Shouting Above the Silence

Al Maxey Reviews Alan Highers, The Spiritual Sword, a publication of the Getwell Church of Christ in Memphis, Tennessee.  See Patrick Mead or Rochester Church of Christ as the latest of the small groups of musical sowers of discord.

REFLECTIONS by Al Maxey Issue #269 ------- October 11, 2006:

Shouting Above the Silence: rebuttal of Al Maxey's rebuttal of the Spiritual Sword's stand on silence. For some reason Al is mad and intolerant of those he sees as "legalistic" because they see the Bible as authority for all they do in faith and practice and are intolerant in a "fellowship" sense of those who actively fight against their beliefs. If they believe that it is sinful to hold "school of the Bible" or ekklesia while choirs and instruments perform, then why get mad if they will not leave their own safe house and go "worship" (whatever that means) with those who never sought any authority before bringing in performers to entertain? Isn't it possible to refute--on a Bible basis--without making a hobby out of those who will not sing and dance while you pipe. Isn't LIBERTY the issue? Then why get violent with those who exercise their liberty and the first ammendment.  

Al builds upon the foundation of Wikiquote.  However, even then, he has trouble lifting without change.  He quotes from Wikiquote about Junius who sent letters to a paper in Londan from 1769 to 1771.  He launches out by quoting

Al Maxey quoting in part: "An honest man, like the true religion, appeals to the understanding. ...
The imposter employs force instead of argument, imposes silence where he cannot convince, and propagates his character by the sword."

If you do not AFFIRM or CONFORM to the imposition of musical instruments in the class room then you are an imposter, an imposer and propagating your own character. We told you above that Al and his band CLAIM that the ANTI-instrumental churches of Christ INVENTED NOT using instruments and rejecting them because they were just evil. Add that to Al's many-faceted RACA words including legalistic, sectarian, patternist hypocrites.  Why else would he LOAD his gun up front with such RACA terms.

Al PRETENDS that the Bible is SILENT when it shouts about the serpent as Musical Enchanter or "singing and harp playing prostitute" to the Mother of harlots (Rev 17) who uses the "lusted after fruits" as rhetoricians, singers and instrument players John identified as SORCERERS (Rev 18).

Here is what Junius quoted just to show that Al takes what he wants:

An honest man, like the true religion, appeals to the understanding,
        or modestly confides in the internal evidence of his conscience.
The imposter employes force instead of argument, imposes silence where he cannot convince,
and propagates his character by the sword.
No. 41, to Lord Mansfield (November 14, 1770)

Since understanding comes from HEARING facts, and since Al can have no positive UNDERSTANDING about using machines to worship a Spirit God that must be dishonest and psychological. Since Al can hear instruments used as the MARK of telling God to shut up, he is not of understnading. Since, the "law of silence" SHOULD keep people silent when they want to SOW DISCORD based on opinion, the instrumentalists LAW OF SILENCE gives them the authority equal with the bible to IMPOSE noise.

Everyone knows that INSTRUMENTS and performers SILENCE the Christ-given liberty to teach one another with "that which is written."  Instruments are "machines for doing hard work in making war and the mental shock and awe of pagan religionism" you cannot play instruments and "come before the Lord in silence" when He "is in His holy temple--others individually.

Junius also has something to say of the Standard writer who said that where God is silent the HE has THE right to speak.  He and Al would use PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENT FORCE to try to silence those who think that THEY have the right to the silence of REST Jesus died to give us to free us FROM the laded burden and the burden laders.

Junius also spoke to this tyranny of bishops;

They [the Americans] equally detest the pageantry of a king, and the supercilious hypocrisy of a bishop. No. 35 (December 19, 1769)

Al is a "bishop."

There is a holy mistaken zeal in politics as well as in religion. By persuading others, we convince ourselves. No. 35 (December 19, 1769)

The government of England is a government of law. We betray ourselves, we contradict the spirit of our laws, and we shake the whole system of English jurisprudence, whenever we entrust a discretionary power over the life, liberty, or fortune of the subject to any man, or set of men, whatsoever, upon a presumption that it will not be abused. No. 46 (25 May, 1771).

Al must be a supercilious hypocrite because Jesus identified the Scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites by pointing to mouth worship in Isaiah and Ezekiel which marks "speakers, singers and instrument players."

Al wants to FORCE his liberty when the Word of God leaves of: no one including Al has the presumptious right to elect himself to make decisions for those with their OWN freedom NOT to fall into musical idolatry.

SECOND PLACE: THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH INVENTED THE LAW OF SILENCE.

The NACC law of silence says that "where God has not spoken then I have the right to innovate and impose what is right in my own eyes."

God's law of silence says that if God is silent then YOU have no need to impose something on others without assuming that God ran out of words. This is to prevent disccord and honor God.

Al got his "degree" from Adam: hits 1000, all fouls. The Musical Sectarians invented the Law of Silence to give them AUTHORITY to sow discord rather than to PREVENT DISCORD.  Blame the enemy for your folly!

However, Al has been SHOUTING from Genesis to Revelation and throrough the voice of all historical scholars and founders of denomiations. Even the Catholics needed no nearing aids in that they never did "congregational singing with instrumental accompaniment."   That would have insulted God.

