DOES THE END JUSTIFY THE EXPEDIENT?

INTRODUCTION-- On one occasion, the Apostle Paul defended himself against the charge of holding to the premise that "the end justifies the means."

Romans 3:7-8 "But if the truth of God through my lie abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? and why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just."

Romans 5:19-6:2 "For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous. And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly: that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?"

1. The proverb that says, "The end justifies the means" is a very popular doctrine in modern religion.
   
   1. Henry Ward Beecher (a popular preacher of the Civil War era, and the father of Julia Ward Howe, who wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin) once defended the practice of infant baptism by saying, "Infant baptism is like an ox-yoke, it works."
      
   2. If we ask, "Works for what?" he might answer, "In binding men to the church of their baptism," or, "To console parents of newborns who have been deluded into believing the (false) doctrine of inherited sin."
      
2. Beecher probably didn't care whether Infant Baptism was scriptural, or not, since it accomplished the end he thought desirable.
   
   1. Following the same example, the Roman Catholic church could justify the "Spanish Inquisition" as an acceptable means to consolidate the power of the church in Spain, and rid itself of the "Christ Killers," the Jews.
      
   2. Likewise, Methodist organizational principles "work," Fund-raising (other than free-will contribution) "works," Instrumental music, when used as a draw for attendance, "works."
      
   3. These are extreme examples of the abuse of the "rule of expediency," which, if properly used, provides for lawful, though unspecified, means to implement lawful practices.
      
   4. A whole gamut of unlawful practices have been invented to accomplish desired "ends," but they are most often added by the wrong "means."
      
3. Where does the "rule of expediency" apply.
   
   1. The problem was posed by James DeForest Murch, and is echoed by many voices today. (Transparency, Murch)
      
      1. The Christian Church still uses the Missionary Society, which was a cause of division from the churches of Christ.
         
      2. Liberal churches of Christ have employed many innovations to supplement the limited information about church organization and work ("Sponsoring Churches," and "Mini-missionary Societies" in the guise of Children's homes, centralized correspondence course outlets.)
         
   2. Today, those who are practicing innovations unprecedented in the Scripture challenge us with questions like, "Where do you get your authority for having a church building?" or "Where is your authority for using a songbook?"
      
      1. This either says that they do not need authority for using innovations about which the Bible is silent, or....
         
      2. It is saying that their authority for using their innovations is the same that we use for having things about which the Bible is silent.
         
   3. The "Rule of Expediency" will answer this challenge.
      

LESSON-- Let us consider the "Rule of Expediency."

1. What is the definition of the word "expedient?" We can learn from the verses that use the word. (Transparency Expedient 1)
   
   1. Matthew 19:10 The disciples say unto him, If the case of the man is so with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.
      
   2. John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you.
      
   3. John 18:14 Now Caiaphas was he that gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
      
   4. 1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me; but I will not be brought under the power of any.
      
   5. 1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify. (In this context, compare the warning in 1 Corinthians 10:32 Give no occasions of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God: and compare 1 Corinthians 8:7-13 .....some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak. 10 For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.)
      
   6. From these passages, we learn that........ (Transparency expedient 2)
      
      1. Expedients are not specified in the Scripture.
         
      2. Expedients must implement something lawful.
         
      3. Expedients must edify.
         
      4. Expedients must not cause a brother to stumble.
         
2. Much confusion and dissension over the proper employment of expedients has troubled the church, and will continue to do so, until we learn to apply the "RULE," properly and consistently.
   
   1. Expedients are things which can be adopted lawfully, for which there is no explicit precedent in Scripture (a place where the Bible is silent).
      
   2. Historically, the reformers of the early 19th Century did not fully comprehend the wisdom of Thomas Campbell's statement in the Declaration and Address. (Transparency--Proposition #13)
      
   3. Moses E. Lard, Editor of Lard's Quarterly, after the intrusion of the controversy over the use of instruments of music in worship, which prompted a lengthy discussion of expedients, said, (Transparency--Lard),
      
   4. Robert Richardson, biographer of Alexander Campbell, was more specific, when he said, (Transparency, Richardson).
      
3. The historical controversies about expediency.
   
   1. The Bible and Missionary Societies proposed by A. Campbell in the mid-19th Century were defended as expedients.
      
      1. W. K. Pendleton, son-in-law of A. Campbell, presumed that the burden for evangelizing the world lay on the universal church.
         
         1. He based this presumption on his interpretation of Ephesians 3:8-11 "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:"
            
         2. The New Testament, however, is silent regarding any such task for the universal church, and reveals no organization for the implementation of this task.
            
         3. Therefore, Pendleton's presumption that the universal church has such a task prompted him to defend the Missionary Society as an expedient for carrying out the presumed task.
            
      2. Explicit collective authority for the spreading of the Gospel was vested in the New Testament in local churches. 1 Thessalonians 1:8 "For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything."
         
         1. Missionary Societies were not "expedient" to this system, because....
            
            1. Evangelistic work was not legally designated to the Universal church, but Missionary Societies sent and supported evangelists on behalf of the universal church, posing as extensions to implement this unassigned task.
               
            2. In contrast, it was local churches which were lawfully authorized by apostolic precedent to send and support evangelists. Philippians 1:3-5 "I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you,...for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now;" Philippians 4:15 "And ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but ye only;" 2 Corinthians 11:8 "I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you;"
               
         2. Missionary Societies therefore unlawfully duplicated and usurped the task that was assigned directly to local churches. (Remember, to be expedient, a practice must implement what is "lawful." Another organization, therefore, would be unlawful.)
            
   2. Instruments of music in the worship were also defended as "expedients."
      
      1. Following the opinion that the silence of the Scripture was permissive, the use of instrumental music was promoted as being equal in authority to songbooks.
         
      2. Robert Richardson opposed this concept, but stated the question imperfectly. (Transparency Richardson 2)
         
         1. The Scripture only says "sing," a specific kind of music that excludes playing on instruments, so a songbook is a lawful expedient for implementing this command.
            
         2. Instruments of music are never implied by the language of any lawful command or any explicit example of their use in New Testament worship, so they do not fall within the definition of lawful expedients.
            
   3. Expedients may be derived from all the forms of Authority.
      
      1. SPECIFIC COMMAND-- Songbooks are expedient to the command to sing.
         
      2. APPROVED EXAMPLE-- Unleavened bread is the choice for the Lord's Supper, though unspecified, because the supper was instituted by Jesus during the feast of unleavened bread, "the night he was betrayed."
         
      3. NECESSARY INFERENCE-- The building of a meeting house is an expedient of the command to assemble with the saints.
         

CONCLUSION-- So, there is an area beyond the silence of the Scripture where we can provide lawful, edifying, inoffensive expedients for carrying out the commandments of the Lord. Let us make certain that we follow this "rule."