____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ October 6, 1991 ____________________________________________________ Expedients by Tom Edwards EXPEDIENT OR SPECIFIC COMMAND? In our modern vernacular, an ``expedient'' has been expressed as simply ``a means to an end''; but, like many Bible concepts, this must be viewed more closely in the light of God's word for an accurate definition as to how it pertains to spiritual matters. This we will do in today's bulletin. First of all, under what category (in the realm of God's authority) would you list the ``gopher wood'' that God told Noah to use in building the ark? Would this fall under the heading of an expedient? or does it belong to a different classification? Actually, this is an easy one, for since God's instruction to Noah, concerning the type of wood he was to use, was a ``specific command'' that would automatically exclude the use of any other type of wood and, therefore, it could not be considered an expedient. This is because Noah did not have the liberty to use any other variety of wood than the one the Lord designated. If God, however, had told Noah to build an ark without indicating the sort of wood that was to be used, then whatever type Noah selected -- whether it be hickory, walnut, cypress, or pine, etc. -- would have been acceptable; and we would then be able to place this under the heading of an expedient. This would be true because any of the various woods that Noah would choose could serve to help accomplish God's command to construct the ark; and an expedient is something that hasn't been specifically commanded, such as a particular method, but can be lawfully carried out in various ways while striving to fulfill a commandment of the Lord. The tools Noah used were also expedients. Apparently, the Lord never instructed him concerning what precise implements he was to use. Noah, therefore, had the right to make his own selection in order to use that which he thought best. AN EXPEDIENT MUST BE LAWFUL Though a secular concept of expedient is simply ``anything that brings about a desired result,'' the Bible shows that expedients used in the realm of spiritual matters MUST BE LAWFUL. In other words, they need to be within the parameters of God's authority. Noah certainly would not have had the right to just go out and steal his neighbor's saw or hammer in order to use it for the obeying of God's directive. Nor would he have been permitted to just rip some wood off the back of his neighbor's home to use for the ark. Obviously, that old clich‚ that ``the end justifies the means'' often, in our time, pertains to a means that is not justified; and the same would have been true for Noah. After the collapse of the United Kingdom, Jeroboam had set up places of worship in Dan and Bethel so that the children of Israel would not have to return all the way to Jerusalem in order to worship; but, though this was expedient in the sense of being helpful, can we say it was lawful? The Bible declares concerning this very thing that it ``became a sin'' (1 Kings 12:30). In another example, Saul once thought that he could expedite matters by offering the sacrifice himself instead of waiting for the priest (and prophet) Samuel (1 Sam. 13:8-14). As a consequence, his kingdom would not continue, and his kingship would be superseded by another. Even though Saul had been the king of Israel, this did not authorize him to serve as a priest in offering the sacrifices that God had ordained -- and which were to be carried out by only a priest. Unlawful expedients are, therefore, sinful. AN EXPEDIENT CANNOT BE SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SPECIFIED When God particularizes a certain thing, we have no choice but to obey or disobey. For instance, immersion (as opposed to sprinkling) is not an option; it is a must! Even without an understanding of the Greek word ``baptizo'' which denotes a ``submerging'', the meaning of such can be inferred from the Bible passages themselves. Romans 6:3,4, for example, speaks of baptism as a ``burial.'' It has also been specified as a necessary action for obtaining the remission of sins; and, therefore, it can not be viewed as a mere expedient or as ``one of many possible ways'' for obtaining the remission of sins. The bread and the fruit of the vine used in the Lord's supper are not expedients; they have been specified as the only elements that can be used in the carrying out of the Lord's command to observe the communion. I have heard that some people have actually substituted coke for the fruit of the vine, without apparently realizing that it was making a desecration out of the Lord's supper. Though the Lord never specifically forbade the using of coke, ice cream, steaks, or any other food commodity to be used with the Lord's supper, the fact that He already specified the two elements to be used (unleavened bread and fruit of the vine) automatically excludes the rest. The Lord, therefore, doesn't have to give a ``Thou shalt not'' for everything that one shouldn't do; if He specifies the thing that must be done, and the method or means, then that in itself will forbid the rest. Can you even begin to imagine how long the Bible would have to be if this were not so? The Lord would have to say ``and thou shalt not use cake, ice cream, broccoli, asparagus, peppermints, hamburgers, green beans...strawberry shortcake, pizzas, fried chicken, lasagne, spaghetti...potatoes, carrots, apples, etc., for every element that could not be used in the Lord's supper. This principle would apply also to every command in the New Testament as well and not just the communion. Singing spiritual songs (as opposed to playing instruments in the worship) is not an expedient; it is a specific command. The only instruction God gives in the New Testament for this Gospel dispensation when it comes to the matter of music in the church is vocal music, singing a cappella style. If God, however, simply said ``make music unto Me,'' this could be carried out in various ways: singing, playing an instrument, or singing with an instrument. Any method we would choose would then be an expedient; but because God has limited it to just a cappella music, singing without instrumental music is, therefore, not an expedient -- it is a command of God. Some people live today as if church attendance is only a mere expedient and not really necessary at all. Some of these feel as if they could simply stay at home and watch a religious broadcast as an alternative, and this would be just as acceptable to the Lord. Hebrews 10:24-27, however, warns against the forsaking of ourselves together as is the habit of some: ''...For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.'' We can not add to nor take away from that which God has specified; but this is not so with expedients -- with these we have options. Nothing, therefore, in which God has specifically shown -- or commanded how to fulfill -- can be considered an expedient, for an expedient pertains to only those things that are 1) lawful and 2) can be used to carry out that which God has commanded -- or shown to be that which we must observe today -- in areas where He has not specified the means or the methods. Song books, song leaders, a pitch pipe, a place to meet, pews or chairs, lights, etc., can all be used to fulfill God's command to assemble and worship and are, therefore, expedients. Nowhere did God specify the using of chairs instead of pews or using pews instead of chairs. The seating arrangement falls within the realm of expediency, and can be fulfilled in various ways in order to complete the command to assemble. AN EXPEDIENT SHOULD PROMOTE EDIFICATION In matters of personal choice (personal conviction, human judgment, etc.), if a practice causes strife and division, it should not be pressed -- for it would then serve to only tear down the church rather than to build up (edify) the brethren. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, ''...Let all things be done for edification'' (1 Cor. 14:26). Paul knew that even in the realm of those things which were not wrong in themselves, not everything would be expedient or helpful (1 Cor. 10:23,24); and we should, therefore, ''...pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another'' (1 Cor. 14:2). AN EXPEDIENT MUST NOT OFFEND This rule only applies in matters of expediency, where God has not specified -- not in matters of faith, where He has. To refrain, therefore, from teaching the mode and purpose of baptism, to cease taking the Lord's supper, or to quit teaching and practicing any other Bible principle -- simply because some people just don't accept what God's word teaches about it -- would be wrong. We must be willing, however, to sacrifice personal liberty rather than lead a brother to sin by causing him to violate his conscience. This is seen both in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8. We must be able to forgo our rights in non-essential matters rather than cause another who is weak in the faith to stumble. Paul urged the brethren to ``Give no offense, either to the Jews or the Greeks or to the church of God'' (1 Cor. 10:32). In summation, an expedient in spiritual matters must be 1) lawful, 2) not something that has already been specified by God; 3) something that serves to promote edification, and 4) that which doesn't offend another in the sense of causing that one to sin. May we each re-examine our beliefs and practices and strive to not make expedients matters of faith -- and matters of faith expedients. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________