How we view the bounds which Scripture places upon collective Christian behavior will determine what we do as a church. If we believe that our conduct is not restricted to only what Scripture reveals, then we may use wide latitude in deciding congregational activities. If instead Scripture itself sets the limits (by what has been written) for what the church should do, to go beyond these bounds would be presumptuous, divisive and in rebellion to divine authority.

    Are we bound by the silence of Scripture? There are a few classic examples in scripture which seem to demonstrate that the answer is yes:

1. Noah. God gave Noah the instruction to build the ark out of a wood called “gopherwood.” (Genesis 6:14). Yet it wasn’t necessary for God to list all the types of wood Noah could not use.

2. Moses. To give water to the children of Israel God told Moses to—“Speak to the rock before their eyes and it shall yield its water.” (Numbers 20:8). Yet Moses instead struck the rock, and because of this he was not allowed to enter Canaan. We should note that he was punished for this act of disobedience even though he had previously been commanded on another occasion to strike the rock for water. (Exodus 17:6).

3. Nadab & Abihu. These two priests, who were sons of Aaron offered incense—“Before the Lord which He had not commanded them.” (Leviticus 10:1). Because of this, fire came down from heaven and killed them.

    Inspired writers themselves made arguments calling upon the silence of Old Testament Scriptures:

l. The Hebrew Writer. In order to prove Christ’s superiority to the angels this writer quotes Psalms 110:1 in asking—“To which of the angels has He ever said ‘Sit at my right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” (Hebrews 1:13).

2. Paul. To show the subtle promise of Christ in prophecy Paul in Galatians 3:16 points out—“He does not say‘And to seeds’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed’ who is Christ.”