August 2005
No. 236
Generic Authority * Is
Dancing Sinful? * Search
the Scriptures *Poem *Meetings * Contact
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GENERIC AUTHORITY
Since the beginning of time the Creator has
expressed His will to mankind. Man has not always listened and favorably
responded, and in many recorded instances he has removed himself from God
through disobedience. But whether obeyed or ignored, God’s will remains
proper, right, and required.
Sometimes the expression of that will has been very broad and
all-encompassing. To the first human couple, God said, “Be fruitful, and
multiply, and replenish the earth” (Gen. 1:28). This expressed will of God
provided for continuation and expansion of the human race. Being general in
nature, this is referred to as generic authority.
Unless it would conflict with some other will of the heavenly Father, whatever
means is used to carry out a generic command is considered both permitted and
authorized. There are a number of noteworthy examples of this general authority.
Generic
Authority to Abram
Abram
was commanded by God, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred,
and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” (Gen.
12:1) Abram was not required to walk, to ride a donkey, or to use a boat in
going northwest along the Euphrates River. He may well have employed all three
of these means of transportation, and each would have been in perfect harmony
with God’s will. God had given Abram generic authority.
Generic Authority of Jesus to the Disciples
Just prior to His ascension, Jesus said to the disciples, “Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations” (Mat. 28:19). Here was generic authority
for the disciples to fulfill what had been God’s purpose from the beginning of
time. We note this being beautifully
fulfilled as Isaiah 49:6 was in Acts 13:46-47 where Paul and Barnabas said of
the Jews’ rejection of the gospel message, “It was necessary that the
word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you,
and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light
of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth”.
Because
of this generic authority given to and used by the disciples, the truth spread
through lands known to us today as Syria and the Middle East, islands of the
Mediterranean, Turkey, Greece, Rome and no doubt to other areas south and east
of Palestine. On a recent journey, several of us discovered at Bath, in
southwest England, evidence that the knowledge of Christianity had reached
Britain in the First Century.
It was not by sword as was used by Alexander to extend his empire, nor by
swords as was used by the Moslems to spread their false doctrine – but by
generic authority for simply teaching the gospel message that the early
disciples are spoken of as first having “filled Jerusalem with your
doctrine” (Acts 5:28) and then having “turned the world upside down”
(Acts 17:6).
As
an extension of this generic authority we today continue to carry that grand
message of truth “unto the ends of the earth.” Brethren from Georgia
to Arizona to Alaska, as did the early Christians, are working in beautiful
harmony to support and accomplish this good end.
Generic
Authority Received Through Words of Inspiration
Paul writes in his letter to the Romans of those in positions of secular
power such as the governor, the sheriff, and the judge. He instructs the Romans
(and us through his words to them), “Let every soul be subject unto the
higher powers” (Rom. 13:1). He then comments on the advisability of this
approach, showing that it is not only right but that it is also God’s
provision for the protection of His children. Jesus had earlier given the same
authority for obeying the laws of the land when He said, “Render therefore
unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's”
(Luke 20:25). We find our authority to be law abiding citizens of the land in
which we live from such passages as these.
But
Generic Authority May Also Have Its Limitations
A sharp knife is an extremely useful tool. With it one may neatly slice a
loaf of bread, peal a potato, or cut open a sealed box. With a sharp knife
called a scalpel a skilled surgeon may perform a delicate, life-saving
operation. But in the hands of a careless user the knife can become a tool of
harm and destruction.
One
must be extremely careful in using the generic as his authority. While there are
many freedoms and privileges allowed by God with His generic authority, He has
often limited them and issued restrictions in their use. It is vital, therefore,
that we do not run headlong with assumed permission and fail to observe God’s
wise limitations which do not always coincide with the preference of social
trends.
This phase of our study will be considered in an article next month.
HARRY COBB
Wedowee, AL
IS
DANCING SINFUL?
