Biblical Expediency
Principles of Interpretation 1 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction:
Introduction:
It is fashionable in some circles to treat expediency as some sort of “catch-all” category that justifies almost any activity.
To many people expediency apparently means doing whatever is convenient for their own purposes.
However, this is exactly why it is essential to understand biblical authority prior to any discussion of expediency.
Expediency does indeed involve a determination of the most practical way to fulfill a certain purpose.
But this is quite different from doing something solely for the sake of convenience.
There are many things that might be convenient to a particular individual and yet not be right because they fall outside the realm of God’s authority.
Expediency then is a matter of choosing the best way to fulfill what God has commanded within the limits and context of His authority.
Therefore, one must first determine whether or not an action is authorized before he can decide whether of not that action is expedient.
If God does not authorize something, then it simply cannot be expedient.
However, in some cases God has authorized an action generically so that there are several ways that the action can be carried out.
Expediency is how one determines which way to fulfill that obligation to God.
Jesus gave the great commission to His apostles (and to all Christians by implication) shortly before ascending to heaven.
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
This statement provides authority for teaching the gospel to the lost, but the very nature of the word indicates that there are several ways to “go.”
A preacher could go personally, send either CDs or DVDs, use correspondence, engage people on social media, or work in other ways over the Internet.
A individual could go on foot, by boat, on a plane, or in a car.
Expediency is a matter of exercising judgment within the parameters of what God has authorized.
God calls upon us to partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week.
7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
The best time on the first day of the week, when the entire congregation can meet together, is a matter of expediency.
God has given the elders in a local congregation the responsibility to see that the flock is fed.
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
This might be accomplished partially through Bible classes, gospel meetings, lectureships, the bulletin, home studies, or all of the above.
The question is: What will work best to produce knowledgeable Christians?
Expediency demands that we have God’s authority for what we do, but it also requires us to follow the best option available to us.
23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
Unfortunately, many people who mean well judge what is “best” according to efficiency rather than by effectiveness.
Efficiency measures the economy of the process; effectiveness measures the value of the result.
It might be efficient to employ all monies in the area of evangelism toward mass media; however, it would not be very effective.
Individual Christians talking to their friends and neighbors about their faith may not be the most efficient way to spread the good news, but it is very effective.
Congregations should not judge their work according to what generates the most publicity or by what makes the work easiest.
Congregations should judge their work—and the expediency of their decisions—according to how well they are fulfilling their mission.
Body:
Body:
Jesus, Mark 2:18-22 and expediency.
18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”
The term “expediency” has been abused by certain people who wish to justify any and every action.
I have no doubt that someone out there would argue that having the congregation gather at Cooter’s Bar and Grill would be expedient if it meant that more people would attend—even if it was to watch the Super Bowl.
On the other hand, there are also those who would deny that it is ever expedient to do anything that costs money.
For an option to be expedient it must first be authorized—given God’s stated approval through direct statement, approved account of action, or implication.
There can be no discussion of expediency until one first establishes proper authorization from God’s Word.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
However, just because something is authorized does not make it expedient.
It is authorized to buy expensive commercial time during the Super Bowl to advertise a gospel meeting; it is not expedient.
Sadly, too often people rely on “instinct” and “common sense” in determining expediency rather than applying principles.
Of course, a Christian must know what principles to apply.
But, as in so many ways, Jesus provides the guidance needed.
In Mark 2:18-22 the inspired writer records an incident that proves to be extremely helpful in establishing the principles of expediency.
An expedient action is an action that is authorized but not required.
18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus did not argue that fasting was wrong. In fact, His later comments demonstrate that He accepted the practice as authorized.
However, at the same time, He argued against His disciples doing it.
Fasting was an authorized activity, but it was not required activity.
The disciples of John and the Pharisees were attempting to require something that God did not require.
Some people who are seeking financial support can try to “guilt” people into supporting their work, acting as if the people are sinning if they do not.
There are many different works congregations can choose to support, or they could choose to put all the money at work locally.
To require some specifics beyond the God-given activities of evangelism, edification, and benevolence is to fail to understand expediency.
