TEXT:  1 Cor. 6:12;  10:23

INTRODUCTION:

A.      WHAT IS AN EXPEDIENT?

          1.       “Useful for effecting a desired result … the means to an end.” – Webster.

          2.       That which expedites.

B.      MANY COMMON PRACTICES OF THE LOCAL CONGREGATION ARE

          JUSTIFIED ON THE BASIS OF BEING AN EXPEDIENT.

          (Buildings and classrooms, songbooks, projectors, baptistries, etc.)

C.      BEFORE WE IMPLEMENT A PRACTICE AS AN EXPEDIENT, WE MUST BE

          SURE THAT IT IS LAWFUL (2 John 9-11;  2 Tim. 2:5).

          1.       What sets the Lord’s church apart from the denominations is not so much the

                   differences we have, but our attitude toward the Scriptures

                   (1 Cor. 4:16;  1 Pet. 4:11).

          2.       We dare not fellowship, much less partake in, the evil in others

                   (Eph. 5:11;  2 John 9-11;  Rom. 16:17-18).

I.      DAVID’S NEW CART IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN UNLAWFUL

        EXPEDIENT (1 Chron. 13, 15:1-3).

A.      THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF REBELLION – ONLY THOUGHTLESS

          IGNORANCE (13:12).

B.      WHEN DAVID MADE A PLACE FOR THE ARK, HE KNEW HOW IT SHOULD

          BE CARRIED – IN RETROSPECT HE COULD SEE HIS ERROR (15:1-3).

C.      DAVID ATTRIBUTES UZZAH’S DEATH TO THEIR DISOBEDIENCE (15:13).

D.      WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE?

          1.       Study first!

          2.       Decide on the basis of God’s will.

          3.       Then if there is room for an expedient …

E.      WHAT ABOUT US?

II.     THE FOLLY OF UNLAWFUL EXPEDIENTS AND THEIR

        LASTING EFFECTS CAN BE SEEN IN JEREBOAM’S

        REBELLION.

A.      JEREBOAM JUSTIFIED HIS SIN ON THE BASIS OF EXPEDIENCE

          (1 Kings 12:28).

B.      UNTIL JESUS CAME CONFUSION EXISTED AMONG THOSE WHO WENT

          UP AND THEIR CHILDREN (John 4:20-22).

C.      WE DARE NOT INVOLVE OURSELVES IN A PRACTICE ON THE BASIS OF

          EXPEDIENCE UNTIL WE ARE SURE IT IS LAWFUL BECAUSE OF THE

          EFFECT IT WILL HAVE ON THE CHURCH AND OUR SOULS.

III.    MANY PRACTICES OF THE CHURCHES TODAY WERE BEGUN

        BEFORE STUDY WAS DONE BECAUSE THEY WERE

        EXPEDIENT.  LATER WHEN CHALLENGED, MEN FOUND

        THEMSELVES DEFENDING THEIR SIN RATHER THAN

        SEEKING THE TRUTH FROM THE BIBLE.

Ie. Social programs, recreation, education, improper organization, members stepping beyond Bible assigned roles, unauthorized worship, etc.

IV.   JESUS DEALS WITH THIS PROBLEM AMONG THE PHARISEES

        (Matt 7:21-23).

A.      THEY WERE DOING GOOD THINGS.

B.      THEY WEREN’T DOING WHAT GOD SAID (Matt. 15:6-9, 13-14).

V.    SOME OBJECTIONS CONSIDERED:

A.      YOU’RE BEING TOO PICKY (Matt. 16:26;  Gal. 1:6-9).

B.      GOD WON’T CONDEMN IGNORANCE (Acts 17:30;  Titus 2:11-12).

C.      “BUT THERE’S NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT!”

          1.       Then we should do it wrong?  No!

          2.       Maybe what we are trying to do is not what God wants.

CONCLUSION:

A.      BEFORE WE GET INVOLVED, STUDY, SEE IF WE ARE RIGHT OR WRONG.

B.      IF WE FIND OURSELVES ALREADY IN AN UNSCRIPTURAL PRACTICE,

STOP!

          1.       Gideon (Judges 6), casting down the altars.

          2.       The young prophet (1 Kings 13) cried out against Jereboam’s altar.

          3.       Lot left the evil of Sodom.

C.      REMEMBER, THE END DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS.  DAVID AND

          UZZAH FORGOT.  WE OCCASIONALLY DO TO.