A Common Hermeneutic

A specific commandment authorizes; silence about similar things prohibits. The apostolic command is to sing; silence about other kinds of music intentionally omits them.

That is a common hermeneutic that we all learned as children. When mama said, “Go play in the backyard,” “backyard” was specific. It commanded an enjoyable and a familiar play place. We learned quickly that her silence about other play places prohibited: playing in the street or inside Phillip’s house next door, for example.

Why do we understand that so readily in every venue except in worship to God?

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