As members of the church of Christ, we believe every action we perform in worship and in our everyday life must be authorized by the Word of God. We establish authority in three ways. By direct command/statement, apostolic-approved example, and necessary inference. In establishing Bible authority, we also need to understand that when anything is authorized in the Bible, it usually contains some general instructions and some specific instructions. Understanding this difference is important to successfully establishing authority for all things. Let us study an example of this.

In Matthew 28:19-20, we find both general and specific commands given to us. The text reads, "Go therefore and teach 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' commands to "go" and to "teach" illustrate this principle of general authority. Both statements are a command to do something, but the details of "how" are left to us. For example, we are to "go," but it does not say how. Therefore, we can walk, drive, fly in a plane, etc. All of these would be authorized. General authority allows for anything that falls within the general instruction, "go." "Teach" also tells us what to do, but there is not specific mention of how to accomplish this. We could teach publicly, privately in the home, or in groups and classes. We could use classbooks, papers, projectors, chalkboards or markerboards, etc. The use of these have not added to the command to teach, and therefore, are authorized by the general instruction to teach.

In Matthew 28:19-20, we also find specific authority. When the disciples were told to teach the nations, Christ expected the taught people to be baptized. The apostles were told to, "baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." They also were not allowed to teach anything they wanted. Jesus specified what they were to teach when He said, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." In this same passage, we see both the general and specific authority coming from Christ.

As in all things, let us follow the authority given through the Word of God. Where specific instructions are given, let us follow. Where we have general instructions given, let us follow by making sure there are no other commands broken. Our desire is follow the will of God as illustrated through His word.

- The Old Paths, 3/8/15