Expediency

When we talk about Biblical authority, sooner or later we arrive at the subject of expediency, which refers to finding an appropriate way to do what God has commanded us to do. For example, Christians are to meet each Lord’s day for worship (Acts 20:7; Heb 10:25). But the Scriptures do not specify what time of day to meet or the location where we might assemble. We could meet in a pasture, an amphitheater, or anywhere else outside. If we think we will need shelter, we can borrow someone else’s building, rent one, or buy one. All of these are legitimate places in which to meet. They all fulfill the commandment. The choices we make constitute an expedient way of doing what God said. In the same podcast under review in articles of January 1st and January 8th (2023), Wes McAdams said:

In Restoration Movement churches, we, we often hold this principle and say, "Only what’s authorized. We’re gonna speak where Scripture speaks; we’re gonna be silent where Scripture is silent." But, unnnh, what about things like about church buildings? What about things like, and so we’ve filled in the blank, and said, "Well, we kind of have to have something because we don’t have the means by which to accomplish what Scripture tells us to accomplish unless we do something." "Go into all the world and preach the gospel." Well, how do you get there? Okay, planes and cars and boats and whatever. Are all of those things "authorized" even though Scripture doesn’t speak to those things? We’ll, then we’ve kind of created a loophole for ourselves to kind of do what we wanted to do. We’ll, We’ll just call that an expedient. We’ll just call that the means by which we’re accomplishing what Scripture tells us to do.

First of all, any legitimate mode of transportation (one would not want to be a horse thief) is an expedient way of fulfilling the commandment. We did not invent something to suit our purposes; we did not create loopholes. God gave us intelligence to reason things out. God allows freedom when He does not specify details. Some brethren insist on only one loaf and one cup for communion, which may be fine for fifty people. But in Jerusalem, on the Day of Pentecost, 3,000 obeyed the gospel (Acts 2:41). How big was the one cup they all drank out of? How big was the oven the communion loaf was baked in? Brethren solved that problem with some kind of expedient, but we don’t know what it was. We don’t need to know; we are free to determine what is the best way for us to serve the elements representing Jesus’ body and blood. It is highly objectionable for someone to insinuate we are trying get around Biblical authority when all we are doing is sincerely trying to be obedient.