____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ June 6, 1996 ____________________________________________________ Knowing When To Shut Up by Craig Meyer ``What do you have to know to play the cymbals?'' a music student is supposed to have once asked Sir Malcolm Sargent, the British conductor. ``Nothing,'' he replied, ``except when.'' A good cymbals player not only knows when to play, but also WHEN NOT TO PLAY. He learns to observe the ``rests'' (musical notation for periods of silence).1 This principle is also valid for everyone else in the orchestra. If an orchestra is going to play a Mozart symphony, the players are not free to play whatever notes they want; they are restricted to playing only the notes written down by the composer. Also, they are not at liberty to play during the rests; they are restricted to observe those periods of silence, however long or short the rests may be. Failure (or refusal) to play all the notes--and observe all the rests--displays a careless, disrespectful attitude toward the composer and his music. Similarly, God has ``given us the notes to play.'' He has revealed His will that directs us how to live (Psa. 101:2-3; 1 Cor. 2:10-13; 1 Tim. 3:15; 6:11-12). We are restricted to remain within that will (2 John 9). We are not at liberty to think or say or do whatever we want in life (Jer. 10:23). Failure or refusal to do all that He has commanded--and nothing that he has not commanded--displays a careless, disrespectful attitude toward God and His word. In a contemplation of God's infinite grandeur, we are moved to praise and extol the King of all (Psa. 66, 92, 93, 95; Jn. 3:31). At times we will want to share these thoughts and feelings with others in an atmosphere of mutual teaching and admonition (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Yet it must be admitted that as we meditate upon eternal truth--either collectively or privately--there will be times when our words are too feeble, too inadequate. On such occasions the only fitting and wise response is to simply hold our tongues (Exod. 14:13; Psa. 46:10; Hab. 2:20; cf. Phil. 4:7). The people of God walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). This walk comes by hearing and following God's word (Rom. 10:17; Jas. 1:22-25). If God is silent in a given area (i.e., He has neither specifically nor generically addressed a certain matter), then there is NO REVEALED WORD FOR US TO HEAR AND FOLLOW ON THAT POINT. Therefore, it is IMPOSSIBLE to do that thing by faith! Without further revelation from heaven, no one could ever know whether or not such a thing was pleasing or displeasing to the Lord. Knowing when to shut up is essential if we are to successfully establish and apply Bible authority. ``We speak where the Bible speaks; we are silent where it is silent'' is a slogan of the ``Restoration Movement,''2 but more importantly, it is a principle of truth based on Scripture. See 1 Pet. 4:11; Col. 3:17. I believe that God has given the human race everything it needs to survive, yea excel spiritually (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3-11). If God has not authored it, then leave it alone! If He has not given ``the green light'' for a thing, we commit PRESUMPTUOUS SIN if we go ahead and do it anyway (Psa. 19:13).3 A good cymbals player knows when to play...and when to keep quiet. A faithful Christian knows enough to remain within the confines of the faith once for all delivered (Jude 3), to live soberly, righteously, and godly and to stay away from every form of ungodliness and worldly lust (Tit. 2:11- 12; 1 Thess. 5:21-22). ``To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...a time to keep silence, and a time to speak'' (Eccl. 3:1,7b). _____________ Endnotes 1 ``No one wants to hear a cymbals recital.'' (Wayne S. Walker) Such cacophony painfully illustrates those who try to live without love. (See 1 Cor. 13:1) While it is true that percussion instruments add rhythm, brilliance, color, and variety to the orchestra, very few people desire to hear JUST the percussion. (I relish red cayenne pepper, jalapenos, and Chinese mustard, but I would never make a meal out them.) Percussion is ``musical pepper,'' best used discreetly and in modest amounts, therefore, all the more reason that these special players be silent during the rests. 2 It seems to me that that some brethren try to ``restore the Restoration Movement'' in our time. Any allegiance to--or authoritative appeal from--a man or group of men is thinking of men ``above that which is written'' (1 Cor. 4:6). Our first and only obligation is to serve God and to be true to His Book. See Matt. 6:33; 1 Tim. 4:6-10. 3 I would also strongly urge the reader to carefully study Num. 9:15-23. When the fiery, cloudy pillar moved, Israel moved! When it stopped, they stopped! ``At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed...'' (Num. 9:23). Later in the wilderness wanderings, the people presumed to travel on when the pillar did not move. The result? Defeat and disaster! Read Num. 14:40-45. The taproot of much division in religion can be attributed to a failure (or refusal) to keep aloof from sins of presumption. (cf. Num. 15:30-31). ``Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the doctrine, hath both the Father and the Son'' (2 John 9, ASV). -- Via Gary's List ___________________________________________ Editor's Note: We thank Craig for this fine article of his in today's bulletin. He and I were roommates at Florida College about 18 years ago and have recently run into each other again on Mark's and Gary's e-mail Lists. Although originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin, he is now in Mulvane, Kansas--very close to Wichita--where he began working with a congregation last August. Preaching for 17 years and married, thus far, for 14, he has 2 sons: Glenn Ross (11) and Neil Andrew (9). I am looking forward to reading more of his well- written, informative, and interesting articles on Gary's List. ___________________________________________ Two Covenants (Hebrews 8:7) by John Isaac Edwards First Covenant Second Covenant 1) Old Covenant 1) New Covenant (2 Cor. 3:14). (2 Cor. 3:6). 2) Given my Moses 2) Given by Christ (Jno. 1:17). (Heb. 1:1-2). 3) Given to Israel 3) Given to all nations (Deut. 5:1-3). (Matt. 28:18-20). 4) Written on stones 4) Written in hearts (2 Cor. 3:7). (2 Cor. 3:3). 5) Shadow of things to 5) The true come (Heb. 10:1). (Heb. 8:1,2). 6) Blood of bulls and 6) Blood of Christ goats (Heb. 10:4) (Heb. 9:14). 7) Animals as dead 7) Bodies as living sacrifices (Heb. 10:1-4). sacrifices (Rom. 12:1-3). 8) Sins remembered each 8) Sins remembered no year (Heb. 10:3). more (Heb. 8:12). 9) Oftentimes same sacrifices 9) Christ offered on sacrifice offered (Heb. 10:11). for all (Heb. 10:12). 10) Made nothing perfect or 10) Perfect or complete in complete (Heb. 7:19). Christ (Col. 1:28; 2:10). 11) Fleshly circumcision 11) Circumcision of the (Gen. 17:9-11). heart (Rom. 2:29). 12) Ministration of condem- 12) Ministration of righteous- nation (2 Cor. 3:9). ness (2 Cor. 3:9). 13) Levitical priesthood 13) Each Christian a (Heb. 7:11). priest (1 Pet. 2:5). 14) Had faults (Heb. 8:7). 14) Perfect law (Jas. 1:25). 15) Yoke of bondage 15) Law of liberty (Gal. 5:1-4). (Jas. 1:25). 16) No justification 16) Justifies (Gal. 3:11). (Gal. 3:24). 17) Abolished 17) Remaineth (2 Cor. 3:13). (2 Cor. 3:11). ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@wwd.net ________________________________________