Ignorance is very dangerous! For instance, this week, with temperatures below zero, we had our parking lot cleared and salted. However, if we were in Alaska, we would not use salt. Do you know why all roads in Alaska are never salted? Because it would attract the salt-deprived moose. So, instead, they spread gravel & sand on the roads.

One of the most important instructions Jesus gives us is to not add or take away from the Word of God (John 5:19, 30; 12:47-50). This warning is again given in Revelation 22:18. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, (ESV).

However, the Bible does not cover every theological question we may come up with. It just covers what God wants us to do and not do. So, we may say, God does not expressly say we cannot use mechanical instruments in worship, so we will just go ahead and speak for Him. Friend, that is the very dangerous sin of willfulness or presumption. You see, God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Many years ago, the two sons of the first High Priest decided they knew better than God. Here is their story: Leviticus 10:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

You see, God had authorized specific instructions for the source of the fire: Leviticus 16:12–13 (ESV) — 12 And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil 13 and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die.

So, is “presumption” a sin? If you are not yet convinced, read these scriptures:

• Psalm 19:13 (ESV) — 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great
  transgression.
  • 2 Peter 2:10 (ESV) — 10 and especially those who
  indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise
  authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they
  blaspheme the glorious ones,

A good rule of thumb is to stick with what God
commanded. Every Sunday we, at the Summit Church of Christ, come together to worship as God commanded:

• We sing with the heart (Eph.5:18f; Col.3:16)
  • We give cheerfully as we’ve prospered (1 Cor.16:1f;
  2 Cor.8-9)
  • We take the Lord Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor.11:23ff)
  • We preach and teach (1 Cor.4:17)
  • We pray (Acts 12:5)

Like Noah (who didn’t use anything but gopher wood), we don’t do less or more than we are commanded.

Genesis 6:22 (ESV) — 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.