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Expediency – Lawful or UnlawfulIntroduction: 1. It would be difficult to over emphasize the importance of our subject for tonight. 2. We must have scriptural authority for everything that we teach or practice in order to be acceptable to God. 3. Churches of Christ have ever been dedicated to the proposition that we will give Scriptural authority for everything we teach or practice or else we will give it up. 4. Or, if anybody will show by the Scriptures that we should teach or practice something which we are not, that we will begin immediately to do so. 5. For any person or church to fail in this proposition is but to reject the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I. What do we mean by an expedient?
1. “Useful for effecting a desired result; suited
to the circumstances or the occasion;
advantageous; convenient.”
“n. 1. an expedient thing; means to an end.”
Webster’s New World Dictionary
A. “Expedient” from the Greek “SUMPHERO” – used 14
times in the New Testament.
1. It is translated “good” in Matthew 19:10.
2. It is translated “profitable” in Matthew 5:29;
5:30; 18:6; Acts 20:20.
3. It is translated “profit” in 1 Corinthians 12:7;
Hebrews 12:10.
4. It is translated “expedient” in John 11:50;
16:7; 18:14; 2 Corinthians 12:1; 1 Corinthians
6:12; 10:23.
5. The word is used in 1 Corinthians 6:12 and 10:23
in the sense in which we are interested in it
tonight.
6. But these two passages have been much abused.
7. Some seem to think that Paul’s use of the
expression “all things are lawful for me”
indicates that the realm of expediency is a
catch all category by which they can justify all
of their unlawful desires and wild unlawful
practices.
B. In both of these passages Paul is applying a
principle to two subjects of discussion which were
closely related to heathen worship.
1. Whether it was lawful for Christians to eat food
which had been offered in sacrifices to idols;
and,
2. Whether it was permissible to overlook in
Christians, indulgence in the sin of
fornication.
3. It seems that, because of Paul affirmed the
right of Christian liberty in relation to the
heathen food, some at Corinth apparently
concluded that Christians had liberty to
practice the immoralities that were associated
with the heathen worship.
4. When Paul used the expression “all things” he is
stating the principle as it pertains
particularly to the eating of meats sacrificed
to idols, as evidenced by verse 13 and chapter
10.
5. Nothing could be lawful to Paul which was
unlawful.
6. Paul argues that we do not have the right to do
even that which is lawful, if it is hurtful to
ourselves and others.
7. Paul is emphasizing that there is a lawful use
of the appetites and desires which God has given
man, but none of them must obtain power or
mastery over us.
8. All God given appetites and passions are for our
good, if properly used and restrained.
9. However, if they enslave us, they degrade and
destroy us.
10. The Corinthians were apparently becoming
enslaved to sin, by the very freedom which they
desired. Paul says he would not come under the
power or mastery of any.
11. Paul shows that there is a very basic difference
in the eating of meat sacrificed to idols and
the committing of fornication. Verses 13-20.
12. Commentators generally think that verse 12 of 1
Corinthians 6 is a rather abrupt change of
thought from that which has proceeded.
13. Perhaps it is not so abrupt, however.
14. See Verse 9-11. Paul affirms that the
unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of
God. Then he lists sins of unrighteousness of
which some of them had been guiltily. These
included fornication, adultery, and others. But
he says those at Corinth had been washed,
sanctified, and justified.
15. Apparently they were claiming freedom to go back
to committing fornication.
16. The remainder of this chapter is used to show
the exceeding sinfulness of fornication.
17. Thus Paul announces that a thing cannot be
expedient unless it is first lawful. A person
does not have freedom or liberty to do anything
unless it is lawful, and even then there are
some lawful things which are not expedient.
18. A failure to understand this and to properly
apply the principle is the source of much
religious error.
19. Let me emphasize again, that to prove that
anything is expedient, it must first be proved
to be lawful and even then may not be expedient.
20. To assume that anything is expedient before
proving it to be lawful is simply begging the
question at issue.
