It’s hard to know when and how—when to take a stand and exactly how to do it. And while I have no intention of using Biblical Insights to tell anyone they have to follow my conscience about anything, I do plan on using any medium available to teach biblical truth when and where I see the need.

I am concerned about young people. I am concerned that some, at the most impressionable age of life, are taken in by those feeding on a natural youthful disdain for authority—and segway that into an environment of disrespect for biblical authority—from instrumental music (“swallowing camels”) to abuses with the Supper (“they eat bread, drink a bit, eat more bread, drink a bit more . . .”), to very loose blogs about drinking (“only drinking in excess is forbidden” in Scripture).

Over the past few months I have read blog after blog on pleonast (an Internet blog site for young Christians) and have been amazed at the lack of respect for God’s authority. And that’s what it’s all about. Do we do things out of man-tradition (“c of C tradition”) or out of respect for biblical teaching?

Some things are man-traditional. Just because a group does something different does not make it wrong. Much of what occurs when God’s people assemble involves human judgment and tradition. Let us not be so bound by man-tradition that we fail to see it for what it is. On the other hand, it is imperative that we recognize and respect God’s tradition (“patternism”—as one blog writer described it sarcastically). When Paul wrote the Thessalonians he reminded them of the necessity of adhering to Heaven’s “patternism”—“Brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us” (2 Thess. 2:15). The admonition to respect apostolic authority is binding on every church that is of Christ.

The argument that “we just do a few things differently” is a smokescreen. It’s not about things done differently (from man’s tradition) but a disrespectful attitude for apostolic teaching.

For example, when women address the assembled church at the Lord’s Supper, I believe that is sinful. To argue that it is the same as a Bible class is a misnomer. First, the Supper is to be taken when the church has come together (1 Cor. 11:20, 33–34). Second, when the church is together, the women are not to speak (lead the assembly). Paul was plain. The idea of dividing into groups and discussing the Memorial and then appointing spokesman/woman to address the church mimics the meanderings of John Mark Hicks (Come to the Table) more than anything else.

It centers on one thing: respect for authority. The disdain expressed by some toward CENI (command, example, necessary inference) is amazing. I have asked for an alternative to understanding biblical authority, but none has been forthcoming. Nor will it be. If CENI is to be rejected, how do you determine the following practices are wrong: 1) praying to Mary, 2) sprinkling for baptism, 3) dancing in the assembly, 4) pizza on the Lord’s Table, etc.? If there is a better way to determine what God wants us to do, what is it?

I’ve asked these writers to help us see what the real problems are. They have done their work well. Please read carefully and with an open mind. Thanks . . .