Al Maxey Shouting Above the Silence: One of the most tedious tenets of the humanly devised CENI (command, example, necessary inference) hermeneutic is this so-called "law of silence," which in reality is little more than a tool for exclusion of all that differs (and all who differ) with one's personal and/or party preferences, perceptions, practices and prejudices

The CENI principle is pronounced by the Spirit of Christ: it was first violated when Lucifer, the singing and harp playing prostitute (king/queen of Tyre) wholly seduced Eve in a sexual sense when she ADDED to God's direct command. Click for the universal evidence Al Maxey missed about the CENI absolute..

This writer agrees: instrumental music and choirs were added on the basis of silence as a late legalism: "The Bible hath NOT said, thou shalt not use instruments so we 'gonna use instruments spite of hell and the discorded brethren expelled by our secting out a New dogma." When you add choirs or instruments you intentionally EXCLUDE those who do not agree with you. Obeying ALL of the direct commands to "teach that which is written" whether in song or sermon never EXCLUDES anyone. Therefore, only instrumental venues EXCLUDES about half of otherwise friendly "audience."

Furthermore, those who would not bow to Baal and USE instruments had NEVER used nor approved instruments.  All of literate history knew that instruments were "machines for doing hard word" and mostly in warfare. The Bible is NOT silent in sourcing music from Satan to keep people listening to Al Maxey and not to "that which is written" in song and sermon.

Everyone taught the use of commands, examples and inferences.  The Law of Silence Al promotes is PERMISSIVE giving him the right to impose over the opinions of others.  The Law of Biblical Authority was pronounced by one of the founders of the Christian church out of the Anglican tradition.

W. E. MacClenny, The Life of Rev. James O'Kelly (began preaching 1774) and the Early History of the Christian Church in the South, Raleigh, Va.: Edwards and Broughton Printing Company, 1910, Reprint 1950 pages 232-247

1. I could call forth a cloud of witnesses from the Old and New Testaments to prove the authority, and sufficiency of the Scripture Hierarchy, but a few will be sufficient.

2. Thus saith the Lord by the pen of Moses, in the 18th of Deuteronomy: "The Lord shall raise up a prophet (Christ), him shall ye hear in all things."

3. The word of the Lord came unto the prophet Isaiah: "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is not light in them. Chap. 8:20.

4. The law and testimony must include the doctrines and government of Christ's Church.

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits (Old, empty wineskins), and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter (these people used musical devices and said that the gods lived inside of them):
should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? Isaiah 8:19

Yiddeoniy (h3049) yid-deh-o-nee'; from 3045; prop. a knowing one; spec. a conjurer; (by impl.) a ghost: - wizard.

"In Isa 8:19 the 'obhoth and yidh'onim are spoken of those who 'chirp and mutter." These terms refer to the necromancers themselves who practiced ventriloquism in connection with their magical rites. In Isa 29:4 it is said 'Thy voice shall be as an 'obh, out of the ground.'... They are stamped in these passages, as in the Witch of Endor narrative, as deceivers practising a fraudulent art. By implication their power to evoke spirits with whom they were in familiar intercourse is denied." (Int Std Bible Ency., ency, p. 690)

These are the speakers, singers and musicians in Revelation 18 whom John called sorcerers.

incanto    
I. To sing in, with dat.: passer incantans saepiculae  
A. To say over, mutter, or chant a magic formula against some one:  

1. To consecrate with charms or spells: incantata vincula,lovelcnots,
        vinculum , or (also in class. prose), contr., vinclum , i, n. [id.] , that with which any thing is bound, a band, bond, rope,  

2. To bewitch, enchant  

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word,
it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20

5. I will now call for the testimony of Daniel, 9:9,-10: "Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord, to walk in his laws, set before us by the prophets."

Dan 9:10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Dan 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing,

THAT they might not obey thy voice;
therefore the curse is poured upon us,
and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God,
because we have sinned against him.

Dan 9:12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us,
        by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

The Spirit OF Christ speaks spiritual truth through the prophets most of whom radically condemn the sacrificial system and identify speakers, singers and musicians as hypocrites.  Jesus pointed to these prophets accusing the Scribes and Pharisees with being hypocrites--speakers, singers and musicians working for  a wage.

6. Isaiah 2:3. " For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord From Jerusalem." Compare 8:16. "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." See 11:12 

This is speaking of the Law of Christ to shut down The Law of Moses imposed because of musical idolatry at Mount Sinai. 

Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isa 2:6 Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.

Anan (h6049) aw-nan'; a prim. root; to cover; used only as denom. from 6051, to cloud over; fig. to act covertly, i. e. practise magic: - * bring, enchanter, Meonemin, observe (-r of) times, soothsayer, sorcerer.

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, De.18:10

Soothsayers: Anan (h6049) aw-nan'; a prim. root; to cover; used only as denom. from 6051, to cloud over; fig. to act covertly, i. e. practise magic: - * bring, enchanter, Meonemin, observer of times, soothsayer, sorcerer.

"In an inscription from Cyprus, in one from Rhodes and in several from around the district of Carthage, there are references to important personages who bear the title Mqm'lm which we can translate as AROUSERS of the god.'" (de Vaux, Roland, The Bible and the Ancient Near East, Doubleday, p. 247).

