THE BIBLE DOCTRINE OF EXPEDIENCY
Intro:
1. Last lesson--How to establish New Testament authority.
2. Men have sought to justify many things with the claim that they
can be practiced as expediencies.
3. "The end justifies the means"; thus, anything that will accomp-
lish what they seem to think to be good is permissible.
4. But, in order for a thing to be an expedient in spiritual
matters, it must be in harmony with God's Word and it must ac-
complish what God deems that it accomplish.
I. IN ORDER FOR A THING TO BE EXPEDIENT IT MUST BE LAWFUL:
1. 1 Cor 6:12; 1 Cor 10:23 -- Expediency must come within the
realm of that which is lawful.
If there is no precept, approved example or necessary in-
ference in the scriptures, then there is no authority for it.
THAT WHICH IS UNAUTHORIZED IS UNLAWFUL--prohibited by divine
authority and is therefore, sinful.
2. 2 John 9:11--cannot go beyond the Word of God.
3. 2 Cor. 5:7; Rom. 14:23--The silence of God must be respected.
There is no assurance that anything is pleasing unto God
unless there is authority for it.
4. To practice something not authorized is presumption and
presumption is sinful. Cain, Uzzah, etc.
II. FOR A THING TO BE EXPEDIENT IT CANNOT BY SPECIFIED:
1. When God specifies there is no choice but to obey or disobey.
2. In matters specified, faith demands obedience. Expediency in
human wisdom involves the right of a choice within the realm
of those things included in what God has authorized.
3. To go beyond that which is specified or offer a substitute
therefore is to ADD to what God has said instead of AIDING
obedience to His Word.
4. God commands SING--instrumental music is not an AID to sing-
ing, but it is an ADDITION to God's commandment. It is not
included in the scope of the commandment and is therefore,
unauthorized and cannot be practiced "by faith."
5. God commands to dip (baptidzo), bury (Rom. 6:4) in baptism.
Sprinkling is not an aid to carry out the command. It does not
expedite in carrying out God's command, but is a substitute
for what God said do. A baptistry might expedite and,
therefore, aid in obeying God's commandment, does not add to.
6. A MISSIONARY SOCIETY or any other organization that men build
is not an aid in carrying out God's command. It is an addition
or a substitute for the Lord's way. It does not come within
the scope of the organization specified to do the work of the
Lord--the congregation -- Acts 14:23; Phil 1:1.
7. For elders to take jurisdiction over the work of a number of
congregations, or supervise some human institution as a part
of their work as elders is to "go beyond" -- to ADD TO and is
not an aid in doing God's will.
It might appear expedient in the eyes of men to have elders
supervise the work of many congregations, but since it does
not come within the scope of that which God has authorized, it
is without scriptural authority --thus SINFUL.
III. FOR SOMETHING TO BE EXPEDIENT IN THE CHURCH, IT MUST EDIFY:
1. 1 Cor 14:26--Let all things be done unto edifying.
If a thing is a matter of choice or expediency--human wis-
dom or judgment--and its practice tears down and destroys what
God would have built up, then it is wrong and sinful.
2. NOTE: If God commands it, it must be done, regardless of the
consequences. If doing the will of God requires it, men have
no choice but to obey-- Acts 4:18-20; Acts 5;29.
3. But if it is a non-essential -- God left the choice to human
wisdom -- and we demand or enforce that which destroys the
peace and unity of God's children, we sin. All the seeming
good that we might accomplish by such a course would not
overcome the wrong done by it.
IV. FOR A THING TO BE EXPEDIENT IT MUST NOT OFFEND THE CONSCIENCE OF
A BROTHER:
1. 1 Cor. 10:32--Give none offense....
2. This rule governs only in matters of expediency -- where God
has not specified -- where the liberty of a choice by human
wisdom or judgment has been permitted by divine will.
3. We are to forego and sacrifice a matter of personal liberty --
a non-essential matter -- rather that lead a brother to sin by
violating his conscience in partaking in that which he
believes to be wrong -- 1 Cor 8:7-13.
4. If a "method" of doing the Lord's work is a matter of
expedience, we cannot force upon the conscience of others and
cause them to commit sin.
V. WE CANNOT CLAIM AN ADDITION TO GOD'S WORD OR A SUBSTITUTION FOR
GOD'S WAY AS AN EXPEDIENT
1. Christ has commanded "teach." He has not specified the
"method." But He has specified the "organization" which is to
do it-- the church. 1 Tim 3:15, the pillar and ground..truth.
2. We have no choice as to organization. And to build another
would be sinful, ignoring God's arrangement. But, we do have
a choice as to method--public or private; entire assembly or
classes, with or without human aid such as literature, etc.
3. l Cor 11:25-28--Christ commanded, "Drink this cup." The cup is
the fruit of the vine--Mt 26:27-29. We have no choice as to
the element, but we do have a choice as to the number of
containers. That is a matter of human wisdom or judgment since
God did not specify.
4. Heb. 10:25--Christ commanded the saints to "assemble." He did
not specify as to how the place of assembly shall be provided,
whether the house shall be rented, borrowed, or owned. The
command implies and includes within its scope some place as an
essential but where the congregation is to rent, etc., is a
matter of expediency and to be determined by the saints.
5. Mechanical instruments of music are not a matter of expediency
There is no authority for it. Nothing the Lord has commanded
includes or permits it. It is, therefore, an addition to the
Lord's Word.
Whether or not we sing out of a book, with the aid of
lights, sitting in seats or standing, or what part we shall
sing are matters of expediency. These are aids, not additions
6. Eph 4:12--Christ commanded the church to do the work of
ministering. This includes caring for the saints who are
destitute, those who are lawfully the charge of the church --
1 Tim. 5:16.
The organization through which the Lord's church is to do
this work has been specified by the Lord. It is the congrega-
tion under its elders -- Acts 14:23; Phil 1:1.
The method has not been specified as to (1) place provided
(2) necessities to be furnished, etc., but the method has been
left to human wisdom and is therefore, a matter of expediency.
All of these would come under the jurisdiction of the elders
of the congregation doing the work. Elders, however, do not
have the right to add another organization to the one God has
provided or substitute another.
7. Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 5:2-- The jurisdiction of the elders of a
congregation has been fixed by divine authority. These men may
assume many other duties. They might run a farm, bank, be on a
board of directors of some corporation, etc. But such work
would not be within their authority as elders of the Lord's
church. When they extend their jurisdiction beyond the
membership and work of the "flock which is among you," they
are functioning without divine authority, thus, are doing that
which is sinful. That the elders can oversee has been
specified in the word of God and is not a matter of expediency
CONCLUSION:
1. The religious world has not learned this vital lesson.
2. Even our brethren in many places have not learned this.
3. Just because man does "something" in religion does not make it
right or acceptable.
4. The same is true with reference to the plan that has been
given for the salvation of the souls of mankind.
5. God gave the "way" whereby we might be saved, and no man has
the right to add to it or to take away from it.
Taken from "Walking by Faith"
Roy Cogdill
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