By "speaking where the Bible speaks" and "being silent where the Bible is silent," aren't we supporting a creed in addition to the word of God? By denouncing things like instrumental music for worship, raised hands in worship, dancing, and the like, are we "demanding things of people that the Bible never speaks of," or speaking where the Bible (or sometimes only the New Covenant) is silent? Are we not speaking where the Bible does not speak if we do this?

No, this is neither an addition to the word of God, nor the establishment of a creed. Rather, it voices the insistence of God that nothing is to be added or taken away from His word. In support of this are several verses, among which is: Hebrews 1:1-2, which insists God will not speak to us in any way today except through the "son delivered word". That word was spoken, remembered through the power of the Holy Spirit and faithfully reproduced by men carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:19-21). It can be understood, believed upon, and defended. Jude 3 insists that we are to contend earnestly for the faith. If we cannot hear and understand the tenets of that faith then we cannot defend it. If we cannot tell what is in addition to that faith then we cannot defend it. Furthermore, that faith was once-for-all delivered. It is unchanging and unchangeable.

That is basically what we mean by speaking where the Bible speaks etc. We know that we are to base our belief, and therefore our unity, upon the word of the apostles' doctrine, because it was for this that Jesus prayed in John 17:20-21. He gave them the authority and ability to record only the truth. Peter insists upon this in 2 Peter 1:21, where he clarifies that all prophecy is divine in origin and only those so carried along by the Holy Spirit are recording the word of God. Finally, Galatians 1:8-10 makes it abundantly clear that there is not to be a feeling of freedom when it comes to preaching and teaching the gospel, but that there is only one gospel, which must be defended. Anyone preaching anything except for that one gospel (doctrine) is anathema. How do we determine what is gospel and what is not? Only by carefully studying the word of God - the inspired record of the will of God - can we arrive at God's will in any matter. When we have a clear commandment from God, for example, then anything that adds to or goes beyond what God has commanded is to be considered anathema. It is to be rejected. By the same token, if there is not a specific commandment, or a strong apostolic example of a thing upon which we can base a defendable observance, then we are to remain silent. That silence means that there is room for individual interpretation and it becomes a matter of opinion. In your question, you mentioned two things I can use for examples of the sensibility of this approach to Scripture.

You asked about instrumental music worship to God. In the New Testament (our guide for matters of worship since we are bound by the blood of Jesus to this covenant and not to any other) we are told in two passages that we are to sing and make melody in our hearts to God: Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. Both of these passages say that the singing is to be to "one another" (Greek: ALLELON) which ensconces this passage into a matter of corporate worship observance. Since singing is authorized, we stand firm on the insistence that we are to sing. If, however, we decide to add "playing" and "making melody on an instrument" then we have gone beyond what has been written by an inspired apostle of God. We are now speaking where God has not spoken. Whatever we do will not have behind it the authority of the word of God. Will God condemn that behavior? Will it result in eternal separation from God? Only God is the final judge. But we are warned that going beyond what is written is anathema. If it comes to a matter of confidence, we can sing with absolute confidence. To play musical instruments, though, is to take a chance on whether or not it is appropriate for New Covenant worship of God.

On the other hand, there is the question about raising hands in worship. I am aware that some in our brotherhood forbid or try to limit worship expression through the raising of hands before God. Their reasons vary, but whatever their reasons they are challenged by one fact: there is no command either for or against hand waving by which they can enforce their decision. The Bible is silent on the matter of raising hands to express joyful praise and adoration to God, so we must be silent as well. So we practice at Southside. We neither encourage nor discourage particular expressions of adoration such as raising hands, or clapping, or expressing an "amen" or a "praise the Lord". Such matters are left to the conscience of the individual worshipper. A word of warning, though, is presented by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Acts of worship performed specifically to draw attention to oneself (praying out loud on the street corner to be noticed of men, blowing trumpets to herald giving of alms and disfiguring faces to be seen fasting by men) are not rewarded by God (Matthew 6:1-18). If raising hands or other expressions of praise or adoration do not flow from the heart, but rather are intended to draw attention to ones' self, then they cease to be worship and become self glorification. God will reject such worship.