The silence of the Scriptures is one of the most debated topics in the religious world. Many folks think that when God has chosen to remain silent on any religious matter, that gives man permission to act. Some folks use the phrase, “Well, God didn’t say not to,” as an excuse to do many things in worship.

To think God’s silence allows us to do whatever we want is a dangerous way of thinking. Nadab and Abihu serve as examples of thinking like that. The scripture speaks of them in Leviticus 10:1-3 and says, “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on the fire and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.”

Notice God didn’t say “not to” offer the fire this way. He was silent. Nadab and Abihu acted beyond what God had authorized, and God killed them because of it. God expected folks to respect His silence as meaning “no” as far back as the Old Testament.

Similarly today, folks want to add all sorts of things to the worship service. Some add mechanical instruments. One often used argument is “God didn’t say not to.” This thinking, however, is still dangerous. John wrote, “Anyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9-11). When one goes beyond what God has said, he sets himself up to fail – even today! He disrespects God’s silence.

Let us strive to respect God’s word and treat Him as holy. We do that by respecting His silence. His silence doesn’t mean to act; it means “no.”