"We even have a mention at a later date of a similar custom in connection with the cult in Jerusalem, where certain Levites, called me'oreim, 'AROUSERS,' sang (every morning?) this verse from "Ps 44:23: "Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever." The Talmud tells us that John Hyrcanus suppressed the practice because it recalled too readily a pagan custom." (Roland de Vaux, p. 247).

7. Jerusalem was the place where the pure Gospel Church was established; from whence the doctrine and discipline went out into all the world.

8. Matthew 28:90. "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded." "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me." 2 Thes. 3:6. "Now we command you brethren, in the name of our Lord," etc.

Because Jesus sought disciples and not pagan worshipers, and because the synagogue or church is a school of the Bible, and the direct command is to "sing that which is written" and teach that which has been taught, there is nothing Al can derive out of silence to HELP OUT God Who "supplied all that pertains to life and godliness." 

9. Chapter 33:14. [sic!] "If any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him."

The Christian Church (aka Disciples of Christ then) promoted the Law of Silence to AUTHORIZE adding the Organ. Al is confused and judgmental based on mental confusion.

The Musical Sectarians INVENTED the Law of Silence: saying at the trial at New Bern, TN that IF instruments were used AS worship that would be SINFUL.  IN THE WAY OF UNTIY BETWEEN "CHRISTIAN CHURCHES" AND CHURCHES OFCHRIST," H. Leo Boles quotes the Law of silence used by the NACC.

W.R. Walker, in Christian Standard, May 27, 1939, said: "There are two areas in our religious living in which the authority of Christ must be recognized. The first embraces all his teaching and that of his inspired followers, the `vocal area' ; but there is another area, the `area of silence."' He further said: "I am persuaded that Christ has authority in the `areas of silence.' Christ, by his silence, in every situation concerning which he has left no direct teaching, has bestowed on me this authority to act for myself." 

Of course, the Disciples never even thought about BIBLE AUTHORITY when they became musically sectarian until the year 1878 when they TRIED to invent PSALLO to authorize their sowing of discord: of course the scholars they contacted refuted them.

Boles continued: Here are the two standards or rules recognized by many in the "Christian Church," namely, that of "walking by faith," and that of "walking by opinion." W.R. Walker calls the opinions of man in the "areas of silence" "the authority of Christ." This is tantamount to saying that man's opinions in the "areas of silence" are of equal force with the word of God. I join issue with him on this point. There can be no unity in the "area of silence," as there can be no unity on opinions when each man claims the authority to do what is right in his own eyes. This would violate every scripture that God has given instructing his people to be "of the same mind, the same judgment of one accord."

If the liberty of opinion lets one put an organ in the worship, it will let another oppose that act; - if acting in the "realm of silence" permits one to act for himself, it will permit every one to act for himself. If liberty in opinion will let one organize a missionary society, the same liberty of opinion will let another group of God's people oppose that society. 

Neither the "Christian Church" nor the churches of Christ can have the liberty of opinion, in the sense that they make their opinions the basis of action for themselves and for the church. One will have his opinions tyrannized over by the other. It will be nonetheless tyranny of opinion that a majority, great or small, imposes its opinion on the minority. One man has as much right to "liberty of opinion" as another, or any number of others. This doctrine of liberty of opinion in "the areas of silence" involves the right to act on those opinions, and our actions come in contact with the actions and opinions of others; this is the very thing that will continually gender discord and division. The slogan, "In essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty," when the opinions become the guide in work and worship of the Lord, violates the basic prin­ciples of New Testament teaching and subverts the will of God.

The great aim and end of the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth, and the planting of congregations of Christians, were to bring man back into loyal obedience to God and submission to his clearly revealed will; but to allow man to do as he pleases in "the areas of silence" destroys unity and thwarts the great aim of God in restoring the rule and authority of God on earth. 

"I am persuaded that Christ has authority in the `areas of silence.' Christ, by his silence, in every situation concerning which he has left no direct teaching, has bestowed on me this authority to act for myself."

But, he means that as an instrumentalists HE has the authority to act for OTHERS.

QUOTING Al Maxey: The October, 2006 issue of The Spiritual Sword begins with a three page Editorial by Alan E. Highers. His first words are, "Churches of Christ endeavor to 'speak where the Bible speaks' and to 'be silent where the Bible is silent'" [p. 1]. In that same first paragraph this brother further observes, "To take away from the word of God is to remove that which God has spoken; to add to the word of God is to interject that which God has not spoken. To diminish what God has explicitly said is to violate speaking where the Bible speaks. To add to the word of God is to speak where God has not spoken and thereby to violate the silence of the scriptures. To 'speak' and to be 'silent' are equally valid principles in the scriptures." There is absolutely no question that our God does not intend for mere men to tamper with His revealed Truth. When God speaks it is not our place to add to nor take from that which He has spoken. Our responsibility is to listen and obey. "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you" [Deut. 4:2]. "Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it" [Deut. 12:32]. "Do not add to His words lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar" [Prov. 30:6]. "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book" [Rev. 22:18-19].

Al Maxey:  Please note something extremely important here, however -- that which is not to be tampered with by men (neither added to nor taken away from) is that which God has spoken. Read the above passages again very carefully ... very carefully!

"God does not intend for mere men to tamper with His revealed Truth." That means to most of us that if Al can find only silence in the Word and he ADDS something which you must "get over or get out" then he has tampered with revealed truth. When he does that He claims that God was not adequate to see HIS needs to tamper.

