Consider the following scenario. A parent gives a child a ten dollar bill, and tells him to go into the store and buy a gallon of milk, and a loaf of bread. The child returns to the car with the milk, the bread, some change, and a candy bar. The parent tells the child, “I didn’t say you could get a candy bar!”, and the child replies, “You didn’t say I couldn’t!”

The child’s statement is true, but he quickly learns that the parent’s silence on the matter did not constitute permission to go ahead and buy the candy bar. From this example, we understand the principle that silence is not permissive.

The same is true with the word of God. Though it is a common sentiment expressed by religious people today, the idea that “if God has not explicitly condemned a practice He allows it”, is without merit. In fact, not only does the logic in our example refute such a concept of authority, the scriptures explicitly deny the concept as well. This we will soon show.

Continue reading » The Simple Gospel: The Silence of Scripture