Principles for living to last a life time

#5 The Silence Principle

#1 The Pattern Principle#2 The Command Principle#3 The Example Principle#4 The Necessary Conclusion Principle

So often used and so natural that we take it for granted and don’t think about it.

The honor of your presence is requested at the home ofMr. & Mrs. John Smith

At 7:00 PMFor their retirement dinnerSaturday, December 21st

In the category of…

• Date,

• Time,

• And location

it is specified

Silence Principle # 1-If an option in an area is specified, then silence

about other options EXCLUDES them.

The honor of your presence is requested at the home ofMr. & Mrs. John Smith

At 7:00 PMFor their retirement dinnerSaturday, December 21st

What if items in a category are NOT specified? Such as…• attire• gifts

Then most choices are right

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat

anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one

who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed

him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls.

And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or

you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God…

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Commanded to get along with different viewpoints

Romans 14:55 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another

esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own

mind.

Another example of special “days”- both sides can be right

The honor of your presence is requested at the home ofMr. & Mrs. John Smith

At 7:00 PMFor their retirement dinnerSaturday, December 21st

What if items in a category are NOT specified? Such as…• attire• gifts

Then most choices are right

• If God is specific then His silence exclude any other options.

• If God is silent on a matter then it is left to our judgment and includes different options.

Silence Principle # 2-If an area is left open

with nothing is specified then our judgment may include any expedient

option.

The day for the Lord’s Supper is specified…

All other days are excluded

But the time of day is NOT specified. All expedient times would be right

Acts 20:7On the first day of the week,

when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to

depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until

midnight.

1 Corinthians 16:2On the first day of every week,

each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no

collecting when I come.

Singing, as music, is specified…

But the type of singing is NOT specified

Responsive Chants Unison Harmony Etc., etc.

Ephesians 5:19addressing one another in

psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making

melody to the Lord with your heart,

Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in

you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all

wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with

thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Assembled worship is specified…

But NOT… The order The length Number of

times The place Etc., etc.

Hebrews 10:25…not neglecting to

meet together, as is the habit of some, but

encouraging one another, and all the

more as you see the Day drawing near.

Baptism as immersion or a burial is specified…

But NOT the place…

Creek Sea Watering hole Baptistry Etc., etc.

Colossians 2:12… having been buried with him

in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith

in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Romans 6:4We were buried therefore with

him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was

raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk

in newness of life.

God has given us a Pattern to imitate & follow God speaks to us by way of

Command/Example God speaks to us by way of Necessary

Conclusion God speaks in His Silence, and expects

respect When He is specific we can add/change nothing When He is not specific we can use our judgment

God reveals His will using ordinary, understandable language that we can understand in ordinary fashion and obey

Mark 16:16Whoever believes and is baptized

will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

James 5:16Therefore, confess your sins to

one another and pray for one another, that you may be

healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great

power as it is working. Revelation 2:10

… Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.