These verses say absolutely nothing about the responsibility of men with regard to those areas about which God has never uttered a single word. True "silence" of both God and the sacred Scriptures is when our God has offered NO guidance from above, either for or against.

Then, Al should not PRESUME to guide where God has not guided: He will not need to GUIDE for God if he restores the ekklesia as a school of the Bible ONLY. The Campbells called "church" "A school of Christ." Unless Al is hearing the audible voice of God as some of his friends claim then he needs nothing more as TEXTBOOK for BIBLE CLASS--only.

It seems that if we are warned NOT to ADD to the text, and we are warned NOT to take away from the inspired text, it SHOULD be obvious that if God has NOT uddered a single word then He has not uttered a single word.  Being God He must have thought that that He provided all that pertains to life and Godliness.  If Al wants to sow discord by imposing something new and thereby become a sectarian, then Al intends to ADD something because he wants to impose it as the ONLY view.

But, what about all of those proof texts from the Old Testament PROVING that God commanded instrumental music meaning "for the Christian assembly" if He did not rescind what people call His direct commands. Take a look and hear God shouting but not for those who will not hear:

Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched. Jeremiah 7:20 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. Jeremiah 7:21	(Isa 1:11 Ho 8:13 Am 5:21,22).  I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Amos 5:21
For I spake NOT unto your fathers, nor commanded them         in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt,          concerning burnt offerings OR sacrifices: Jeremiah 7:22	Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Amos 5:22      Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs;       for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. Amos 5:23
God did not command burnt offerings OR sacrifices.	Therefore, this is WHY He does not accept them.
BUT [instead of] this thing commanded I them, saying,        Obey my voice, and I will be your God,                  and ye shall be my people:        and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you,                  that it may be well unto you. Jeremiah 7:23	BUT [instead of] let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream Amos 5:24 Amos 5:25 Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?
BUT they HEARKENED NOT, nor inclined their ear,         but walked in the counsels         and in the imagination of their evil heart,         and went backward, and not forward. Jeremiah 7:24 Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day,         I have even sent unto you all MY servants the PROPHETS,         daily rising up early and sending them: Jeremiah 7:25 Yet they HEARKENED NOT unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers. Jeremiah 7:26 Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them;        but they will not hearken to thee:        thou shalt also call unto them;         but they will not answer thee. Jeremiah 7:27	Amos 5:26 BUT ye have borne the tabernacle of your and MolochChiun [#666] your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. They burned infants to the beat of instruments in 2 Chron 28 just before the PURGE and EXORCISM and in chapter 30 just AFTER Hezekiah's ceremony SOLELY to get the priests to return to Jerusalem to help defend it. Amos 5:27 Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts. This was the sentence conditionally imposed because of musical idolatry at Mount Sinai.  Canaan as the promised land became the Killing Fields as God let the kings lead them into captivity and death.

But, God has not been silent from Genesis to Revelation: it is probably a fact that Al cannot hear and read black text on white paper specificially BECAUSE He makes God an idiot for NOT commanding what Al has permission to ADD to that which is written and then define his opinions as the new Law of Christ. This would come as a surprise to Jesus who cast out the musical minstrels like dung and consigned the pipers, singers and dancers to the perversions which went on among the pagans in the marketplace.

Al Maxey: How are we to approach such deafening silence? Is such total lack of divine declaration permissive? Is it prohibitive? Or, is it neither?

If it is permissive Al should tell us HOW he plans to hear from God: his friends have visions and hear audible voices. Does Al have a sponge on his head to soak up sounds where God has been silent.

OUR TEACHING RESOURCES

Where the arousal singing and instruments prevailed, Paul outlawed the "new win getting fluted down with wine" singing and prescribed "singing" that which is written.  No one sang non-scriptural material until the year 373.

When Peter said that the record had been delivered by eye and ear witnesses and that anyone who taught otherwise would be a false teacher as there were false prophets  He prescribed giving attention to the PROPHETS which had been delivered by the Spirit OF Christ as our teaching resource.

Therefore, we should look to the prophetic message for "a law of silence" if a legalistic reason is needed to make noise when Jesus teaches:

Balaam demonstrated a high ethical standard when he said:

'Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold,.

I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad,
to go beyond the command of the LORD--
and I must say only what the LORD says'? Num 24:13

The Israelites fell into musical worship of the Egyptian trinity at Mount Sinai and God removed the Covenant of Grace and gave them a firey law to regulate the lawless.  They would be blind to the Word until they converted to Christ (2 Cor 3).  Therefore, one of the prophecies Peter would want us to know is: 

I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee,
and will put my words [Dabar, Logos] in his mouth;
and he shall speak unto them
all that I shall command him. Deut 18:18
        And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words
        which he shall speak in my name,
        I will require it of him. Deut 18:19
But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name,
        which I have not commanded him to speak,
        or that shall speak in the name of other gods,
        even that prophet shall die. Deut 18:20

That PROVES that anyone who teaches anything that the WORD spoke from the FATHER within and as revealed by the Spirit OF Christ to the Apostles has PASSED from life to death and is worthy of execution.  Zechariah identifies the "bowing to Baal prophesiers" who were musical frantics. After the signs following Pentecost, anyone who continued to try to manipulate people with music should be executed by their parents! 

