Understanding Generic and Specific Authority
Though technical sounding, generic and specific authority really just boils down to common everyday communication. If we send our child to the store telling them to buy "soup", we have left the command general (generic) and know that it could include all types of soup. But if we specified "tomato" soup, then they would have no right to choose another kind of soup.
Two Important Lessons
NADAB AND ABIHU (Lev. 10:1-3)
In Leviticus 16:12 God specifies that He wanted them to use fire for the incense from the altar of burnt offering. God had never said, Thou shalt not use other fire. God didn't have to go down a list naming every sources of fire not to be used; instead He specified what they should use. Nadab and Abihu used fire from a source God did not specify and were put dramatically to death by God.
UZZAH AND THE ARK (2 Sam. 6:3-7)
Notice first that God specified that the priestly tribe of Levi were the proper tribe to carry the Ark of the Covenant (Deut. 10:8; Num. 4:15). Secondly, God had expressly stated that the Ark was to be moved by poles carried by the priests (Ex. 25:14-15). Later David will point out that in placing the ark on a new cart, they hadn't followed God's specific instructions concerning how the ark was to be moved (1 Chron. 15:2, 15). David made no argument that God never said not to let another tribe carry the ark or that God never said not to carry the ark by cart. He knew what God had specified and admitted, "…We did seek Him according to the ordinance" (I Chron. 15:13).
There are other examples, both in the New Testament and the Old Testament, that we could cite but these two should serve as warnings that we should not make the same mistakes they did (Rom.15:1-4; 1 Cor.10:6).
Specific Authority
Specific authority includes only the thing specified. Specific authority excludes everything else in its class. If God specifies something, we have no choice in the matter.
When God told Noah to build an ark, He specified GOPHER wood (Gen. 6:14). This excluded all other kinds of wood.
When God said "preach" He specified "THE WORD" (II Tim. 4:2; Mark 16:15,16). This excludes all man-made doctrines.
When God said "be baptized" He specified "FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS" (Acts 2:38). This excludes all other baptisms.
When God said to partake of the Lord’s Supper, He specified partaking of the BREAD (Matt. 26:26; I Cor. 11:24) and the CUP (Matt. 26:27-28; I Cor. 11:25). This excludes other elements.
When God said authorized music, He specified SINGING (Eph 5:19; Col. 3:16). This excludes any different kind of music.
Generic Authority
Generic authority is a command vague or broad enough to include things that carry out the command. If God gives general authority for something, we have a certain amount of choice.
When God says "GO preach ..." (Mark 16:15) and gives no specific command as to how, then we are free to go by chariot, horse, car, bus, airplane, etc.
When God says "ASSEMBLE" (Heb. 10:25) and yet gives us no specific way we are to arrange for a place of assembly, then we are at liberty to make arrangements (borrow, rent, purchase) for appropriate facilities to assemble for worship.
When God says "BAPTIZE" (Matt. 28:19), but never gives a specific place (such as a baptistery, river, pond, etc.) then we are free to choose any place that carries out immersion (the literal meaning of baptism).
When God commands us to "TEACH" and "EDIFY" (Eph. 4:11-16; I Cor. 14:26) and has not specified a certain teaching method, then we are free to use blackboards, overhead projectors, slides, Bible class material, etc.
Please notice however, I am not at liberty to invent things God’s word never authorized. I am at liberty to make arrangements to GO PREACH, but I am not to assume that that includes preaching Psychology. I am at liberty to make arrangements to ASSEMBLE, but the church has no authority to ASSEMBLE to discuss politics. We are authorized to BAPTIZE (immerse), we are not at liberty to substitute sprinkling instead. We have every right to assemble and use appropriate tools to carry out teaching (EDIFICATION), but we have no right to invent definitions of edification different from Scripture (such as recreation).
[ Introduction
- The Pattern Concept] [Lesson 1 - Defining The Church] [Lesson 2 - Authority Over The Church]
[Lesson
3 - How Scripture Authorizes (Pt. 1)] [Lesson 5 - The Universal - The Local Church]
[Lesson 6 - The Church - Not a
Denomination] [Lesson
7 - Timeline - Church's Establishment] [Lesson 8 - Worship Designed for the Church]
[Lesson 9 - The Lord's Supper]
[Lesson 10 - Worshipping in Song]
[Lesson 11 - Worshipping in Prayer]
[Lesson 12 - The All-Sufficient Church]
[Lesson 13 - Elders]
[14 - Deacons ] [Lesson 15 - Evangelists ] [Lesson 16 - The Social Gospel]
[Lesson 17
-Benevolence-According to the Pattern]
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This page last updated: October 27, 1999