The primary characteristic of a true Christian is a willingness to truly make Jesus the Lord of his life. True respect for the Lord’s authority.

“I don’t see anything wrong with it, and besides, God didn’t tell us NOT to do it.”

Do we have liberty in our religious practices to do what we think is good, as long as God has not prohibited it? Is it authorized by the Lord? How do you KNOW the Lord is pleased with your actions?

Hebrews 7:14 “For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.”

“How can you say it is wrong?” “But this is a good thing we are doing, and we are serving God by this good work.”

1 Samuel 15:22 “Has the L ORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the L ORD ? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.”

Deuteronomy 4:2 “You shall not ADD TO the word which I am commanding you, nor TAKE AWAY from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”

1 Corinthians 4:6 “…that in us you may learn NOT TO EXCEED WHAT IS WRITTEN...”

2 John 9-11 “Anyone who goes too far and DOES NOT ABIDE IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST does not have God…”

Matthew 15:9 “But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.”

The Lord does not need to tell us NOT to do something for it to be wrong. The Lord’s silence authorizes NOTHING.

Denominational organizations Confessing sins to a priest Using “holy water” and incense Baptizing babies (sprinkling or pouring as modes of baptism) Baptizing those “already saved” Church-funded recreation Church bake sales, fund- raisers Tithing Monthly Lord’s Supper Religious holidays Instrumental music in worship Is God’s Silence Permissive? What DID God say that DOES relate to these actions?

A Common Justification for Practices Men often seek to justify a multitude of religious practices and programs by saying, “they can be practiced as expediencies” or “these are just aids.” The common concept – Anything that accomplishes what we think is beneficial in the Lord’s service is permissible.

For a Thing to Be an Aid… It must first be lawful (1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23) –An aid helps in fulfilling a command but does not change the command. –An addition changes the command. Noah and the ark (tools vs. extra boat) Lord’s Supper (trays and multiple cups vs. ham and sweet potatoes)

Expediencies (aids) have to do with “means and methods,” that is, the manner or way in which a given work is accomplished. NOTE: When you are done using the aid, all you did was fulfill the command, you did not change what God specified (you did not add to or subtract from God’s word). (song books, Lord’s Supper trays, church buildings, Bible classes, Powerpoint projectors) Aids vs. Additions

For a Thing to Be an Aid… It must first be lawful (1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23)  Unlawful things can not be expedients EVEN IF WE THINK they help in the accomplishment of the Lord’s will (the Lord is never pleased by our intentions if we are acting outside His word). - Women preachers (cf. 1 Tim. 2:12) - The ox cart (1 Chron. 13:7-10; 15:2)

1 Chronicles 13:7-10 “So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart And when they came to Chidon's threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.”

1 Chronicles 15:2 “Then David said, ‘No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.’”

For a Thing to Be an Aid… It must first be lawful (1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23)  It cannot change what God has specified -When God specifies, there is no choice for man but to obey or disobey (ex: “gopher wood”, “unblemished, one-year old, firstborn male lamb”) -Expediency involves the right of choice WITHIN what God has already specified (“general authority”) –Which log of “gopher wood”, which “unblemished, one-year old male lamb”

“Going Beyond” Is NOT Expedient Baptism (Romans 6:4) -Sprinkling and pouring are NOT expedients or aids, but rather a CHANGE (addition) to what has been specified (burial, immersion). Worship of the Church (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16) -Pianos, guitars etc. are NOT expedients or aids, but rather a CHANGE (addition) to what has been specified (making melody in the heart). Work of the Church (Eph. 4:11-16) –Recreation, food, gymnasiums, family life centers, etc. are NOT expedients or aids, but rather a CHANGE (addition) to what has been specified (preaching & teaching, worship, benevolence).

