Typical areas
of liberty needing discretion:
|
Grooming:
hair, clothes, make up, jewelry, tattoos
Entertainment:
TV, radio, music, films, electronic games
Recreation:
sports, hobbies, clubs, performing arts, dancing
Education:
public, private, home school, college
|
Relationships:
friends, organizations, marriage, courtship
Possessions:
homes, cars, tools, equipment, appliances
Occupations:
career, parenthood, investments
Fellowship:
church style, youth group, Sunday school |
Rom
14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on
disputable matters.
Here are some
questions we can ask to determine if possible activities,
experiences, or relationships are wise and pleasing to God:
1. We must
pray and ask God for wisdom.
Jam1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives
generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to
him.
> Fear of
hardship must not determine your decision. Hardships mature us.
Heb
2:10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for
whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of
their salvation perfect [mature] through suffering.
Heb
5:8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he
suffered
2
Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind.
2. Does the
Bible specifically prohibit or command it to New Testament
Christians? If not, does it give related principles that will help
make a decision?
a. God gave us
His Word as our standard
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for
life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his
own glory and goodness.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
b. Is this
issue addressed directly by the apostles in their teaching?
2 Th 2:15 So then, brothers, stand
firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether
by word of mouth or by letter.
2 Th 3:6 In the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother
who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you
received from us.
1 Cor 11:2 I praise you for
remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings,
just as I passed them on to you.
Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to
the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can
encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
(Gal 1:8-9; 1 Cor 15:2; 2 Tim 1:13)
c. Was this an area of
liberty for the New Testament church?
1 Cor 11:1 Follow my example,
as I follow the example of Christ. 2 I praise you for remembering
me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I
passed them on to you.
1 Cor 4:17 For this reason I am
sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the
Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus,
which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
Phil 3:17 Join with others in
following my example, brothers, and take note of those who
live according to the pattern we gave you.
3. How will
this choice affect us -- will it risk our moral or spiritual health
in any way? Which will this feed -- our flesh or our
spirit? In what way will it benefit us?
Galatians 6:8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from
that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the
Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Prov 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion
of fools suffers harm.
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not
provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. (KJV)
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue
righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on
the Lord out of a pure heart.
4. Can this
become habit-forming, or give anything mastery over us? ie: Drugs,
sex, smoking, music, food, TV, video games, popularity, etc
2 Pet 2:19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are
slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered
him.
1 Cor 6:12 "Everything is permissible for me"-- but not everything
is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"-- but I will not
be mastered by anything. (also 1 Cor 10:23)
5. Does the
choice draw attention to us? Is our motive to glorify God? Will He
receive glory because of it?
1
Timothy 2:9-10 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency
and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive
clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess
to worship God.
1
Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.
Mat
6:5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they
love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to
be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their
reward in full.
6. Will the
exercise of our liberty cause the lost to perceive us as sinning?
Will it cause us to lose the trust of those we want to win to
Christ?
1 Corinthians 9:22-23 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I
have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I
might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I
may share in its blessings.
7. Is this
activity more important than others? If our
"liberty" tempts them to violate their consciences, or causes them
to not listen to us, are we willing to sacrifice it for them?
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Romans 14:19-21 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads
to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of
God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a
man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is
better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that
will cause your brother to fall.
Romans 15:1-3 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of
the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his
neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not
please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who
insult you have fallen on me."
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you
do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to
stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God-- 33 even as I
try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own
good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
8. Does our
(biblically educated) conscience tell us God is happy about our
decision? Are we confident He is there with us, encouraging us in
this?
Ephesians 5:10 and find out what pleases the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:9 So we make it our goal to please
him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
Colossians 1:10 And we pray this in order that you
may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way:
bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Finally, brothers, we
instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you
are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this
more and more.
(Also, 1 Thes 2:4; Col 3:20; 1 Tim 2:3; 2 Tim 2:4; Heb 11:6)
9. How will
this decision impact my family? Will this activity keep me from
fulfilling my responsibilities at home?
Deuteronomy 5:16 "Honor your father and your
mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live
long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God
is giving you.
1 Tim 5:8 If anyone does not provide for his
relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied
the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Luke 11:11-13 "Which of you fathers, if your son
asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for
an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are
evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more
will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask
him!"
a. Married men
and women have a duty to the family before ministry to the church.
1 Cor 7:33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this
world--how he can please his wife--34 and his interests are
divided.
b. Teenage
sons and daughters have a duty to their family, but are in their
season of ministry
1 Cor 7:32 I would like you to be free from
concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs--how
he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the
affairs of this world--how he can please his wife--34 and his
interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned
about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in
both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the
affairs of this world--how she can please her husband. 35 I am
saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may
live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
10. Does the
activity take excessive time or money to do? Will the investment of
time or money return important benefit?
How significantly
does it contribute to our life goals? How will this decision
prepare us for our future? ie: career, husband/father, wife/mother,
ministry, etc. Might this choice require time and energy, and do
little to prepare us for our present or future responsibilities?
1
Timothy 2:9-10 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency
and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive
clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess
to worship God.
Mat 6:19 "Do not store up for
yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and
where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
John 6:27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that
endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him
God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
1
Cor 7:29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now
on those who have wives should live as if they had none… those who
use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this
world in its present form is passing away.
Col
3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts
on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God 2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Titus 2:4-5 Then they can train the younger women to love their
husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy
at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no
one will malign the word of God.
11. What
guidance do our spiritual leaders (parents, husband, elders, etc.)
offer about this? If we trust God is using them in our lives, does
our action and attitude reflect that?
Deuteronomy 5:16 "Honor your father and your
mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live
long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God
is giving you.
Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father, who gave you
life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Ephesians 6:1-2 Children, obey your parents in the
Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"--which is
the first commandment with a promise.
Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in
everything, for this pleases the Lord. (See also 1 Samuel 3:13;
Joshua 24:15; Acts 16:15, 33; 1 Tim 3:4-5)
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