by Larry Ray Hafley<\/p>\n
The Bible does not state that Noah used hammers, saws, and axes in the construction of the ark. However, such instruments were authorized by the command, “Make thee an ark” (Genesis 6:14). Without the instruction to build the ark, the tools would have been unauthorized.<\/p>\n
The Bible does not mention church buildings per se. However, they are scriptural because of the authority to assemble (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 11:18; 14:23; Hebrews 10:25). Without the right to assemble, church buildings would be without divine authority.<\/p>\n
The Bible does not refer to songbooks. However, they are authorized by the command to sing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3;16). They assist us in carrying out the divine direction to “sing and make melody” in our hearts to the Lord. Without the authority to sing, songbooks would be unscriptural.<\/p>\n
The Bible does not talk about chalkboards, computerized images, or overhead projectors. However, they are approved by the authority to teach (Matthew 28:19). They assist in doing what the New Testament churches did; namely, teach (Acts 11:22-26). Without the authority to teach, boards and projectors would be contrary to Scripture.<\/p>\n
The Bible does not say anything about collection baskets. However, they are authorized by the command to “lay by in store” (I Corinthians 16:2). Without the authority for a contribution, collection trays would be unauthorized.<\/p>\n
The Bible does not mention plates on which to serve the bread of the Lord’s supper. However, they are authorized by the command to “take, eat” (I Corinthians 11:24). Were there no communion, the plates would not be scriptural.<\/p>\n
The Bible does not specifically cite a baptistry, an artificial pool in which baptism is performed. However, the command to baptize authorizes a place to baptize. Without the right to baptize, a baptistry would be without authority (Matthew 7:21-23).<\/p>\n
The Bible does not directly mention the use of pianos and organs in the worship of the church. If we had the scriptural authority to “play music,” such instruments would be authorized. As there is Bible authority for songbooks because we are to sing, there would be an authority for pianos in worship if we were commanded to “play music.” When someone finds Scripture for “playing,” he will have found authority for guitars, trumpets, “and such like.” Until then, they cannot be used with the approval of heaven.<\/p>\n
The Bible does not show where any church built and maintained recreation and entertainment facilities as a part of its work. As plates are authorized by the command to “eat” the bread of the Lord’s supper, there would be an authority for dinner plates and badminton nets if the church were authorized to provide social meals and recreation for its members. If we had the authority to “play” games, such things would be authorized. When someone finds authority for the church to furnish recreation, amusement, and entertainment, he will have found authority for gymnasiums “and such like.” Until then, such things exist without scriptural authority.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Larry Ray Hafley The Bible does not state that Noah used hammers, saws, and axes in the construction of the ark. However, such instruments were authorized by the command, “Make thee an ark” (Genesis 6:14). Without the instruction to build the ark, the tools would have been unauthorized. The Bible does not mention church…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[78,114,292,152],"class_list":["post-49756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-authority","tag-expediency","tag-instrumental-music","tag-social-activities"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":55882,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-a-congregation-have-authority-for-a-midweek-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":49756,"position":0},"title":"Does a Congregation have Authority for a Midweek Service?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 16, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Wayne S. Walker While I do not think that I have ever actually known anyone who has taught this, I have heard that there have been brethren who argued that a local congregation is authorized to assemble only on the first day of the week and therefore it is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/11\/emptyChairs.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":69527,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/aids-versus-additions\/","url_meta":{"origin":49756,"position":1},"title":"Aids versus Additions","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 31, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Perry Hall Years ago, it was common to hear arguments concerning the difference between aids and additions in worshiping God. This involved hermeneutics. Let's presume we all agree that adding to the word is unscriptural. How do we know when we are simply using an aid? Where does the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":50161,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/pitch-pipes-and-powerpoint\/","url_meta":{"origin":49756,"position":2},"title":"Pitch-Pipes and PowerPoint","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"by\u00a0Bryan Hodge Members of the church of Christ have historically emphasized that the Bible teaches that we should have Biblical authority for what we do.\u00a0 God has required such.\u00a0 He did under the Old Covenant (e.g. Leviticus 10:1-2; I Samuel 13:9-14; II Chronicles 26:16-21).\u00a0 He does under the New Covenant\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4197,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-silence-says\/","url_meta":{"origin":49756,"position":3},"title":"What Silence Says","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 2, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey Hamilton I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You can say a lot by not saying anything \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You just spilt your milk and your mother gives you one of those \u201cI told you to keep your glass away from the edge of the table\u201d stares. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Not a word has to be said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You know exactly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37972,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/arguments-i-used-for-the-use-of-instrumental-music\/","url_meta":{"origin":49756,"position":4},"title":"Arguments I Used for the Use of Instrumental Music","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"(When I Was a Preacher for the Christian Church) by Dan Goddard Men have long been prone to go beyond the limitations of God's word in their zeal to serve Jehovah. Zeal for God is commendable when it is coupled with a knowledge of God's will; but when one allows\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":58215,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/expediency\/","url_meta":{"origin":49756,"position":5},"title":"Expediency","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 21, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Heath Rogers In the previous article, we discussed the difference between general and specific authority. When God specifies something, everything else is automatically excluded. However, when God gives us a general command, we are free to choose how to fulfill that command. This is where the study of expediency\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49756"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49756\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}