21. Those who attempt to prove that a thing is
lawful by claiming it to be expedient are in
reverse. They have the proverbial “cart before
the horse”.
22. Yet, whenever authority is wanted for a practice
for which no authority exists, people, including
those who profess to be members of the Lord’s
church, including preachers who should know
better, immediately invoke the law of expediency
in an effort to attempt a justification of their
cause.
II. Note some principles regulating expediency.
1. There is realm regulated by expediency.
2. Expediency is within the realm of Divine law.
3. Expediency involves that which is authorized, but
things where in Christians have a choice. This
involves the area of General and Specific commands
which we will get to in just a few minutes.
4. 1 Corinthians 10:23 teaches that a thing is not
expedient unless it edifies, (that is, builds up,
strengthens, promotes spiritual growth and
development of ourselves and others).
5. 1 Corinthians 10:31 teaches that a thing is not
expedient unless it glorifies God.
6. 1 Corinthians 10:27-32 teaches that a thing is not
expedient if it “offends” or “leads others to sin”.
a. This involves non-believers. Verse 27
b. 1 Corinthians 8:11-13 teaches the same regarding
causing a brother to sin.
c. In both instances individual conscience is
involved.
(1) There is nothing to indicate that this
involves or applies to congregational
action.
(2) It this applied to congregational action
then any and every person who comes up with
a wild idea could kill the effective work of
the church and the oversight of the elders
while they insisted that their conscience
had to be respected.
III. There are two kinds of Authority – General and
Specific.
1. General Authority is that which pertains to, or
is applicable to, each and all of a class, kind
or order; as a general law – not specific. It
included anything, method, or means of execution
that comes within the class or order of that
authorized.
2. Specific Authority is that which is precisely
formulated or restricted; specifying, explicit;
as a specific statement. It excludes
everything, method or means of execution in the
same order or class which is not particularly
specified in that which is authorized.
3. Many specific commands are both specific and
generic.
4. Maurice Barnett’s illustration of Generic and
Specific from the August 1982 issue of Torch
Magazine, page 14.
A. Let’s look at some illustrations:
1. Genesis 6:13-14 – God said to Noah… “Make thee
an ark of gopher wood.”
a. This specifies the kind of wood.
b. Excludes all other kind of wood (Pine,
Poplar, Oak, Cedar, Hickory, etc.)
c. Other things specified – Length – breadth –
height – one window – one door in the side –
covered with pitch within and without –
three stories.
d. Expedient – Place to build the ark – Number
of rooms within the ark – tools to be used,
hammers, saws, adzes, etc. Noah could have
fastened the timbers together with wooden
pins, by notching, dovetailing, etc.
(1) These are not necessarily non-essentials
as they are often referred to.
(2) Noah did have to have a place to build
the ark, were rooms to be made, he did
have to have tools, etc.,
(3) But these are things in which Noah had a
choice, in that they were not specified.
(4) These were things necessary to expedite
the carrying out of the command to build
the ark. Hence, the realm of
“expediency”.
e. If Noah had added a fourth story or made only
two, he would have gone beyond, or else
diminished from God’s command.
f. If he had used Oak instead of gopher wood,
he would have substituted something not
commanded.
g. Had he put the door in the end rather than
the side, he would have altered or changed a
specific detail of the pattern.
h. From this it should become obvious that an
expedient can be only a way, method, or
something used to facilitate or help carry
out an authorized command.
i. It cannot alter or change the nature of the
thing authorized.
2. Deuteronomy 21:4 – The Elders of a city were to
take an heifer, which hath not been wrought
with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;
a. In this instance the Elders could take a
heifer of one year, two years, three years,
etc., as long as it had never worked.
b. They could take a heifer of any color,
white, black, red, black and white, brindle,
etc.
c. They would still be doing what God commanded.
3. Numbers 19:2 – “This is the ordinance of the law
which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak
unto the children of Israel, that they bring a
red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish,
and upon which never came yoke:”
a. The difference between this command and the
last is obvious.
b. Now they cannot bring a white heifer. Or
black, or brindle. Now the heifer has to be
a red heifer.
c. Also added is that it is to be without spot
or blemish.
