Have you ever noticed the paradox in the sin of expediency, which was turned into a blessing for all who would hear, see and believe? The sin of expediency is one of function, it serves the purpose of Man. So, not only will we throw ourselves under the bus for the church, but there are those in the church who expect such behavior of it\’s members.
\”God\’s sense of order is always earthed in relationships; therefore, it constantly adjusts to people as they grow, change and become more of who they are in Christ. Whereas, order in a functional paradigm never adjusts to people. It remains static and expects people to adapt to it. When the system is more important than the individual, then we become a Pharisee and are guilty of the sin of expedience; the individual should suffer for the whole … {In the church} a box has been created that captures people instead of captivating them. We create rules of behavior to keep people in the confines of what we determine is decent and in order. The problem is that our sense of order comes out of a functional paradigm that is cemented in the need for leaders to possess, acquire, and control. This is eros love – love with a hook, love that uses people but does not fulfill them. The box becomes the coffin of their dreams and aspirations.\” (Graham Cooke)
While I\’m aware that scripture never states that it was expedient for the Christ to die for the sins of the world, especially as taken within the context of some definitions of expedient, to suggest that the death of the Messiah was without merit and purpose is blasphemous. Thus to me, the sliver of the paradox in the crucifixion is that while on one hand it was the sin of expediency to the ruling class of the Jews, it was a necessary step towards the salvation of Man; the curse of Man turned into the blessing of God:
Now He said to them, \”These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.\” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, \”Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.\” (Luke 24:44-49)
Jesus answered and said to him, \”Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.\” (John 3:3)
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
“You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.\”
A Recovering Legalist 