Aids, Additions, & Examples

The Law Of Expediency

A. An expediency is a “means of achieving a particular end” (Webster’s Dictionary).

1.In order to accomplish general commands by God in which things are not specified, we are at liberty to determine the appropriate means by which we fulfill the commands.

B. First, the expedient must be lawful -

1.This is not a blanket statement that says absolutely everything and anything is OK to practice.

2.There are things that are commanded of God and to not do them is sin - Jms 4:17

3.There are clearly things in which God prohibits us from doing and if we are involved in them then we commit sin -

4.Then, there are some things that are permitted, but not required, which we are at liberty to choose -

5.Therefore, in order for something to be an expedient it must be lawful. If the expedient is lawful then it is OK to do. However, if it is not lawful it ceases to be an expedient and becomes an addition and a change to the command. It is wrong to argue that a practice is an expedient if it is not first lawful. This begs the question (assuming the expedient is acceptable) and puts the cart before the horse.

6.An expediency cannot change a command, if so, then it becomes an addition or a change.

C. Secondly, the expedient cannot be specified.

1.If a command was specific then it only authorizes what is specified at the exclusion of anything else.

D. Thirdly, the expedient must edify - ;

E.Fourthly, it must not cause a brother to stumble - ;

F. The argument of expediency in relation to support colleges, the orphan’s home, missionary society, and the sponsoring church arrangement out of the church treasury.

1.Some argued that the orphan’s home was an expedient to fulfilling the church’s mission to be benevolent.

2.Some argued the sponsoring church arrangement was expedient to fulfilling the command of edifying the brethren (“In Search Of The Lord’s Way” with Mack Lyon, “The Herald Of Truth” radio program)

3.As we showed earlier, for something to be an expedient then it first must be lawful. The question that must be answered: is the sponsoring church arrangement and the church supporting orphan’s homes/colleges out of the church treasury lawful? If it is lawful, then those means and methods are indeed expediencies. However, if they are not lawful practices then they cease to be expedient.

4.“Before arguing the ‘law of expediency’ for putting colleges in the budgets of the churches, let the authority be cited for the church to support human organizations and institutions, working through man-made boards, showing such to be lawful, and it will then be time enough to discuss whether it is expedient or not.” Foy E. Wallace, Jr., Torch, August 1950, pp 8-11

G. Expediencies or Additions?

1.Command: Sing; Expedient: Pitch pipes, Leader, Songbooks, Four part harmony; Addition: Instruments

2.Command: Assemble; Expedient: Church building, carpet, lights, etc.; Addition: Fellowship Halls

3.Command: Baptize; Expedient: Baptistery, lake, pond, swimming pool, etc.; Addition: Sprinkling

4.Command: Edify; Expedient: Classes, Sunday night service, Wednesday night service, etc.; Addition: Fellowship Halls

Any of these expediencies would be unlawful if the command did not first exist.