Appendices

Christians face a host of decisions every day that challenge even the most discerning believers. The Bible is very clear on matters such as lying, stealing, coveting, murder, adultery, immorality and many other behaviors explicitly called sin. But what about all those daily decisions that fall in between the “black and white” of Scripture? We usually refer to these as the “gray areas” of life, or issues which are matters of Christian freedom.

How do we make wholesome, wise, and Christ-honoring decisions when the Bible seems less definitive, giving us freedom of conscience in some areas? It is not enough simply to ask, “What’s wrong with it?” or to reason “I haven’t found a Bible verse prohibiting it; therefore, it’s okay.” The following is a brief list of helpful questions which promote honest reflection and compel us to think biblically and critically about not only each decision but also the motives behind them.

I am deeply indebted to Dr. John MacArthur for the basic framework and substance of these principles. I learned them early on from his preaching and writing ministries, and I offer them here with adaptations from my own application of his insights.¹

Regarding each decision ask:

Will It Be a Spiritual Advantage to My Life?

In other words, will I be enhancing my growth by doing this or that? Will it cultivate more strength, endurance, discipline, and discernment? Will it build, rather than tear down, my life? Sleep may be a good thing, but too much of it will not be profitable. There’s nothing wrong with recreation and leisure time, but without careful parameters one could be spiritually weakened (1 Cor 6:12–20; 10:23–31).

Will It Slow Me Down with Excess Baggage in the Christian Race?

We are called to live our Christian lives by faith. There are certain activities or behaviors which may not be wrong but could become excess distraction and temptation for some. Living a faithful life for the Lord requires diligence, perseverance, struggle, and focus. We should avoid behaviors and activities that add bulk to an already challenging set of spiritual priorities (Heb 12:1–3; 1 Cor 9:24–27).

Will It Potentially Enslave Me?

According to God’s Word we must not allow anything to “master” us (1 Cor 6:12). Whatever your decision about a gray area of life, you must stay away from that thing which will bring you under its power. Because of sinful desires which are at war with God’s Spirit within us (Jas 4:1), we can easily underestimate the enticement of everyday experiences. Many people have quickly come under the bondage of entertainment, media, food, money, romance, and a host of other enjoyments God has richly given to us. We often rationalize by conveniently overestimating our spiritual ability to say no—as in the case of Demas, who “loved this present world” (2 Tim 4:10).

Will It Hypocritically Cover My Sinful Desires?

In other words, am I doing it “in the name of” true biblical freedom when the truth of the matter is I’m really satisfying sinful desires? We must be honest with ourselves. We cannot put a veil over our sinful motives while pretending to be truly “free in Christ” (cf. 1 Pet 2:16). It is very common to turn liberty into license (Gal 5:13). If you spend a good bit of time defending your “privilege” to exercise a Christian liberty, perhaps you ought to let go of it for a time as a means of testing your motives. Is it truly a “freedom”? If so, it should be easily dispensed with for the sake of maintaining integrity before the Lord.

Will It Violate Christ’s Supreme Rule in My Life?

Every believer should be submitting every day to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. However, not everyone agrees on just what the Lord wants. Some are convinced in their conscience that something is wrong, while others have a freedom of conscience to do that same thing. We must ask ourselves, “For me personally, is this something the Lord would be pleased with?” If we have any doubts we should not do it (Rom 14:20–23). If you believe that the Lord’s will for your life would not be violated, then you’re free to proceed (Rom 14:5). But be careful here: Paul warns us to be completely free from doubts. In other words, we should not be involved in some gray area without having sought counsel, studied God’s Word, prayed, and scrutinized all possible pros and cons before proceeding. If important issues are bypassed and the conscience is violated, the result is sin (Rom 14:23).

Will It Impair My Judgment or Hinder the Holy Spirit’s Control of My Will?

We are taught by Scripture that we must yield our will to the complete direction of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:6–14; Gal 5:16–25; Eph 5:18). Any activity that may diminish our ability to remain alert and sensitive to the things of God should not be taken lightly. This principle can have broad and specific application for the Christian. For example, unregulated relationships with unbelievers can cloud one’s judgment, plant seeds of confusion about the truth, and desensitize us to the Spirit’s conviction (1 Cor 15:33–34). Consider also the very real dangers associated with chemical substances (e.g., pain medication, alcohol, tobacco, etc.), which may lower inhibitions and skew our moral compass. We must be careful to avoid, wherever possible, all potential hindrances to the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Will It Build Up Other Christians by Its Example?

We must never exercise a Christian freedom at the expense of another’s faith. What you do in front of others is not simply a matter of your freedom in Christ to live as you choose, but rather an issue of building up other believers in their spiritual maturity. We must be careful not to unwittingly encourage others toward a behavior that may violate their conscience, thereby putting “a stumbling block in a brother’s way” (Rom 14:13). The pattern of our lives sets an example, and it is a tremendous encouragement to carefully limit our liberty out of love so as to never hurt a brother or sister in the Lord (Rom 14:15; 1 Cor 10:23–33).

