Determining God’s Will - 4

Specifics and Generics: An Introduction

Royce P. Bell

Please see the previous articles for background material. If you do not have copies of the articles, please ask someone where they can be found.

In three previous articles, we have come to some simple conclusions:

  1. God is the ultimate source of Imperial authority (that is, the final One who commands and must be obeyed), and that Christ is the ultimate of all derived (or delegated) authority (meaning all authority that flows from the Imperial source and through something/someone else);
  2. God has spoken to us through His Word, the Bible. The validity of the scriptures is seen in their practical profitability, not only for teaching (which is obvious), but also for reproof (exposing and convicting), correction (lit. "to set straight" or rebuke), and training in righteousness (discipline in the practice of righteousness), but also (and more effectually) to fully and adequately equip us for every good work.
  3. God speaks to us of His specific will exactly as we speak, and are understood by each other. We may command that something be done, or we may simply state that a certain thing is expected of us. Or, we may exemplify what we intend to be done, or necessarily imply that same action. These are the ways God tells us what He expects of us.

But, what of those matters about which God has not spoken?

Authority and Silence

Actually, there are two senses in which God is silent. Interestingly, one is of no authority, at all, and therefore does not permit action. It may be that God’s silence does not forbid action, but we are not therefore free to act in absence of His expressed will.

Sometimes, people just look for what God has forbidden and then just take upon themselves to do anything other than what is forbidden. According to scripture, this is not a proper response to Divine authority. We are told, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17). The danger of acting in disregard of this clear principle is seen in 2 John 9-11, a profoundly sobering scripture:

"9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds."

The other sense in which God is silent relates to those matters about which God has spoken specifically (seen in what is commanded or stated, exemplified, or necessarily inferred), but has not regulated how we are to do those things. This is a very important part of determining God’s will.

Authority and Generic Options

We have customarily deflected unscriptural assumptions and practices by pointing out to religious people that just asking "What is wrong with it?" is not a suitable justification for doing what God has not allowed. Actually, this is a profoundly important point when it applies to specific authority (those matters which God has positively legislated).

However, this question, so wrongly applied against specific authority, has a very important and scriptural application when asked in the context of general authority. But, what is generic authority?

First, it is important to realize that generic authority flows out of specific authority. In other words, reversing the thought, in the absence of specific authority there can be no generic authority. If God has not told us what to do, we have no information on which we can base how we will do it! On the other hand, if God has told us what to do (by commands or statements, approved examples or necessary inferences), then we have a limitless number of options, generic options, on how to do it. In these, only common sense, good judgment and principles that make for peace regulate us.

Second, if it can be determined that God has told us to do something, by command or statement, approved example or necessary inference, we then must determine how best we can do that expressed will of God in ways that insure that His will is faithfully executed and obeyed. This is where generic options come in. Before we can ever determine what is authorized by generics, we must discover what is specifically said. Let’s consider a scriptural example:

Specific: Singing

Music in worship is an excellent example of specific authority, for there are several specific factors that are clearly stated in the word of God. Let’s look at one verse to see these points (and realize the consistency of this scripture with all others scriptures in the New Testament that deal with this matter), namely Colossians 3:16. Interestingly, this is in the very context from which we cited verse 17 earlier, "…do all in the name of the Lord.":

"16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Let’s ask a simple question. What is specified in this verse? We need only to read it and begin to fill in the list, as follows:

It is not because we are talented, or because we like a particular form of musical expression, nor even that others feel the need to be entertained. This shows a specific of motivation.

Again, it is not just teaching something for teaching-sake, else we might teach basket weaving or mathematics. Rather, we are to teach what the wisdom of the word of God dwelling within us teaches; we must be "preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ" (see Acts 20:31). This shows a specific of subject.

Nothing is said about Glenn Miller’s great swing tune, "In the Mood," or the Beatles #1 hit, "Yesterday." The word of God dwelling within us bursts forth in songs of a spiritual nature, as "a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name " (Hebrews 13:15) Surely we can see that "You Ain’t Nothing But A Hound Dog" does not fit this specific of subject, which just gives further weight to the specific of subject in #2, above.

We are told nothing about a praise band, with drums, guitars and harmonicas; rather, we are given specific information on what we are to do that pleases God. We are to sing. This shows a specific of action.

Next week, Lord willing, we will examine how we know the part that generic authority plays in doing what God has told us to do. More later…