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A Study of Authority
Lesson 5
Expediency
“And if anyone hears My words and does not believe,
I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save
the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that
which judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last
day” (John 12:47-48).
A Quick Summary of Past Lessons
•We have
established what authority is, and the need for it in religion
•The Old
Testament, the preacher, creeds of men, desires of a congregation,
elders, or “end justifies the means” are not the source of authority
•Christ is
the source of authority as king, and head over the church
•The will
of Christ is set forth in the New Testament
•Authority
is established through command, example and necessary inference
Everything to this point was simple, now is the
teeth of our system.
Lessons yet to be discussed:
Difference between generic and
specific authority - See which apply
Unleavened bread and
fruit of vine for Lord’s supper instead of a cracker that supposedly
contains both, singing instead of instruments, giving as we are
prospered instead of rummage sales, giving on the first day of the week
only, only offerings of members acceptable, Lord’s supper on Sunday
only,
Expediencies, lawful
and unlawful
Meeting at 10 AM
instead of the “scriptural” 9:30, singing songs written by non-members
of the church of Christ, having a church building to meet in, paying a
preacher, installing vinyl soffits when paint would do and has for
years, holding a men’s meeting to discuss church business, song books, a
piano to help us stay on key, eating in the building, a special
“building fund,”
Does the Silence of
the Scriptures authorize?
Youth leagues to
recruit and hold our kids, “kid’s church,” gospel meetings, invitation
song, youth groups, rallies, camps, colleges, ladies meetings supported
by the congregation,
Commands or examples
given for a specific purpose or custom vs. a command/example for all
ages
Washing of feet,
women wearing a covering, giving on the first day of the week, attending
all scheduled services, anointing heads with oil, prophesying “decently
and in order in the worship service, command to eat in their own homes
in 1 Cor 11, elders in every city, abstaining from meats offered to
idols, singing to the exclusion of all other forms of music, benevolence
to non-Christians, proper use of the “Lord’s” money, saying the words
“in Jesus name” at the end of every prayer, women not teaching a 10 year
old boy even though he is just a boy and not a man in any sense of the
word, women keeping silent in the church,
A Common Justification for Practices
•Men have
sought to justify a multitude of things by saying, “they can be
practiced as expediencies.”
•The
common concept – The end justifies the means, so anything that will
accomplish what we think to be good, whether authorized or not, is
permissible
•Not So!
(cf. Matthew 7:21-23)
A Common Justification for Practices
In order for a thing to be a scriptural
expedient it must facilitate in the accomplishment of God’s will and
must be in harmony with His word!
For a Thing to Be Expedient…
It must be lawful
All scriptural
expedients are lawful (1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23)
We have no assurance that a thing is pleasing to
God unless it is authorized
Unlawful things can not be expedients even if WE
THINK they facilitate the accomplishment of the Lord’s will
Bombing abortion
clinics
Women Preachers (cf. 1
Tim. 2:12)
The ox cart (1 Chron.
13:7-10; 15:2)
1 Chronicles 13:7-10
1 Chronicles 15:2
For a Thing to Be Expedient…
It cannot be specified
When God specified, there is no choice for man but to obey or disobey
Ex: “gopher wood”, “firstborn male lamb”, “singing” (cf. Eph. 5:19;
Col. 3:16)
Expediency in human wisdom involves the right of
choice within the realm of those things included in what God authorized
(General authority)
“Which log of gopher
wood”, “which male lamb”, “which songs will be sung”
Note: Going Beyond
the Expedient
•Singing
(Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16)
Instrument not aid,
but addition
•Baptism
(cf. Romans 6:4)
Sprinkling and pouring
not expedients, but rather changes. Burial specified)
•Local
Elders (cf. Acts 14:23:20:28)
Elders overseeing work
or monies of another congregation, not expedient, but a change in what
is specified.
•Church
Evangelical Inst. (1 Tim. 3:15)
Missionary Society a
human org., an addition, not an aid to the church
For a Thing to Be Expedient…
It Must Edify (1 Cor.
10:23-33)
All things are to be
done unto edification (cf. 1 Cor. 14:26)
1 Corinthians 14:26
If the practice causes division in the Lord’s
body, it is wrong!
In Search of the Ancient Order, Earl Irvin West,
Vol. 2, pages 86-89.
Inst. of music as
expediency does not change problem, as it caused division!)
Contrast – Commandment must be done even if it
causes division
Acts 4:18-20
For a Thing to Be Expedient…
It Must Not Offend the
Conscience of a Brother (1 Cor. 10:32; Rom. 14:13-23)
This rule governs only in the matter
of expediency
In matters specified, we have no choice but to
obey or disobey
We must not force “our way” on our brother,
causing him to violate his conscience in partaking of that which he
believes to be wrong.
Ex: Eating of Meats
(cf. 1 Cor. 8)
Conclusion
•An
expedient must first be lawful.
•Every
addition or substitution is unlawful. It is relying upon human wisdom
rather than God’s word.
•Expediency
can not be claimed if the practice changes or adds to God’s word.
•Remember:
Expediency involves the right of choice within the realm of that which
is authorized in the New Testament
Questions
Lesson 5
Expediency
Question 1
ØWhy must
something be lawful before it can be expedient?
Question 2
ØWhat is
it about specific authority that rules out the use of other
“expediencies?
Question 3
ØIs the
use of an instrument of music in worship an expedient way to carry out
God’s command to sing? Defend your answer.
Question 4
ØWhat
principle makes it necessary for an expedient to edify (build up
others)?
Question 5
ØWhat
does it mean to “offend” your brother? How could an expedient do that?
(Note: consider the example of eating meats in 1 Cor. 8)
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