":::This is the way it looked a year or two back.  I think that this is far more helpful and accurate than what we have now:   

 A closer look at the Church of Christ requires an understanding of its historically accepted hermeneutic. This hermeneutic is often summarized in three parts: ""Command"", ""Example"", and ""Necessary Inference"". 
 *""Command"" refers to a direct command found in the Scriptures (this being further complicated by what some mainstream evangelicals would refer to as the dispensation principle; for example, the command to build an ark was directed to Noah specifically, as opposed to being directed to Christians in general.  Additionally, commands are classified as 'Specific' or 'Generic' in nature.) 
 *""Example"" is sometimes phrased as ""an approved Apostolic example.""  The intent here is that the apostles or 1st century Christians performed some action or engaged in some practice that was approved of (or not condemned). 
 *""Necessary inference"" refers to some interpretational conclusion that would be necessary in order to obey a command or example. 

 The principle of silence is also observed by the Churches of Christ, to varying degrees.  When the Bible does not specifically or indirectly allow any certain practice in a worship service, it is considered forbidden.  The disagreements within the Churches of Christ primarily derive from differences in interpretation of the meaning of ""necessary inference"", and the conclusions which can be rightly drawn from ""silence"".  The non-instrumental chuches of Christ agree that the absence of references to instrumental music in New Testament worship mean that their use is forbidden. 
 Comments?   

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