Will It Lead Others Toward Christ?

This is a very difficult issue. The Bible teaches that we should never to get into a situation where our innocent behavior is “spoken of as evil” (Rom 14:16). For example, if what we are doing—though not sinful, could misrepresent the Lord, His church, His people, or His truth to the world—then we should avoid it. Not only should we build up less mature believers in the body, but also we should have character that is above legitimate question in the eyes of unbelievers (1 Pet 2:12–24; 3:13–17; 4:15). Some things are not evil but can easily be associated with questionable elements of society or even worldliness. Remember, if Christian freedoms are truly freedoms then we should be just as ready and willing to give them up as to enjoy them.

Will It Be Consistent with Christlike Character?

We want to imitate Jesus Christ in all our desires, words, thoughts, and deeds. If we say we belong to Christ, then our first consideration when deciding whether to do this or that should be what the Scriptures teach about our Lord’s attitude toward His heavenly Father, toward obedience, toward people, and toward the truth. Is this consistent with who He is, His likeness? Could this bring His name and the gospel into question? Will others see what I’m doing and question my commitment to follow Him (1 John 1:6; 2:6)?

Will It Magnify the Glory of God?

We should live in such a way that the Word of God is honored (Titus 2:5) and God’s glory is on display (1 Cor 10:31). We must ask if the activity or behavior could undermine God’s name. Could God’s honor and praise be diminished as a result of this? Some things may seem mundane and rather non-spiritual (e.g., eating, working with hobbies, leisure, etc.), but Christians must always be alert as to how God can be gratefully praised for all He has provided. We must avoid anything that could detract from bringing Him thankful praise for everything we have the freedom to enjoy.

A Word About Unity in the Body of Christ

Beyond these questions, believers have the liberty to make decisions in those areas where the Scriptures give no clear direction for what is sin. Anyone who is less free in their conscience is warned not to judge others who are free, but rather be thankful for God’s leading in their life (Rom 14:3b–4). This is very difficult for the “less free” to balance. What their conscience perceives as sinful easily becomes a universal standard for everyone because their conscience is strongly affirmed by strict avoidance of such activities. Consequently, they will feel less fearful and more comfortable when others adhere to the same conduct. However, each believer whose conscience is not as “free” as others must first acknowledge their internal boundaries and be honest about the tendency to judge others without biblical warrant (Rom 14:3b–13a). They should confess the sin of judging and seek the forgiveness of those whom they have offended. Second, they should thank God for their present state of maturity and for using the conscience to protect them from potential dangers unforeseen. Third, they must press on to maturity in the Scriptures by studying each issue so as to properly inform their conscience along clear, biblical lines. Finally, they should be patient as the Lord works in their hearts to cultivate discernment and balance, never violating their spiritual sensibilities in the meantime.

Regarding those with greater liberty, Romans 14:13b–21; 15:1 equally warns them not to think less of others without freedom, but rather to love them—first by never being an offense or spiritual hindrance. Wherever a complaint arises, careful and thoughtful interaction should follow so that an understanding is reached for God’s glory. The conscience of one should not rule another in areas of liberty, but love should prevail in every consideration, even if it means eliminating the exercise of certain liberties (e.g., Paul in 1 Cor 8:12–13). Second, serious consideration should be given to whether a liberty is the best choice in a particular context. Some Christian freedoms may be unquestioned because of cultural “norms” or common Christian practice, while the freedom in other contexts may be imprudent because of the spiritual background and history of certain groups and peoples. For example, where the mealtime consumption of wine is the norm, one’s liberty—all other spiritual questions above having been considered—will most likely be a non-issue. On the other hand, in a culture where the abuses of alcohol are decried by both the saved and the unsaved, such liberty may cause greater questions and bring an unintended but very real reproach upon Christ and His church. Finally, those with greater liberty of conscience should carefully discern the difference between a clear conscience and a seared one. Some participate in gray areas with ease because they have consistently and with cavalier involvement suppressed the warnings of their conscience. This is often rationalized by appealing to the absence of an explicit text prohibiting the practice. How can we know the difference? According to 1 Timothy 1:5–7, when the conscience is silenced, the result is “fruitless discussion” (vain and senseless talk), pride, and arrogant but ignorant assertions about truth (cf. 1 Tim 4:2–3). In other words, the more someone engages in activities which their conscience warns them against, the more they become blinded to the truth, cannot see the dangers, and therefore, perceive themselves to be “free” though they are deceived. Conversely, the evidence of a clear and maturing conscience is simply humility, submissiveness, and obedience (1 Pet 2:16–19; 3:16–17). Where these are absent, it is a given: one’s conscience may feel free but is simply suppressed. In conclusion, Paul spoke of each of these realities within the church and we should not be surprised at the struggle. Remember, we shall all give an account of ourselves before God (Rom 14:10)!