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits (Old, empty wineskins), and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter (these people used musical devices and said that the gods lived inside of them): should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? Isaiah 8:19

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word,
it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20

Because all church scholars thought that God spoke clear enough to arouse a deaf man in repudiating instruments; and because no one has added music in any form without sowing discord; and there is no rationale for machines if you comprehend ekklesia or synagogue, it would behoove Al to keep silent and not do something KNOWING that he is sowing discord with a high hand.

Al Maxey: Does God perhaps simply desire for His people to use sound judgment, determining their actions and attitudes in the face of such silence in accord with His greater guiding principles (such as love, compassion, mercy, etc.)? It is my conviction that the latter is the will of our Father.

How can you use LOVE to impose machines which typically drive off half of the owners? How can you show compassion when the "musical worship teams" hope that the grey hairs will just go away.  How can you show respect for God's Word when you make what He always called NOISE when we are told to "Rest and come learn of me.?"

Contrary to the Christian Church self approval to speak where Christ has been silent (they presume), those who disagree with them HAVE NO RIGHTS and to assert that THEIR LAW of silence is a Biblical principle, makes one subject to psychological terrorism. To wit:

Al Maxey: To boldly assert that utter silence is either proscriptive or prescriptive is to promote and impose man's will in such areas, and this will always lead to conflict, chaos and ultimately condemnation and castigation of our spiritual siblings.

For 2,000 years at a theological level, the way to let God have His way and remove conflict is not to permit the conflictors to speak, sing or play.  That is what the SELF pleasure in Romans 15 directly commands.  There can be no conflict unless the self-seeking musicians IMPOSE THEIR will.  Al thinks that to resist those "stealing the church houses of widows" leads to conflict. 

Romans 14 EXCLUDES these private opinions from the DISCOURSE which happens in the church defined in Romans 15 where SELF-pleasure actually outlaws all of the hypocratic or performing arts.

The commanded purpose for the Qahal, synagogue, ekklesia or school of the Bible is as "a school of the Bible." The Campbells thought in terms of local societies guided by the direct commands of the Bible: "Church" is A school of Christ and "Worship" is reading and musing the Word of God. That is what Jesus exampled, Paul commanded and exampled and the historic church exampled before "singing" as a act was added about the year 373.  How can you lovingly IMPOSE your will to turn school into a "theater for holy entertainment" and force the owners and widows out into the cold with the admonition: "Get with it or get out."

Paul outlaws Doubtful Disputations: if Al thinks that silence gives HIM the authority to make music while teaching "that which is written" then he makes instructing one another IMPOSSIBLE and a farce.

NIDNTT notes that...

In the NT dialogizomai (related verb) and dialogismos are always used with a slightly depreciatory connotation. The thoughts of the human heart do not necessarily lead, as the Greeks thought, to a knowledge of the truth (cf. 1 Cor. 1:21-25), but are evil (Mk. 7:21; Matt. 15:19), full of doubt and suspicion (Mk. 2:6, 8; Lk. 5:22; 6:8), moved by the passing moment (Lk. 3:15), full of greed (Lk. 12:17; 20:14), always concerned with the superficial (Mk. 8:16f.; Matt. 16:7f.) and full of sly calculation (Matt. 11:25; Mk. 11:31).

(NIDNTT adds that) in Phil. 2:14 we have the questioning (dialogismos) which is the germ of apathy.  (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan) (Bolding added)

The Exegetical Dictionary notes that...

Even when dialogismos has a specialized use, the essential connection with the general NT meaning of doubting or calculating consideration is retained. (Balz, H. R., & Schneider, G. . Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans)

Vine notes that dialogismos refute's Al's  RIGHT to make "school of the Bible" a place for him to diatribe against those who will not dance when he pipes:

chiefly in the N.T. in an evil sense, of reasonings that are the outcome of self-will, reasonings of the natural mind in independence of God. So in the LXX (e.g., Lam. 3:60), “imaginations.”...Dialogismos sometimes means inward questioning, sometimes dispute... the inward reasonings which find expression in controversy and contention. (Vine, W. Collected Writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson )

    Paul's outlawing doubtful disputations makes a LAW to silence Al Maxey who presumes to trump God's Word with his     human, rational reasoning.

Because, as Al's proof text writer, Junius, would insist:

"For out of the heart come evil thoughts (dialogismos), murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man." (Mt 15:19-20)

Al Maxey agrees with Walker who insists: Christ, by his silence, in every situation concerning which he has left no direct teaching, has bestowed on me this authority to act for myself."

That utterly denies that God in Christ has the power to prescribe teaching resources suitable for all times and places: He has supplied us with all that pertains to life and Godliness.  Nothing that comes out of Al's mind is NECESSARY for life or Godliness. Therefore, to presume to speak FOR Christ is to claim superiority to Christ.

However, Al and most "pulpit people" have no reason to be aware of the universal condemnation of music by the prophets speaking BY the Spirit OF Christ.  Romans 14 defines the diversites which would only be observed in the Agora or marketplace.  Remember that Jesus consigned the pipers, singers and dancers to the marketplace where all entertainment, sacrificial eating, singing, dancing and selling of human bodies took place. The ekklesia, however, was separated from the marketplace.