The
question is often asked, “Is dancing sinful?” One would think that after
many years of discussion on this subject, that it would by now be a topic which
no one would seriously consider a wholesome practice. However, it seems that
each year, about the time when students go back to school, this subject raises
its ugly head once again.
Webster defines dancing as such: “A series of rhythmic and patterned bodily
movements performed to music.”
When
two people of the opposite sex come together in the act of dancing, their bodies
naturally make movements that are enticing to each other. School dances such as
homecoming, prom, and others are no exception.
Some
of the well-known psychologists defend the dance on the grounds that it is a
partial satisfaction of the sex urge. Such arguments as this should prove that
dancing should be avoided. The Bible decries that such is not becoming a
Christian, “And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts” (Gal. 5:24).
As
one looks at the idea of whether or not dancing is sinful, there are at least
three words in the New Testament which must be considered. First, the word
“REVELLING” – revelling is defined as “boisterous merrymaking or
festivity or festivity with dancing, masking”. God’s children must not
engage in such. Paul said, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which
are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell
you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21). Paul states that
“revelling” is a work of the flesh and that Christians must not be engaged
in such activities. Furthermore, those who do CANNOT inherit the kingdom of God.
Second,
the word, “WANTONNESS”—this word means “acts or manners such as filthy
words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females”.
Once again Paul writes, “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in
rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and
envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the
flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof”. (Rom. 13:13-14). Those who engage in
wantonness are not walking honestly, but rather they are making provision for
the flesh and not for the Lord. It must be admitted that dancing is covered by
the word “wantonness”; if not, why not? Look also at Peter’s use of this
word, “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure
through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean
escaped from them who live in error” (II Pet. 2:18).
The
third word is “LASCIVIOUSNESS” – which is defined as “conduct and
character that is unbecoming, indecent, unrestrained, shameless”. Paul used
this word in Galatians 5:19 as well as in a letter to the Corinthians, “And
lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall
bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness
and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed” (II Cor.
12,21).
In
all cases where the latter two words are used, they are classified as being
sinful. If these words do not prove to your satisfaction that dancing is sinful,
then the phrase, “and such like” (Gal. 5:21) most certainly would
cover dancing and thereby prove beyond any doubt that dancing is sinful.
In
Exodus 32:19 Moses could see that dancing was sinful, for it was because of
their dancing that they became naked, (Exo. 32:25).
John the Baptist lost his head because of a dance (Mat. 14:6; Mar.
6:22-24).
Among
so-called heathen people, the modern dance is regarded as very shocking. These
people recognize the power of dancing to arouse human passion as a prelude to
sexual contact.
Based
upon the evidence which has been presented, why would a Christian desire to be
involved in any kind of dancing? Think about what Paul said, “Abstain from
all appearance of evil” (I The. 5:22).
Johnie Scaggs, Jr.
Fulton County Gospel News
May 1991 issue;
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES
1. When Abram left the land of Ur, he took
his nephew with him. What was the nephew’s name?
2. According to Isaiah 53, in the prophecy
about Christ, why was He pierced?
3. What does Romans 3 say we become
conscious of through the law?
4. For what does the writer of the book of
Job say man is born?
5. When Hanna asked the Lord for a son, what two things did she vow?
ANSWERS
NEXT MONTH . . .
and remember last month’s questions?
1. Psalm 90 says the length of our days is
how many years normally? SEVENTY
(Psalm 90:10)
2. Besides giving them manna to eat, what 2
things does Deut. 8 tell us God did for the Israelites in the wilderness?
KEPT THEIR CLOTHING FROM WEARING OUT AND KEPT THEIR FEET FROM SWELLING
(Deut. 8:4)
3. What two masters can you not serve at
the same time? GOD AND MONEY
(Luke 19:2)
4. Name the four metals in the statue in
Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream. GOLD,
SILVER, BRASS, IRON (Dan. 2:32-33)
5. What did Reuben find in the field and
give to his mother, Leah? MANDRAKES
(Gen. 30:14)
THE
POEM
I knelt to pray but not for
long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.....
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time"
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