A Thoughtless Expedient
TEXT
: 1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23INTRODUCTION
: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!
C. REMEMBER, THE END DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS. DAVID AND UZZAH FORGOT. WE OCCASIONALLY DO TO.
