Articles
Are Examples Binding?
One of the issues facing those in the Lord's church today is the question of whether or not New Testament examples are binding on the disciples of Jesus Christ. What the question really seems to be is whether or not the examples are equivalent to the will of God. Are examples as binding upon the disciples as the direct commands? Must we follow the examples of the apostles when direct commands are absent? And, how do we determine which examples are binding, if any?
A Question of Authority. This is a question of authority [what we are to do, as disciples], for if examples are binding, we must follow them; if not, then we must determine what is right or wrong, or what is authorized or unauthorized, by some other means.
Some brethren now teach that only direct commands are binding and, in so doing, eliminate all examples and statements that teach God's will. For example, Mark 16:16, which says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned,” would have no binding effect since it is a statement, and not a command. Acts 20:7, which gives us the only example of what day of the week the disciples came together for the Lord's Supper, would also be non-binding and could not be used to bind the day of the week since, without this example, we have no way to know when or how often they met for the purpose of “breaking bread.” There is no command given in the NT.
The main problem with this argument is that those who hold this position do so without any direct command instructing us as such in the New Testament. If there is no direct command in the NT that explicitly says, “You shall not do anything without a direct command,” then they have defeated their own argument! Furthermore, such arguments lead to statements like, “It doesn't say not to” for defense of certain practices because the logical conclusion is that if positive commands [things we must do] are required before action, then we must also have prohibitive commands [things we must not do] to tell us everything we cannot do.
Some Seek Freedom to Practice What is Not Authorized. When it comes down to it, those who argue for no binding examples know that when examples are eliminated, they are no longer bound to follow certain commands by certain standards and limitations. For example, without those examples, of how monies collected for the church were used, some will argue for the freedom to use it as we determine; as far as the example of local church organization, with the absence of the NT examples, congregations would then be free to organize as best suited their needs [as they have determined]. The reality is, what most often is the case is that some are trying to remove all arguments against what they practice, and they do not and will not accept criticism of their practices based on lack of authority. As a result of this line of thinking, some have expanded their fellowship to include some denominations because they cannot condemn what they do without NT examples as authority.
Determining When Examples Are Binding. The following are helpful to understand when examples are binding:
A Command Is Given, But No Specifics: Example Not Binding. When Jesus told the apostles, “Go therefore and make disciples” (Matt. 28:19), the command was to “go,” but Jesus did not say how to go; therefore, if there is no specific example, we must conclude any way we go is correct. This is proven by the fact we have multiple means of "going" in the New Testament record (Acts 8:30, 31ff; Acts 13:4; Acts 20:13). Because multiple ways are used, we may logically conclude it does not matter which form of transportation we use to “go.”
A Command Not Given, No Specifics: Example Not Binding. Regarding the matter of where we should come together to worship with fellow saints, we find there is no specific command as to where we should come together to worship. To come together to worship is only inferred through several passages. Without a specific command, we should look to the examples, and we find examples of saints coming together to worship in an upper room (Acts 20:7-12), at a river side (Acts 16:11-15), and in someone's house (Rom. 16:3-5; Col. 4:15; Philemon 1:2). Because multiple ways are used, we may logically conclude it does not matter where we meet when we come together with fellow disciples to worship.
A Command Given, Specifics Mentioned: Example Is Binding. For example, on the matter of giving, we are commanded how to give (2 Cor. 9:7), and the command alone should be sufficient to know how we are to give. But, in addition to the command, we have examples of saints giving liberally and willingly (2 Cor. 8:1-5), and holding nothing back (Acts 2:44-45). Because these examples meet the criteria of the command, we are bound by the examples.
A Command Not Given, Specifics Mentioned: Example Is Binding. For example, regarding the matter of sending aid to saints at other locations, nowhere do we find a direct command to help fellow saints in other locations; the only way we know what way is acceptable is by example — and we do have an example, with the apostle Paul participating. We read of the church in Antioch sending aid to other saints (Acts 11:27-30). Because of this sole example and lacking a direct command, we are bound by the example as our sole authority of the way in which it must be done.
We might go back to the matter of when we partake of the Lord's Supper, and whether or not it is on the first day of the week only. What we find in Scripture is that there is no direct command is given regarding the weekly observation of this memorial. The instruction we have is not specific as to when (cf. Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-29). But, we do have an example, with the apostle Paul participating (Acts 20:7). Because of this sole example and lacking a direct command, we are bound by the example as our sole authority of the way in which it must be done.
So, when someone asks, "Are examples binding?" please understand this is not an easy, one-answer-fits-all-examples question; sometimes examples are binding, and sometimes they are not. It will take some honest, serious, and thorough investigation to know if an example is binding, and why it is binding. But we can know, and we must be honest in our search.
Far too often, though, men are looking to justify something they want to do or are already doing, and want to eliminate criticism, objections, and hindrances to doing what they want to do. Sadly, some long ago were faced with opposition to innovations and arrogantly declared, "We are going to do this one way or the other!" The basic issue was authority, and some have declared they need no authority for what they do. This stands in stark opposition to the clear words of the divinely-inspired apostle Paul, who wrote, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17). Whatever we do must be done in His name [i.e., by His authority] because He has all authority (Matt. 28:18).
We have none. —— Steven Harper
