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Generic and Specific Authority - Part 2
Generic and Specific Authority - Part 2 By Derek Long
Last week we looked at how God instructs us through generic and specific commands. In this week’s article, we want to examine a couple of New Testament commands and see how to apply the concepts of generic and specific authority.
Let’s now examine a command given by Jesus to His disciples before He ascended back into heaven. In Matthew 28:18-20 we read, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” Jesus’ command contains some specifics which must be carefully followed as well as some generics where we have more options and flexibility. The command “Go” authorizes us to use any lawful means of transportation. We may walk, ride an animal, ride a train, ride a car, fly a plane, catch a boat, etc. Since Jesus did not specify the mode of transportation to be used, we can use any mode of transportation which does not violate any other principle of Scripture. The mission is specific. They were to make disciples by baptizing and teaching them. The method of making disciples is specific by baptizing them and teaching them. The command to teach them though is somewhat generic. “Teaching them” authorizes us to have public and private teaching opportunities. Paul reminds the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:20, “how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house.” Paul following the commission given by Jesus taught in public and private settings. Teaching can take place through the spoken or written word and so we may have written material we use in our teaching. What we are to be teaching though is specific “to observe all things that I have commanded you.” It is not our job to teach people English, how to repair their car, how to invest in the stock market, how to loose weight, etc. We may teach people those things but such is not the teaching being spoken of in Matthew 28:18-20. We see how generic and specific authority allows us to use advances in technology at times while respecting the unchanging nature of the Scriptures in the process.
A final passage we would like to consider is Ephesians 5:19. Ephesians 5:19 says, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” The instruction given here contains specific and generic aspects to it. The statement about “speaking to one another” tells us we are talking about an action which is done by each individual involved to all the other individuals involved. Therefore, choirs, solos, or special singing groups who sing while the rest silently sit and listen are not authorized based upon this passage. The types of songs is an area where we have some degree of specific and some degree of generic authority. We are not specifically told a list
of acceptable or approved songs to which none could be added. However, we are given categories in which the songs we sing in worship to God must fall. The passage only teaches us to sing songs which teach a true spiritual message in worship to God. The word “singing” specifies the type of music God wants us to use in worship to Him. Singing and playing are both different forms of music. God chose singing and by doing so excluded playing mechanical instruments of music in our worship to Him. Just as Noah could not use a different type of wood when God commanded gopherwood, we cannot use a different type of music when God commanded singing. The melody we make is to be made in our heart. If an instrument is used in the songs we sing to God, it is to be our heart and not some sort of mechanical instrument of music. In fulfilling a command like singing, we might decide it is expedient to have a songbook so everyone knows the lyrics, a song leader to select and lead the congregation in singing, etc. These things do not change the command of God but are still part of what it takes in order for us to fulfill the command to sing and make melody in our heart to the Lord.
Hopefully these principles will help us as we seek to interpret the commandments given to us by God in the Scriptures. If you would like to study topics like these or have other Bible questions, please feel free to contact us and someone would be glad to study the Bible with you further. It is our hope we all will take seriously our need to simply do those things which God has commanded us to do in His word.
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