4. Hebrews 10:25 – Command to Assemble to worship.
a. Come together in one place. 1 Corinthians
14:23, 26; 11:20, 33.
b. Inherent in the command to Assemble is a
“Place” or a facility to accommodate the
coming together.
c. But the place or facility is not specified.
d. Brethren have to choose whether they will
build and provide a meeting house suited for
the purpose, assemble out by the Riverside
under a brush arbor, assemble in a third
story loft, or make other arrangements.
(1) These are expedients in carrying out the
command to assemble, but they do not
change the nature of the worship.
(2) I have had preachers say to me, “We don’t
have authority for the church building.”
(3) When I hear statements like this I know
that they have little or no concept of
or understanding of How to Establish
Bible Authority.
e. Other things not specified and left to the
discretion of the Saints:
(1) Time of assemblies – Morning, Afternoon,
Evening.
(2) Such Expedients as seats, lights, heat,
air-conditioning, rest rooms, water
fountain, etc.
(3) In such matters the church has a choice
to decide what is best for all concerned.
(4) They are not changing the nature of the
assembling in anyway.
5. Matthew 28:19-20 – Teach – Observe All Things
a. The Method of teaching is not specified.
b. Thus we can teach publicly, or privately or
in classes.
c. We can teach on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,
etc.
d. We can teach orally, or in writing; Radio;
T.V.; or even the telephone.
e. We can use the blackboard, charts, slides,
overhead projection, etc.
f. We are still simply obeying the command to
teach.
6. Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15 – Go – Preach the
Gospel.
a. But the means of going is not specified.
b. A preacher can walk; ride a horse, bicycle,
motorcycle, train, automobile, but etc.; He
may go by boat, or by airplane.
c. He is simply carrying out the command to go.
7. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 – Giving is Authorized
a. Day is specified.
b. Brethren may get up and bring their
contribution down to the front as I have seen
done and have known of some contending had to
be done.
c. Or brethren may determine, as most all have
done, that it is more orderly and better to
pass a basket or plate. Or even pass a hat.
d. In either instance they are simply obeying
the command to give.
8. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16 – Commanded to
Baptize Those Who Are Taught And Who Believe.
a. But it doesn’t specify the place.
b. It doesn’t specify whether a lake, river,
pond, or baptistery, etc.
c. It doesn’t specify whether running water, or
still.
d. It doesn’t specify the position – whether
backward, forward, sidewise, or prostrate.
e. Hence, we can choose the most expedient place
or position to carry out the command to
baptize.
f. To Baptize infants who can neither be taught
nor believe would violate the command.
9. Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16 – We Are
Commanded to Sing Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual
Songs.
a. The command to sing is both specific and
generic.
b. Sing specifies Vocal Music. – It therefore of
necessity excludes any other kind of music,
such as Mechanical Instrumental Music.
(1) To use Mechanical Instruments of Music is
to change the nature of the thing done.
(2) It is to add to God’s Command.
c. Sing Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
limits the kind of songs we can sing.
(1) For example we would violate the command
to try to use “rock and roll” songs in
the worship.
d. Yet the command is generic because of the
many options still left.
(1) Whether to have a song leader, or who is
to lead; the number of songs; whether to
sing four part harmony and if so, whether
to sing soprano, alto, bass, tenor; etc.
(2) The order of songs.
(3) These are all choices which we are to
make. These are the areas of expediency.
e. Inherent in the command to sing is pitch.
(1) We cannot sing without pitch. It may not
be the right pitch. It may be high or
low, even off key, but we still have
pitch.
(2) Although pitch inheres in the command to
sing, we are not told how to obtain the
pitch.
(3) We may obtain the pitch from memory, a
pitch pipe, or a tuning fork (pitch
fork?).
(4) Regardless which of these methods are
used to obtain the pitch, we are still
obeying the command to sing.
(5) If we sing and play a mechanical
instrument of music we have added another
kind of music which God has not
authorized.
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