You may want to read about the Agora or Marketplace which was radically separated from the ekklesia by the PSALLO rope: anyone who dallied around the singers, dancers, instrumentalists and fornicators would be MARKED when they arrived at the place of the "church" which was for verbal instruction only.

Without dipping his pen Paul wrote Romans 15 which begins by outlawing SELF-pleasure. This is the creation of mental excitement which is the laded burden of "creating spiritual anxiety by religious rituals" Jesus silenced along with the burden laders like Al.  He repeats a NOT musical definition of the synagogue which was to "speak with ONE MIND and ONE MOUTH using that which is written." This is the commanded way to glorify or praise God, educate one another, comfort with the Scripture and KEEP THE UNITY of the body.

Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him,
        being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

The diversities are NOT SUBJECT to DIALOG or discussion when the ekklesia or synagogue (Paul's word) meets as "school of the Bible" just like the synagogue which "had no praise service." What would cause one to hallucinate the need for musicians in the Bible Class where Jesus Christ speaks when the elders "teach that which HAS BEEN taught." That should silence Al when he ADDES to that which has been taught in order to get paid.

You may want to see where the Spirit OF Christ OUTLAWED both vocal and instrumental rejoicing when the assembly met. The word Qahal is the primary Jewish word for synagogue.

Al Maxey: I find it rather interesting, though on another level not particularly surprising, that some legalistic patternists are now attempting to disguise this so-called "law" of theirs with a completely new name. Even they realize how objectionable this "law of silence" has become among most disciples of Christ, thus they are desperately seeking a more palatable presentation of it

For example, on the infamous MarsList, a known breeding ground for patternistic exclusion, one of the Non-Institutional preachers who is a member of this Internet group wrote an interesting appeal to the other members under the heading: "Proposed Name Change for the Silence of the Scriptures" [message #2521, Sept. 27, 2006] --- "Perhaps describing the 'Silence of God' as where we are 'Without Instruction' would be more palatable. This term carries a little less baggage ... maybe!" Their highly rigid, restrictive theology of prohibition and exclusion drawn from such "lack of instruction," however, is just as fallacious ... regardless of how it is disguised or by what it is denominated. A dill pickle is still a dill pickle, even if you call it a pork chop.

The fruit of the vine is the fruit of the vine.
Dill Pickle fruit of the vine is the fruit of the vine.
I like dill pickle juice.
I will IMPOSE dill pickle juice
If you oppose dill pickle juice Al says you are a legalistic, sectarian patternist.

Here is where God has not been Silent: Al Maxey has nothing in his nature to direct his own steps. Therefore, a Christian looks to God to direct their ways: where HE has not led then we do not follow in our own steps.

God says that you will DIE without instructions.  Not too silent.

Prov. 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
Prov. 5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
Prov. 5:23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

God says that noise is a sign that you WILL die.  Not too silent.

Jer. 10:22 Behold, the noise of the bruit is come,
        and a great commotion out of the north country,
        to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.

Qowl (h6963) kole; or qol kole; from an unused root mean. to call aloud; a voice or sound: - / aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (/ out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, / hold peace, [pro-] claim, proclamation, / sing, sound, / spark, thunder (-ing), voice, / yell

H7494 ra‛ash rah'-ash From H7493 ; vibration, bounding, uproar: commotion, confused noise, earthquake, fierceness, quaking, rattling, rushing, shaking.

H7493 râ‛ash  raw-ash particularly through fear; specifically to spring (as a locust):--make afraid, 

God says that Al Maxey is neither God, a prophet or an apostle: therefore he has no MEANS of helping God overcome stuttering.

Jer. 10:23 O Lord [Jehovah] , I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
Jer. 10:24 O Lord [Jehovah] , correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. 

You cannot SHAME God by denying that He is the INSTRUCTOR.  We MUST be silent until we GET INSTRUCTION which comes only from God. 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. Isa 55:8

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts Isa 55:9.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven,
and returneth not thither,
but watereth the earth,
and maketh it bring forth and bud,
that it may give seed to the sower,
and bread to the eater: Isa 55:10

So shall MY WORD be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isa 55:11

For Al Maxey and those who do not "teach that which has been taught" the water of the Word is NOT for sale.

Nevertheless, we must DEspook all of the faithful churches and make them quit taking the blame Al wants to heap on their backs when THEY are trying to explain the LAW OF SILENCE invented by the Disciples when they needed no Biblical authority to add the organ knowing that it would sow discord. If God's silence lets THEM take up where He went silent, then they could care less what YOUR claim to authority says.

If God's silence lets ME support and attend a congregation where the Bible is the focus and not a musical performance, the Al has no right to tyrannize me by insisting that I have to AFFIRM that people have the right to IMPOSE machines and demand that I keep SILENCE.

Al Maxey: Bro. Rick Atchley, the minister at Richland Hills in Fort Worth, Texas, in a speech delivered at Abilene Christian University, and reported in the April, 2006 issue of Christian Chronicle, insightfully, and correctly, observed: "Where the Bible speaks, we speak; and where the Bible is silent, we have even more to say." Bro. Alan E. Highers retorted, "Most members of the church understand what it means to 'be silent where the Bible is silent.' Rick Atchley is not one of them" [p. 48]. Well, I beg to differ. In my view, it is Bro. Highers, and his co-writers of this issue of The Spiritual Sword, who have completely failed to perceive the significance of genuine biblical "silence," as I shall seek to demonstrate in the course of this review (and as I have sought to do in previous articles).

