The Bible Doesn’t Say, “Don’t Do It,” Does It?

Solomon once wrote that “there is no new thing under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9).

Certainly, that saying is true regarding the arguments that a swelling progressive element within the church employs to defend the use of musical instruments in Christian worship.

Or at the very least, they allege, the issue is not one that should prevent fellowship between churches of Christ and denominational groups that use the instrument. Professors in several colleges argue this case. And a number of churches have already incorporated the instrument into their services.

An even greater number contend that the matter is of no consequence. There is little doubt that these will have the instrument in the not-distant future.

Authority Abandoned

It once was the case that those who advocated the instrument attempted to make arguments that were at least remotely related to the biblical text. But those arguments proved to be so baseless that most of them have been abandoned.

The mantra now appears to be that stale quip: “The Bible doesn’t say, ’don’t do it.’”

With some people, it wouldn’t matter if the Bible explicitly stated, “You must not use mechanical music in Christian worship.” They would do it anyway because they are “will-worshippers” (Col. 2:23) and are enamored with carnality rather than truth.

Imagine for a moment the following scenario.

A woman takes her car into an automotive repair shop. She informs the mechanic that the vehicle is not running smoothly and she wants a tune-up.

When the customer returns the following day, she’s given a bill for more than $2,000. In addition to the tune-up, the repairman installed new brakes, a muffler, a carburetor, a fuel pump, and a new set of tires.

The enraged customer protests: “I didn’t authorize these extra expenditures!”

“I know,” the mechanic responds, “but you did not say not to do it.”

If the case is taken to court, how would a judge rule?

The issue is one of authority. While we recognize that there are many laws in the Bible that are explicitly negative, we may not draw the inference that everything is permitted that is not specifically condemned.

In the table of the Ten Commandments, the Lord said regarding graven images (i.e., idol gods), “you shall not bow yourself down to them” (Ex. 20:5).

But what if some renegade Hebrew simply stood before an idol and prayed? Do you suppose that if he had done such and made the defense, “He said, ’don’t bow’; he didn’t say, ’don’t stand’”?

Do you suppose the Lord would have been impressed with such a depraved defense?

Can reasonable people understand the logical consequence of this type of reasoning? It throws wide open the gates of apostasy.

Consider the following questions that surely could be posed by modern innovators.

• Why can’t we pray to Mary and the saints? The Bible doesn’t explicitly condemn it.
• Why can’t we observe communion on Saturday? The Bible doesn’t say, “Don’t do it.”
• Why can’t we have Pepsi and pizza for communion? The Bible doesn’t forbid it.
• Why can’t we baptize babies? The New Testament doesn’t censure it.
• Why can’t we smoke marijuana in worship? No text prohibits it.

It has become increasingly apparent that we see a new generation emerging that knows practically nothing about the Scriptures, and largely it is a people that cannot reason. Logic, to them, is like an alien language.

For many, their entire religious emphasis (under a leaky umbrella they call “spiritual”) is one of feelings, self-centeredness, and an appeal to the carnal.