“Going Beyond” Is NOT Expedient Jurisdiction of Elders (Acts 14:23, 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:3)  Elders overseeing work or monies of another congregation is NOT an aid, but a CHANGE (addition) to what the Lord has specified (“shepherd the flock of God among you”). Church Supported Human Institutions  The Missionary Society is a man-made organization; it is NOT an aid but a CHANGE to what the Lord has specified (the church, 1 Tim. 3:15).  Church Benevolence for World’s Needy  Hospitals, orphan’s homes, soup kitchens may be good works, but they are not the work Christ gave to His church (Eph. 4:11-16).

Understanding aids and additions helps us answer the following questions: Addition Aid Addition Aid Aids vs. Additions – How can we say that a church gymnasium is unauthorized but a baby nursery is? – How can we say that a church kitchen is unauthorized but a water fountain is? – How can we say that a church camp is unauthorized but summer Bible classes are? – How can we say that instrumental music is unauthorized but an LCD projector is?

For a Thing to Be an Aid… It must first be lawful (1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23) It must edify (1 Cor. 10:23-33) -All things are to be done unto edification (1 Cor. 14:26) -If the practice causes division in the Lord’s body, it is wrong! (calling instrumental music an expediency does not change the problem, since it caused division!) -In contrast, a command of God must be kept even if division is the result (cf. Acts 4:18-20)

Conclusion In deciding how to conduct the work and worship of the Lord’s church, we must FIRST acknowledge that we are NOT at liberty to choose whatever we think is best or does the most good. The FIRST question we should ask of any practice or program is NOT “Will it do good?” but rather “Is it authorized by the Lord?” Expediency involves choices WITHIN the realm of the Lord’s authority. These choices must NOT change what the Lord has specified in His Word. The SECOND question we should ask is “Will it truly edify?” (will it cause division or force someone to violate their conscience?).

Will You Become A Christian? Hear The Gospel (Rom. 10:17) Believe That Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24) Repent of Your Sins (Acts 17:30) Confess That Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 8:37) Be Baptized for the Forgiveness of Sins (Acts 2:38) Live Faithfully Until You Die (Rev. 2:10)

Matthew 28: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, … teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.’” Eccl. 12:13-14 – “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

Hebrews 5:8-9 - “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered, and having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Romans 6:17-18 – “…though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

John 14:15 – “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” 1 John 2:4-5 - “The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.” 1 John 5:3 - “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.”

Colossians 3:17 - “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father…” Luke 6:46 - “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” Matt. 7:21 - “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” John 8:29 - “The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

SpecifiedExpedientNo Authority Assemble Heb 10:25; Jam 2:2; Acts 20:7 Place – rent, own, build, sit or stand; time of day; heat or cool Baptize Matt 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38 Where? Baptistry or river? Cold or warm water? Fresh or salt water? Sprinkling, pouring, babies, unbelievers, “because of” remission Sing Eph 5:19; Col 3:16 Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs Books or memory? Number of Songs? Sit or stand? Mechanical Instruments Choirs Lay By In Store 1 Cor 16:1-2; 2 Cor 9:6- 7; When? 1 st Day of Week Cash or check? In basket or hat? Before or after sermon? Raffles, chicken dinners, business enterprises investments Preaching Mark 16:15; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Tim 3:15 – Gospel When? How? Where? Pulpit, radio, TV, printed page, private, public Another doctrine, missionary society

SpecifiedExpedientNo Authority Relieve the needy Acts 2:44; 4:32-35; 11:29 Who? Needy Saints Money, food, clothing, provide facilities Drink this cup Matt 26:26-30; Luk 22:18 Cup, 1 st day of the week Morning or evening? How served? One container or many? Coffee, tea, coke, Thursday night, once a year, outside kingdom Teach Matt 28:20; 2 Tim 2:2; 4:1 The taught, the Word Arrangements – time, place, size of group, PC, projector, black board Another gospel, another organization Support of Preacher 1 Cor 9:14; 2 Cor 11:8 Support, the Laborer How it is given: Money, house, food, utilities, frequency To refuse to support, Beg to get public donations Jurisdiction of Elders Acts 20:28; 14:23 The local church How they oversee, the number, frequency of meetings, teachers used One elder, oversight of members, money, work of another church Benevolent society, orphan home, old folks home