If Al had listened to the sermons and is capable of being "a teacher of the Law" then he would have known that Rick twisted every Bible passage and historical scholar. Where God speaks that the Sacrificial system was a curse to carry out God captivity and death penalty, and Rick and Al presume to have the authority to tell God that He is a liar then they should grasp that they have gone beyond redemption.

We have reviewed the three tapes and Rick Atchley SPEAKS where the Civil Scribe records a "plague stopping animal sacrifice" and then declares that "God commands instrumental praise and we should not be silent." Al is also good at taking tidbits out of context with no consideration for the story line. If Stephen and the Old Testament are correct that because of musical idolatry "God turned them over to worship the starry host" then Rick and Al can SPEAK words about praise (making self vile) with instruments during the burning of the goats but the PUSH WORDS down God's throat and then claim that the SPIRIT guided them to lie about all of the "music" passages in the Bible and church history..

But, God is NOT silent: it was Jesus who confirmed that the eyes of those who minimize the Word have been blinded and they are made deaf. That is because being hypocrites which He defined as slick speakers, singers and musicians, they have LOST their right to hear the Words in clear speaks and so He speaks in PARABLES.  That is why Al cannot see the FOREST of radical association of music with Satan and perverts because he is busy looking for a silent tree.  If you begin in the garden of Eden:

"It is interesting to note that in all of the following Scriptures we find reference to a BEAST that is biped. A (two-legged) BEAST who can talk, riot, commit adultery, co-habit with man, work in vineyards, use his hands, wear clothing, cry unto his creator and sow his seed with other races. Those who have studied the etymology of this Hebrew word CHAY-AH through the scriptures, under the English word "BEAST"

Was Joel speaking of a "beast" or field hand in Joel 2:22?
What kind of a beast do you know that wears clothing (sack-cloth) as we read in Jonah 3:8?
What kind of a beast "cries mightily unto YAHWEH" in Jonah 3:8-10?
What kind of a beast would have "eyes full of adultery", as recorded in 2 Peter 2:12-14?
What kind of beast loves to riot in the daytime? 2 Peter 2:12-14
What kind of a beast can talk or speak? 2 Peter 2:12
What kind of a beast was made to be taken and DESTROYED? 2 Peter 2:12

Plato, Republic [590b] and irascibility when they foster and intensify disproportionately the element of the lion and the snake 1 (or chimaera) in us?" "By all means." "And do we not reprobate luxury and effeminacy for their loosening and relaxation of this same element when they engender cowardice in it?" "Surely." "And flattery and illiberality when they reduce this same high-spirited element under the rule of the mob-like beast and habituate it for the sake of wealth and the unbridled lusts of the beast to endure all manner of contumely from youth up and become an ape. Not mentioned before, but, as Schleiermacher says, might be included in ta peri ton leonta. Cf. Adam ad loc. Or Plato may be thinking of the chimaera (Il. vi. 181 )

Leôn, metaph., of Artemis, se leonta gunaixi Zeus thêken Zeus made thee a lion toward women (because she was supposed to cause their sudden death), Il. 21.483; used of savage persons, A.Ch.938 (lyr.);

[590c] "Yes, indeed," he said. "And why do you suppose that 'base mechanic' handicraft is a term of reproach? Shall we not say that it is solely when the best part is naturally weak in a man so that it cannot govern and control the brood of beasts within him but can only serve them and can learn nothing but the ways of flattering them?" "So it seems," he said. "Then is it not in order that such an one may have a like government with the best man that we say he ought to be the slave

Hand Techne

Plato, Republic [304b] Stranger

Shall we agree that there is such a thing as learning music and the sciences of handicraft in general?... And shall we say that none of them ought to have control of any other,

[620c] [620c] After her, he said, he saw the soul of Epeius,1 the son of Panopeus, entering into the nature of an arts and crafts woman. Far off in the rear he saw the soul of the buffoon Thersites 2 clothing itself in the body of an ape. And it fell out that the soul of Odysseus drew the last lot of all and came to make its choice, and, from memory of its former toils having flung away ambition, went about for a long time in quest of the life of an ordinary citizen who minded his own business,3 and with difficulty found it lying in some corner disregarded by the others,

The craftsmen in Revelation 18 whom John called sorcerers.

Techn-ikos A.artistic, skilful, workmanlike, ê, on, of persons,technical excellence, ib.2.55; t. energeiai, hoion aulein ê salpizeinê kitharizein

[Hard work of flute playing and harp playing and guitar playing.]

Used as ergon or hard work by the demagogue or sophists to appeas the masses.

Tektonos 3. master in any art, as in gymnastics, Pi.N.5.49; of poets, tektones sophoi (sc. epeôn) Id.P.3.113; tektones eupalamôn humnôn Cratin.70 (ap.Ar.Eq.530); tektones kômôn, i.e. the choreutai, Pi.N. 3.4; t. nôdunias, i.e. a physician, Id.P.3.6; dexias cheros ergon, dikaias tektonos a true workman, A.Ag.1406.

