Argument from silence

In the past I have used an argument from silence to prove that instruments were not to be used in worship i.e., since the New Testament is silent about instruments in worship they are forbidden. But today I know that silence on the subject of instrumental music in New Testament worship is not intentional, it is incidental. Incidental silence does not prohibit using instruments. The writers of the New Testament did not directly address the subject. Sometimes silence is intentional and can frequently be inferred in the “law sections” of the Bible such as the codified legislation in Leviticus which contains Levitical law and ritual precedents. Another example is where God gave specific instructions in the Law regarding the construction of the temple in Exodus. God told Moses in Exodus 25.9 "Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you." Then God gave Moses a detailed blue print for the temple. Silence in this section of scripture is intentionally prohibitive. Anything not mentioned in the Law was forbidden. But the Bible also contains poetry, history, parables, metaphors, allegories, sermons, apocalyptic and wisdom literature, letters of correspondence, as well as law. Silence in one genre of scripture may mean something very different than silence in another. This point was clear when I surveyed specific books of the New Testament. For example, the book of James is silent on baptism but this does not mean that James was against baptism. Jude makes no mention of communion but this does not mean that Jude prohibits communion. John said "I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face." (3 John 13-14). Incidental silence is not a prohibition it just means that certain issues were not addressed. Ephesians and Colossians are letters of correspondence and silence on the subject of instruments should not be taken as a prohibition against them. No such dogmatic conclusions against instrumental music should be made because instrumental music was not addressed. The Bible is silent on the subjects of church buildings, audio and visual equipment, worship leaders, located preachers, youth ministers, campus ministers, pitch pipes, tuning forks, Sunday school, and indoor pools for baptisms yet we feel free to use them because they accomplish a purpose. Any method that fulfills the purposes of God is permissible so long as it does not violate a clear principle of Scripture. I apply the same rule of interpretation to instrumental music.