Authority by Expediency
It is in order at this point to introduce the two levels of authority; Specific Authority and Generic Authority. Specific Authority is that authority where an act is commanded and the means of obeying the command is specified. Human choices are therefore excluded. Generic Authority is that command where an act is commanded but the method or means of obeying the command is not specified. It is in this realm that expediencies or aids are authorized.

“If God specifies the obligation, but does not specify the details with regard to how the obligation is to be met, then we are authorized to involve human judgement.” (Roy Deaver, 1997)

Noah was commanded to build an ark. He would have had a choice to use the wood he prefer to use if God had not specified the wood. God specified gopher wood (Genesis 6:14) so all other woods were not specified hence exclusive. The tools were not specified hence they were authorized as aids to be used. Hence he was at liberty to use any of his choice. To use another kind of wood will be an addition and that is not authorized. For the Lord’s Supper, first day is specified, the elements unleavened bread and fruit of the vine are specified. However the hour to observe the Supper is not specified so every hour within the first day is permissible. A building is authorized as an aid to obey the command to assemble Singing is specified as command to worship God (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16). Books, song leaders etc. are aids to help us sing but none of these are a different type of music. Instrumental music is addition.

“It is a basic principle of Biblical hermeneutics that if and when and to the extent that God does specify the HOW in connection with carrying out of any obligation that the HOW becomes just as binding as the obligation itself; but if and when and to the extent that God does NOT SPECIFY THE HOW, then the manner and method are left to the realm of human judgement, the realm of expediency.” (Roy Deaver, 1997).

Additional Information
Some concerns of brethren after the delivery of the lesson on January 25 are under discussion in this section.

Concern: “How does expediency becomes authority from God? Since with authority, you can’t choose to disobey”

Reply: Expediency means choosing to obey rather than disobey. It is the means to achieving the command of God. In cases when God specifies a command but not the “how” to fulfill the command, expediency becomes the way to achieve the command. It is simply an authority from God because allows and accept it.

Concern: With the case of examples, we do have the command to “Go” preach the word and we do see examples of the disciples demonstrating the “how to go” by walking, sailing etc. We do not see them board vehicle or go by air so per approved examples, will it be sinful to go by air?

Reply: It is necessary at this point to note the sense in which examples are approved. (1) Some examples are approved in the sense that must be done – they are demanded. These facts are made clear by the consideration of the totality of the Bible (2) some examples are approved in the sense that they may be done but may be left undone. In this case, walking or sailing as approved examples in the Bible may or may not be done. One who sails has authority for sailing because there is approved example but the one who goes by air has no approved example in the Bible yet he is authorized to do so because of expediency! A careful study of those passages makes it clear that the means of going were expediencies to obeying the command. It is in order to note that it is relevant to pay attention to significant distinctions (in this case means verses principle). Whatever method they used in going was their means to achieving the command. If it was the case that airplane existed at that time, Paul would have gone by air to preach the word. The principle was to reach the world with the gospel.

Concern: The Lord’s Supper by virtue of its name “supper” should be observed in the evening so why do we observe the Lord’s “Supper” during the day not evening? Where is our authority for that?

Reply: It is simply called Lord’s Supper because it was instituted by Christ in the night when He and His disciples were eating (Matthew 26:26). It was on a Thursday when it was instituted so the question then becomes if emphasis is placed on it being Supper then why observe it on Sunday not Thursday? If it is demanded that it should be observed in the evening, then it should also be demanded that it should be observed on Thursday. But we find the disciples observing it on Sunday! Interestingly, the emphasis laid by the scripture is on the day (Acts 20:7) not the hour. The Christians met on Sundays but the hour they met is not specified so it is decided by expediency. It may be expedient for congregation A to meet in the morning of Sunday and expedient for congregation B to meet in the evening. These two congregations are authorized to do so because the command to meet on the first day of the week is obeyed. It is our duty as people of God to submit to the authority of God for whatever we do must be by the authority of Christ. We can only submit to it when we ascertain this authority.

References
Cantrell, Paul E. Establishing Biblical Authority for Our Beliefs and Practices, 2001.
Deaver, Roy C. Ascertaining Bible Authority. Biblical Notes Publishing, 1997.
Harkrider, Robert: Establishing Bible Authority