Sophos

A. skilled in any handicraft or art, clever, harmatêlatas s. Pi.P.5.115, cf. N.7.17; kubernêtês A.Supp.770 ; mantis Id.Th.382 ; oiônothetas S.OT484 (lyr.); of a sculptor, E.Fr.372; even of hedgers and ditchers, Margites Fr.2; but in this sense mostly of poets and musicians, Pi.O.1.9, P.1.42, 3.113; en kitharai

These were always polluted people bringing pollution among decent folk:

2 Peter 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness,
          as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time.
          Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves
          with their own deceivings [delusions] while they feast with you;

          All musicians and rhetoricians are equated to parasites.

Entrupo (g1792) en-troo-fah'-o; from 1722 and 5171; to revel in: - sporting selves.
gamêliôi lechei [marriage couch-bed] hêdonais, playing in the wind, exult over, treat haughtily or contemptuously, made a mock of, tinos sumphorais, III. use or abuse at pleasure

Paison paizô [pais]
4. to play (on an instrument), Hhymn. II. to sport, play, jest, joke, Hdt., Xen., etc.; p. pros tina to make sport of one, mock him,

[See Plato-Symposium]
Symposium;
Then, said Eryximachus, as you are all agreed that drinking is to be voluntary, and that there is to be no compulsion,
I move, in the next place, that the flute-girl, who has just made her appearance,
        be told to go away and play to herself, or, if she likes,
        to the women who are within.
To-day let us have conversation instead; and, if you will allow me, I will tell you what sort of conversation. 

Jesus CAST OUT the flute girls and minstrels like dung to speak HIS Word.

tên...aulêtrida. It was the fashion at convivia to provide pipers, dancers, jesters, jugglers et hoc genus omne to amuse the guests.  aul-êtris , idos, hê, A.flute-girl, 

Demosthenes 8 [34] As it is, by persuasive arts and caresses they have brought you to such a frame of mind that in your assemblies [Ekklesiais] you are elated by their flattery and have no ear but for compliments, while in your policy and your practice you are at this moment running the gravest risks. For tell me, in Heaven's name, if the Greeks should call you to account for the opportunities that your carelessness has already thrown away, and should question you thus:

Dêmagôg-eô , curry favour with men, curry favour with, 3. c. acc. rei, introduce measures so as to win popularity, II. in causal sense, d. tina make him popular.

Charizô [GRACE was a Greek prostitute] 2.gratify or indulge a humour or passion, 3. in erotic sense, grant favours to a man,

Pruphaô , ( [truphê] )  Connected to the Polus ,
Spoiled pets: en tais ekklêsiais t. kai kolakeuesthai, of the people
Spoiled pets in the church!

2 Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way,
          and are gone astray [wandering stars= fallen angels]
          following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor,
          who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Balaam: H1109 bil‛âm bil-awm' Probably from H1077 and H5971 ; not (of the) people, that is, foreigner; Bilam, a Mesopotamian prophet; also a place in Palestine:--Balaam, Bileam.
        A FAILED People: H5971 ‛am am From H6004 ; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically a tribe (as those of Israel) hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively a flock: folk, men, nation, people. congregating together to hide.

Many have missed the point in a severe way when they claim that we are "Without Instruction." Every Bible reader knows that God instructed Adam and Eve and "Lucifer" in Tyre is called "the singing and harp playing prostitut" in the Garden of Eden. She / he / it wholly seduced Eve in a sexual sense according to Paul.  The serpent was known by all literate commentators of that period as a "Musical Enchanter" or enchantress.

Al Maxey: Such transparent efforts only display a desperate need on their part to hide the obvious discrepancies, inconsistencies and outright fallacies of their legalistic theology and the various interpretive devices that they employ to bolster it. Perceptive disciples have seen their teachings and techniques for what they are, thus we are not fooled by this pathetic attempt at an outward reclothing of that which is inwardly corrupt. It seems Jesus had something insightful to say to the legalists of His day about whitewashing tombs [Matt. 23:27-28]. Same basic principle.

One wonders why ALL of the church fathers and founders of denominations defined the Biblical text as the only source of faith and practice and suddenly Al sees all who went before him is idiots.  The Spirit OF Christ spoke spiritual truth through the PROPHETS. The "hypocrites" Jesus marked as speakers, singers and instrument players MURDERED the prophets and therefore Jesus identified them as a RACE of vipers.

Al sentences you beyond hell if you continue to reject musical HARD WORK to make up for God's inability:

Matt 23:31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, 
        that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Matt 23:32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Matt 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

This is the CROOKED race of Skolion singers the believers save themselves from in Acts 2:38. Remember, to that EXTERNAL Psallo speaks of warriors shooting arrows to kill you and they also use their lyre to shoot LOVE ARROWS.

Euripides, Iphigenia in Tauris
Chorus

Lovely is the son of Leto, [1235]  whom she, the Delian, once bore in the fruitful valleys, golden-haired, skilled at the lyre; and also the one who glories in her well-aimed arrows. [1240]  For the mother, leaving the famous birth-place, brought him from the ridges of the sea to the heights of Parnassus, with its gushing waters, which celebrate the revels for Dionysus. Here the dark-faced serpent [1245] with brightly colored back, his scales of bronze in the leaf-shaded laurel, huge monster of the earth, guarded Earth's prophetic shrine. You killed him, o Phoebus, [Apollo] while still a baby, [1250]  still leaping in the arms of your dear mother, and you entered the holy shrine, and sit on the golden tripod, on your truthful throne </