An expedient action is appropriate to the circumstances.
Jesus’ response to the question of fasting draws out yet another important principle.
19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.
Fasting implied sadness on some level.
Therefore, Jesus illustrated by referring to a wedding that there are times when fasting is inappropriate because it does not fit the circumstances.
Since Jesus was present upon the earth, it was a joyous time rather than a solemn occasion; therefore, fasting would not be inappropriate.
Before one can label an action or behavior as expedient, he must first demonstrate that the activity is appropriate to the circumstances.
For something to be expedient it must be the most appropriate manner in which to address the situation.
To be expedient an action must give the right impression to others.
We return to the question of fasting raised by the disciples of John and the Pharisees:
19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.
To the prior principle regarding the necessity of appropriateness, a Bible student must add the desire to give the right impression.
It would be inappropriate for Jesus’ disciples to fast while He was with them because it would give the wrong impression to people.
Unfortunately, today many people seem more concerned about pushing the envelope and fitting in than they are about giving the correct impression to people.
Could a song leader bring in a piano in order to serve as the means to determine the correct pitch for a song, as a sort of huge pitchpipe?
If he used it only for that purpose, it would be authorized.
But that does not make it expedient because it would leave the wrong impression with people—especially visitors—implying that a capella singing is a matter of preference rather than doctrine.
A current trend in some places is to adopt the posture of raising the hands during worship.
There is no question that the raising of hands in worship is authorized.
This was a well-known posture for prayer during the first century that was accepted.
8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
However, during the first century, the raising of hands during worship did not carry the same connotations as it does today.
In the first century and before it was simply a posture of reverence; today it carries charismatic connotations.
Therefore, raising the hands during worship is inexpedient behavior today because it implies a charismatic belief system built around emotionalism rather than God’s Word.
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
Paul taught that if an action gave an impression that would cause others to stumble, even though the action itself was authorized, it should be avoided if other authorized possibilities exist.
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Sadly, many who advocate such a prayer posture today know full well its connotations and implications and recommend it in order to blur the distinctions between charismatic evangelicalism and the Lord’s church.
To be expedient an action must fulfill its intended purpose.
A few years ago some began misinterpreting Mark 2:22 trying to justify unscriptural adaptations to culture.
They missed the fundamental pint that Jesus was referring to questions of expediency rather than authority, using the matter of fating as the vehicle.
21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”
In a further development on the theme of appropriateness, Jesus used two illustrations to show that fasting, which was a withdrawal from other activity in order to mourn or give attention to spiritual concerns, was inappropriate for His disciples since it would take them away from their learning from Him.
The disciples of John and the Pharisees had allowed the external manifestation to dominate rather than its purpose.
If the purpose of a particular program is to reach the lost but you have had no Bible studies in a two-year period, the program is likely inexpedient.
Congregations often enjoy the illusion of activity while actually spending time on entrenched activities for which the member themselves cannot recall the original purpose.
Also, some have argued that a freer translation makes the Bible easier to understand for them, but if it communicates the wrong message in an easy way, it does not promote a better understanding of the Bible at all!
While some make these choices out of ignorance, others actively promote translations that make Bible reading easier while making Bible study harder.
If the purpose is to understand God’s message (as it should be), then it must begin with as accurate a translation of God’s message as is possible that can also be read with a measure of understanding (otherwise we would have to force people to learn Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, which would make the translation question irrelevant).
Questions of expediency do not receive the attention they deserve.
People have been taught that authority is the Bible’s arena, while expediency is the elders’ arena, without realizing that elders have the responsibility to see that the Bible is taught accurately and followed exactly and that the Bible provides guidance in matters of expediency as well as in matters of authority.
More elders need to ask themselves, “Why are we doing this?” and “ Is there a better way?” instead of mindlessly continuing in the pattern of the past without any evaluation of the quality of that pattern.
Liberal change agents should not be given a free pass to call everything they do “matters of expediency” without first proving that it is authorized.
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
And then demonstrating that it is also expedient.
People who cannot apply principles cannot practice true Christianity.
A pertinent question.