Morning Thought 1

This morning, I would like to hit the high points of a very broad subject and how to delineate it in our thoughts and courses of actions. Many times, we hear things discussed in relation to the church, and people wonder, "Is that ok to have or do in the church or not?" Indeed, there are certain things that are beneficial aids to our services that are not expressly condoned by Scripture, but there are other devices of
Satan that fly in the face of Scripture. Clearly, the difference between these two is the difference between something being "un-Scriptural" and "non-Scriptural." So, let us look at these two concepts and some examples of them to discover how it is that we should behave ourselves in the church of the Living God the pillar and ground of the truth. (I Timothy 3:15)
The word "non-Scriptural" literally means "not in Scriptures." The prefix "non" has implications of a negative sense, but it is more pertinently an absence of something. So, a non-Scriptural item is simply
something that the Scriptures are silent about. Nowhere does it say what kind of building we should meet in or whether we should even meet in a building. The specifics of a local body's building, grounds, etc
are "generally" things that are left up to their discretion as a body. However, things like lights, air conditioning, heating, etc are simply aids to the worship service. The service is not essentially or inherently different with or without them if we are worshipping as we ought in spirit and in truth.
Other examples of non-Scriptural details are how long should the song service last? In what order of singing and praying and preaching should we conduct services? The answers to these questions may vary
somewhat as the Scriptures are silent as to the specifics so long as we do things decently and in order. (I Corinthians 14:40) Personally, I am quite fond of the tradition in the church of singing before preaching as it is of great benefit to the preacher in helping center his mind on the things above and put things in frame. However, the Scriptures no where place.
Other examples of non-Scriptural traditions are how often to take part in communion. It is most common among the churches to have it twice a year, but there are others that have it once a year or as often a once a month (that I know of). But, the tradition of the frequency of it is non-Scriptural as we are only told to do it in remembrance of Him as often as we do it. (I Corinthians 11:24) Likewise, the order of
services needs to have singing, preaching, and praying according to Scripture, but the specifics of it are absent. Many other non-Scriptural items could be mentioned such as church-appointed committees, length
of services, frequency of conference, etc, but perhaps these will suffice to make the point.
On the other hand, "un-Scriptural" practices are
things that are not just absent from Scripture but have defined negative bounds to Scripture. While the prefix "non" had negative implications (or a simple negative force), it was mostly an abstention of the
thing, but the prefix "un" is not an absence but the reverse of something in a negative force. Therefore, an "un-Scriptural" practice is the reverse of Scripture. These are things that may be plainly spoken against, or they may merely reverse the positive teaching of something else in Scripture. An open reversal of Scriptural practice would be that of a woman preacher or pastor. Scripture plainly denies such as proper and fitting for the house of God. (I Timothy 2:12) But, there are other un-Scriptural practices that are a reverse of positive teaching such as Sunday Schools or Children's Church. No where do we find open Scripture to deny such practice, but they are still un-Scriptural practices. The reason is that every positive teaching on worship has the lambs and the sheep feeding together in the same way. Children are not to be segregated from
worship any more than single people are from the married, old from the young, or the babes from their mothers. The Lord's church has every positive indication from Scripture of the saints being in one
congregation in one accord with all giving praise to their Saviour with their every breath.
Another example of implied un-Scriptural activity is additions to the Lord's work in an official church capacity. There is nothing contrary to God's word for an individual to be a member of different groups in
society (provided they are not detrimental to the peace and harmony of Zion such as secret orders). A member of the Lord's church can also be a member of a local PTA, coach of a baseball team, hold office with
city council, etc, but what about the church? Should the local church be a place of community projects, outreach centers, etc? The Scriptures are silent about these things, but yet, I firmly believe that
they are un-Scriptural additions and not non-Scriptural matters. In discovering the church's purpose in the pages of Scriptures, you find one primary purpose for her with a far distant secondary purpose.
The church's purpose in this world is to be a light in the community to bear witness of the truth and bring honour and glory to her Husband. Since she is the pillar and ground of the truth, her main priority should be that of unadulterated truth, and a joining with the societies in the world (no matter how noble) would be a great natural service to the community but a dampening of the spiritual service to the people of
God. When the focus is taken from the spiritual plane to the natural plane, we have lost sight of the main purpose of the Lord's church in this world. Now, one might declare, "What about the natural needs of the
church, her members, and general upkeep?" Indeed, this is the very second purpose of the church. The Lord's ministering servants should be fed from fields they tend. (I Corinthians 9) The church is not
required to provide them a living, but they are required to sow to the minister's natural needs. Also, the church needs to care for the destitute widows (to her ability) that are within the body (not without). (I Timothy 5)
However, these natural things need never take the majority of our focus from the spiritual aspects of the church as she is not of this world. Being in this world, there are natural things that must be
addressed, but all additional things to be added in a natural way are un-Scriptural, and should be avoided. When our concerns and cares are upon things other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified, we have missed the mark that He set for which we should be striving.
So, what is the point of all the discussion? When people discuss and try to discover whether the church should or should not do something, it behooves us to try to discover whether the thing is un-Scriptural or non-Scriptural. Un-Scriptural practices are things we
should be ready to earnestly contend against for the sake and the spirit of the faith once delivered to the saints. Non-Scriptural practices are those that we should be ready to become all things to all people (as Paul did) if by any means we might save some. (I Corinthians 9:22)
Therefore, if we attend services somewhere where the tradition varies from our custom but is merely non-Scriptural, let us be as they are while we are there. But, let us not seek to be as others are when
we find things that either openly or by negative implication reverse the teaching of Scripture, for in participating in such, we have become partakers of their evil deeds. May our traditions be such as make
for orderly, God-honouring services and not distract from the main business at hand, and may our actions that are contrary to the word of God be shunned with every vain and profane babbling of man.