Does the silence of the Scriptures authorize a person, or a group of people, to do what they wish with regards to worship? This question has been debated since God inspired the Scriptures. But, as with other things, we don’t have to guess about this issue — all we have to do is go to Scripture and see:

Hebrews 7:11-14 says, “Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.” (NKJV) In this great argument concerning the change of the priesthood and the change of the law, we find that God makes the point about silence of the Scripture in verse 14. He talks about Jesus being of a tribe that “Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.” By virtue of the fact that God through Moses says that the priestly tribe is Levi, no other tribe was allowed to offer sacrifices.

We see that when Saul (from the tribe of Benjamin) offered a sacrifice in 1 Samuel 13 the kingdom was taken from him. In 2 Chronicles 26:18 we read about Uzziah offering incense upon the altar in the temple, “And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.” (KJV) Uzziah was stricken with leprosy because of this act. Now, many would argue that he should not have been punished, (after all, God didn’t say he couldn’t!) but God felt otherwise.

In Jeremiah 19:5 we read, “They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind.” (KJV)

Again in Jeremiah 32:35 we read, “And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.” (KJV)

Notice again we have Jeremiah condemning the people because they offered sacrifices to other gods. God said “these things did not come into his mind.” Again, God condemned the children of Israel for doing things that He did not sanction. He had warned about idol worship. But, as Wayne Jackson stated, “A comparison of these two sorts or contexts, therefore, reveals the following truth. Conduct forbidden and conduct that is unauthorized, fall into the same category. Both displease God. Let those who are forever quipping: ‘Where does the Bible say you can’t...?’ reflect soberly on this point. The issue is this: ‘Where does the Bible authorize your coveted practice?’” (Christian Courier, June 21, 2002)

Brethren, these matters will affect where we spend eternity. Let us, as always, study the Bible with a view of understanding God and what He wants, not trying to find a loophole for what we want!