. Just like some Church of Christ believe in mental divorce….must I continue?
Again, you PRACTICE the very things you condemn others for. Matter of fact, your denomination is far more divisive than most other denominations.
Please tell us all clearly which Church of Christ SECT is correct on ALL doctrine !! Pretty please, Shawn.
You and Johnnie are part of the Church of Christ that even conservatives call Cult. You are not just merely conservative but you are hyper-radical with your inconsistencies of doctrine. You aren’t even accepted by many conservatives. I had a conservative preacher tell me yesterday that Johnny is a cult leader, which caught me off guard coming from another conservative, but the more I weigh the facts, the more I am beginning to think he may be right.
Again, tell us all here the doctrines that each and every Church of Christ agree upon. You cant! You already shown here the double standards used by you guys. I am stepping away from this forum rest of today, I have too much on my plate right now. When you are ready to really discuss the issues within your SECT, I will be glad to continue this conversation.

Progressive Bill, why don't you practice infant baptism or pray to Mary?

www.roysecitycoc.org

[heath]

Bobby wrote:

<quoted text>
Heath, I hope you are listening. Bill is saying the same things that I have for months. We don't even know each other but we can see clearly that the coc has never been in complete unity.
Bring on those ad hominem attacks because that is all you've got.

Sure, birds of a feather flock together. However, progressive Bill KNOWS polygamy is a sin today. Perhaps he can teach you why. ;)

www.roysecitycoc.org

[Bill]

The Silence of the Scriptures doctrine is not entirely unique to the Campbell Church of Christ, but it is one doctrine that clearly defies logic. This doctrine teaches that everything that is not explicitly requested in the Bible is forbidden. As well, all explicit requests in the Old Testament are annulled by the New Testament. In essence, this doctrine teaches that if the New Testament says neither Yes or No, the answer is No.

In addition to ignoring the specific request for musical instruments in worship, the slogan that accompanies this doctrine contradicts the actions of this doctrine. The slogan that accompanies the Silence of the Scriptures doctrine is, "We speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent." Yet, the Campbell Church of Christ is not "silent where the Bible is silent." Where the "Bible is silent" the Campbell Church of Christ speaks by saying "No!" A more correct slogan would be: We speak where the Bible speaks and speak again where the Bible is silent by saying "No!"

There are two types of biblical passages that Campbell Church of Christ members use to support their interpretation of silence as condemnation. First, they take passages were God is not silent and claim that He is silent. The other type concerns God's displeasure with someone's motives, which the Campbell Church of Christ interprets as displeasure with the action resulting from these motives. With each passage used by the Campbell Church of Christ to support the interpretation of silence as condemnation, God is either not silence, or is displeased with ill motives

[heath]

Bill wrote:

The Silence of the Scriptures doctrine is not entirely unique to the Campbell Church of Christ, but it is one doctrine that clearly defies logic. This doctrine teaches that everything that is not explicitly requested in the Bible is forbidden. As well, all explicit requests in the Old Testament are annulled by the New Testament. In essence, this doctrine teaches that if the New Testament says neither Yes or No, the answer is No.
In addition to ignoring the specific request for musical instruments in worship, the slogan that accompanies this doctrine contradicts the actions of this doctrine. The slogan that accompanies the Silence of the Scriptures doctrine is, "We speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent." Yet, the Campbell Church of Christ is not "silent where the Bible is silent." Where the "Bible is silent" the Campbell Church of Christ speaks by saying "No!" A more correct slogan would be: We speak where the Bible speaks and speak again where the Bible is silent by saying "No!"
There are two types of biblical passages that Campbell Church of Christ members use to support their interpretation of silence as condemnation. First, they take passages were God is not silent and claim that He is silent. The other type concerns God's displeasure with someone's motives, which the Campbell Church of Christ interprets as displeasure with the action resulting from these motives. With each passage used by the Campbell Church of Christ to support the interpretation of silence as condemnation, God is either not silence, or is displeased with ill motives

"Campbell Church of Christ" STRAW-MAN

Progressive Lucadoite Bill, why don't you practice infant baptism or pray to Mary?

www.roysecitycoc.org

[Army of God]

Please tell us all clearly which Church of Christ SECT is correct on ALL doctrine !! Pretty please, Shawn.

You and Johnnie are part of the Church of Christ that even conservatives call Cult. You are not just merely conservative but you are hyper-radical with your inconsistencies of doctrine. You aren’t even accepted by many conservatives. I had a conservative preacher tell me yesterday that Johnny is a cult leader, which caught me off guard coming from another conservative, but the more I weigh the facts, the more I am beginning to think he may be right.

Again, tell us all here the doctrines that each and every Church of Christ agree upon. You cant! You already shown here the double standards used by you guys. I am stepping away from this forum rest of today, I have too much on my plate right now. When you are ready to really discuss the issues within your SECT, I will be glad to continue this conversation.

[heath]

"Church of Christ SECT" yet another STRAW-MAN

Army, do you practice infant baptism or pray to Mary?

www.roysecitycoc.org

[Army of God]

Tell us all here the doctrines that each and every Church of Christ agree upon. You cant! You already shown here the double standards used by you guys. I am stepping away from this forum rest of today, I have too much on my plate right now. When you are ready to really discuss the issues within your SECT, I will be glad to continue this conversation.

[Beautiful Feet]

In (Ex. 14) the Israelites went across the bed of the Red Sea b/c they were commanded to do so by God.

The Egyptians followed the Israelites on the dry ground of the Red Sea even though the Lord did not command them to do so. They died.

Once again the Lord used water to show how some were blessed by the water and others were cursed by the water. But the water was the line of demarcation between the living and the dead. Similar to the flood of Noah.

Yet another sobering lesson about respecting the silence of the scriptures.

http://missionprinting.us/mp_newindex.html

Click on Publications

I highly recommend the booklet entitled -

"A Reply To A Denominational Preacher

and

"How Can I Find the Right Church?"

[Beautiful Feet]

Please tell us he plan of salvation.

[Bobby]

Easy!

The cross of Christ.

[Bobby]

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
—John 1:12
John 3:16-17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
—John 3:16-17
John 14:6

Jesus said to him,“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
—John 14:6
Acts 13:38-39

Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
—Acts 13:38-39
Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
—Romans 1:16
Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
—Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 6:23
Romans 10:9-13

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says,“Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
—Romans 10:9-13
2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
—2 Corinthians 5:17
Ephesians 1:13-14

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
—Ephesians 1:13-14
Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
—Ephesians 2:8-9
Philippians 2:12

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
—Philippians 2:12
Colossians 2:13-14

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
—Colossians 2:13-14
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
—1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
—Titus 2:11-14
1 Peter 1:8-9

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
—1 Peter 1:8-9

[Bobby]

"How Can I Find the Right Church?"

You need to leave the cults and put your eyes on the cross, then the Spirit will lead you to the right Church.