June 15, 2003, Vol.3, No.12.
Two new articles every two weeks.
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us.
THIS ISSUE: "Discerning
Good and Evil" (see below)
and "Should my Children
be Baptized?"
Discerning Good and
Evil
by Keith Sharp
If you were the witness to a crime and were called upon to
identify the criminal from among suspects in a line-up, how would
you pick out the real culprit? Wouldn't you look for identifying
features, such as sex, height, weight, race, skin color, and
hair color? By doing this you hopefully could identify the criminal.
An important part of our maturing as Christians is learning
to distinguish between right and wrong (Hebrews 5:12-14). Sin
has characteristics by which we can identify it. How can we "discern
(distinguish - KS) both good and evil"?
Love God and Love Your Neighbor
When the Pharisees tested Jesus by asking Him what the greatest
commandment of the law was, the Master responded:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first
and great commandment." (Matthew 22:34-38)
Our relationship of first importance and our foremost obligation
is to God. The Lord then added:
"And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor
as yourself, On these two commandments hang all the Law and the
Prophets." (verses 39-40)
We also have the responsibility to treat other people in the
right way.
Faith and Opinion
In both these relationships, there are two realms. First,
there is the realm of faith, those matters about which God has
expressed His will. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans
10:17).
Then there are activities that are liberties, matters of opinion,
things about which God has not given law and thus has given us
the freedom to decide for ourselves what is best. For example,
we each have the liberty to decide what foods we eat (1 Corinthians
8:8-9). In the realm of opinion, God has given us principles
to help us decide what course of action is most profitable spiritually.
But because God has not demanded a certain action in these matters,
none of us should judge each other about such things (Romans
14:3).
Three Principles
In relationship both to God and man there are three principles
that determine what we should do. These principles also determine
if a practice is a matter of faith or of opinion. Each principle
may be posed as a question.
First, is it authorized? Jesus Christ has all authority (Matthew
28:18). "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
Him." (Colossians 3:17). To do something in His name is
to do it by His authority. In every relationship both our words
and our acts are governed by Jesus. We must have permission from
Him to speak or act. To act without His authority is to cut ourselves
off from Him and the Father (2 John 9).
Permission to act may be given either specifically or in a
general way. We are specifically authorized to sing in worship
to God (Ephesians 5:18-19). Since the Lord commands us to take
the gospel to the whole world (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20),
and He did not specify how we are to go, we have general permission
to buy a passport and to fly on an airplane.
We should ask, Is it my duty? (James 4:17) For example, it
is our duty to assemble faithfully with other Christians to worship
(Hebrews 10:24-25). Children are obligated to obey and honor
their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3).
Duties also may be specifically or generally imposed. Wives
are specifically commanded to submit to their husbands (Ephesians
5:22-24). But the application of this duty is general. If he
says, "We must move to Texas so I can find work," her
obligation is to go because of the general duty to submit. Husbands
are specifically told to love their wives (Ephesians 5:25-31),
but cleaning the house for her when she is sick is a duty generally
imposed by the command to love her.
We must inquire, Is it forbidden? Binding the observance of
the Sabbath as a duty is condemned (Colossians 2:13-17). Sexual
relations outside a marriage which God approves is likewise condemned
(Hebrews 13:4).
The Scriptures may also forbid acts or words either specifically
or generally. Social drinking is specifically forbidden (1 Peter
4:1-3). But dancing as is commonly practiced in Western society
(Europe and the Americas) today, since it involves "lewdness"
(Ibid), i.e., "indecent bodily movements, unchaste (impure
- KS) handling of males and females" (Thayer. 79-80),
is condemned in a general way.
Three Categories
All speech and action falls into one of three categories.
It is either required by the Lord (Matthew 28:20), sinful (1
John 3:4), or a matter of opinion. The baptism of alien sinners
for the remission of sins is required (Acts 2:38). Keeping holy
days religiously, such as remembering Christmas as the birthday
of Christ, is sinful (Galatians 4:10-11). But what about keeping
days as a matter of social custom? That's a matter of opinion
or liberty, something the Lord allows but does not require (Romans
14:5).
If the Scriptures provide authority for an act but do not
command it as a duty, then it is a matter of opinion. Nothing
is helpful that is not authorized by the Lord (1 Corinthians
6:12; 10:23). Nothing that God forbids is spiritually profitable
(1 John 5:3).
Opinion
Four New Testament passages instruct us how to determine what
is spiritually most profitable in matters of opinion: Romans
14; 1 Corinthians 6:12; 8:1-13; and 10:23-33. These passages
teach us seven guidelines to determine what is the most profitable
thing to do or say in matters of opinion.
We must not lead one who is weak to violate his conscience
(Romans 14:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:9-13; 10:25-33). I celebrate
Christmas as a social holiday, but I do not invite someone to
such festivities if he lets me know that this violates his conscience.
We must strive to do things that lead to peace and edification
(Romans 14:19). If my celebrating Christmas as a social holiday
led to disruption and lack of peace in the congregation, I would
quit it.
One should not violate his own conscience (Romans 14:23).
Those people who think it is wrong to celebrate Christmas socially
should not do so.
We should try to please others rather than ourselves (Romans
15:1-3). I might be in favor of studying Daniel next in Bible
class, but I should willingly defer to others who might strongly
prefer a study of Acts.
We must not be enslaved to anything (1 Corinthians 6:12).
Smoking is certainly an enslaving habit, and drinking coffee,
tea, or cola drinks can become one. I must be able and willing
to give up any habitual practice for the good of others.
We should do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Women Christians living in a predominantly Muslim society should
cover their heads so they don't cause people to speak evil of
the way of Christ. Among Mormons, we should give up drinking
coffee, tea, and cola drinks.
We should always seek the salvation of others (1 Corinthians
10:33). I may not like the way my neighbor keeps his yard, but
I should try to get along with him as much as possible in hope
of leading him to Christ.
Conclusion
We have the solemn duty to avoid sin (1 Corinthians 15:34).
If we will learn, understand
and apply the principles of this lesson we will know both how
to distinguish between right and wrong and how to tell what is
most helpful in the realm of opinion. We will be maturing as
Christians. We will glorify God in our own lives and help lead
others to salvation.
______________
Work Cited
Thayer, J.H. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament.
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