Restoration Review: Leroy Garrett, Editor

SILENCE SAYS SOMETHING
by Cecil Hook

Although our movement has developed the criteria of Scriptural command, approved example, and necessary inference for authoritative guidance, the most consistent thing about our use of that rule is our inconsistency in applying it. We avoid or “explain away” imperative instructions like “Greet one another with a holy kiss” and such commanded examples as that of washing of feet, and we have never been able to agree on what is necessarily inferred. Some conclude confidently that the silence of the Scriptures concerning use of instrumental accompaniment to singing strongly infers that such is sinful, while others say that the silence infers that such is acceptable.

Frankly, I cannot believe that God would make eternal life or death dependent upon our ability or inability to judge inferences of a legal system. Sometimes, however, silence speaks and its message may be used as corroborative evidence. So, please let me make a point briefly that is supportive of that idea.

Throughout Old Testament history, God’s people were warned against the pitfalls of the cultures about them. They were warned especially against the idolatry of the neighboring peoples. Some of the Mosaic regulations were in reaction to, and a safeguard against, the idolatry which was so popular and infectious in their world.

Jesus warned against popular and accepted evils such as outward show of lordship by religious leaders. He corrected the common notion that God worship was to be centered in Jerusalem or Samaria.

The letter composed and sent out by the Jerusalem conferences to the Gentile disciples was no attempt to define all sinful activities, but it was a warning against prevalent and accepted evils among the pagans such as sexual unchastity and eating things sacrificed to idols, blood, and what is strangled.

Various lists of sins are given in the epistles. Why were they not exhaustive lists and all alike? Each particular list included the prevalent sins threatening the ones being addressed. Paul’s instructions concerning women identifying with the cult priestesses by headdress and insubordination, for instance, were not given in all his epistles but to the Corinthians and Ephesians where these were local threats. Paul warned the Thessalonians against idle, non-productive lives because that was a sin characteristic of that city.

In the latter part of New Testament history, the great philosophical threat to Christianity among the Gentiles was Gnosticism. John deals extensively with their teachings in his epistles, and Paul gives warnings also in letters to Timothy and the Colossians.

Now, let me get to my point about instrumental accompaniment to singing. Such music was generally accepted in all societies. The Jews were familiar with the temple orchestra or band dating back through the centuries. David encouraged the use of instruments in praise and he wrote some psalms to the Chief Musician to be accompanied by a specified instrument. The Jews of the First Century used those psalms and Paul encouraged Christian use of psalms.

If I should tell you that I heard Willie Nelson sing in a concert last night, you would not conclude that he sang a cappella due to the fact that I did not mention that he played his guitar also. Because accompaniment is so common, when mention is made of singing, accompaniment is taken for granted unless the exception is mentioned. So it would be with mention of the singing of Psalms.

No doubt, the pagans sang some good secular songs, but it would be more characteristic of them to sing the bawdy, sexually oriented songs of the drinking party. This would be a cultural temptation to disciples. In facing this, Paul did not forbid singing at social gatherings, but he urged that they use such occasions to teach, exhort, and upbuild one another by using psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs influenced by the Holy Spirit rather than alcoholic spirits. His instructions (Eph. 5:18f; Col. 3:16f) give no indication that he is dealing with church assemblies, but the contexts reveal that he is dealing with social relationships.

In view of the common use of instrumental accompaniment, both among the Jews and other societies, posing a universal threat, if such were sinful, it seems imperative that Paul and other inspired writers would have warned the disciples against that ever-present threat to their souls. Many lists are given to identify sins prevalent in their society, but the use of instruments in praise is not in one of the lists! The silence says something!

It says that it was a matter of indifference. —1350 Huisache, New Braunfels, Texas 78130