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How
Then, Can I Decide What is Right for Me?
by Dr. David C. Innes
© Copyright
Every Christian is faced with situations about
which he must make decisions, but about which there seem to
be no clear scriptural statement. Many of the issues we face
are not addressed or identified in the Bible by name. How
then, can I know what to do when faced with such questions?
I must first ask whether or not there is
a principle taught in Scripture that I can apply to my situation.
For those sincerely interested in knowing the will of God
the following tests should be applied. Failing any of the
tests, the matter in question should be considered unacceptable.
These Scriptural principles are timeless.
However, their application may change as the immediate context
or circumstances change.
SCRIPTURAL
TESTS FOR MODERN DILEMMAS
A. Will it affect
my identity as a child of God?
“Child” = born one, one sharing
the nature of the parent.
Romans 8:29 For whom He did foreknow,
He also did predestinate to be conformed
[inwardly and outwardly] to the image
of His son, that He might be the firstborn among
many brethren.
Deuteronomy 14:1,2 Ye
are the children of the LORD your God:
ye shall not cut yourselves, normake any baldness between
your eyes for the dead. 2 For thou art an holy people
unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen
thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the
nations that are upon the earth.
B. Is it identified
in the minds of others with that which is evil or wrong —
does it communicate a wrong message about me to others?
Romans 12:1,2 I beseech
you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable
unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be
not conformed to [poured into the mold of]
this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
A. Will it offend
the conscience of a sincere Christian brother?
Romans 14:13.15 Let us not therefore
judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that
no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to
fall in his brother's way. 15 But if thy
brother be grieved with thy meat, [that
which I may rightfully choose to do] now walkest thou
not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat,
[exercise of my personal rights] for
whom Christ died.
Romans 14:20,21 For meat [exercise
of personal rights] destroy not the work of God. All
things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that
man who eateth with offence. 21 It is good neither
to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby
thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
1 Corinthians 8:7,9,11,12 Howbeit
there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with
conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing
offered unto an idol; and their conscience being
weak is defiled [stained, made dirty].
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty
of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.
11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother
perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye
sin so against the brethren, and wound
their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
B. Will
it cause someone whether saved or unsaved to stumble?
1 Corinthians 10:25-29
Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no
question for conscience sake: 26 For the earth is the Lord's,
and the fulness thereof. 27 If any of them that
believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed
to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question
for conscience sake. 28 But if any man say unto you, This
is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for
his sake that shewed it, and for conscience
sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness
thereof: 29 Conscience, I say, not thine
own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another
man's conscience?
A. Can it easily be construed
to be evil or wrong?
1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
B. Will it cast a negative
shadow on the good I am doing?
Romans 14:16 Let not
then your good be evil spoken of:
A. Does it
contribute positively to my own spiritual upbuilding and
strength?
1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are
lawful for me, but all things are not expedient
[advantageous, profitable, useful]: all things
are lawful for me, but all things edify
[build up, help, strengthen] not.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also
are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us,
B. Does it
contribute positively to the upbuilding and strengthening
of others?
Romans 15:2 Let every one of us please
his neighbour for his good to edification.
Romans 14:19,20 Let us therefore follow
after the things which make for peace, and things
wherewith one may edify another. 20 For meat
destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure;
but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
5. The Clear Conscience
Test
Romans 14:23 And he that
doubteth is damned [self-condemned of his own conscience]
if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever
is not of faith is sin.
B. Can I do it without reservation
of conscience?
Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth
is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for
whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise
myself, to have always a conscience void of offence
toward God, and toward men.
6. The "Others
First" Test.
A. Is it
pleasing (helpful, unoffensive, acceptable) to others?
Romans 15:1-3 We then
that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,
and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every
one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3 For even Christ pleased not himself;
but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached
thee fell on me.
B. Does it consider the feelings
and welfare of others first?
1 Corinthians 10:24,33
Let no man seek his own, but every man
another's wealth [benefit, welfare].
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking
mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they
may be saved.
1 Corinthians 6:12 All
things are lawful [allowed, permitted]
unto me, but all things are not expedient
[advantageous, profitable, useful]: all things
are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under
the power [mastery] of any.
B. Will it bring me into bondage?
2 Peter 2:19 While they
promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of
corruption: for of whom [or what]
a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in
bondage.
A. Can I do it to God's glory?
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do
all to the glory of God.
B. Can I do it in the name
of Christ — with His endorsement and approval?
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever
ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father
by him.
A. Does it come out of a pure
(unmixed) heart?
Matthew 15:19 For out
of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
B. Does it come out of pure
motives?
Titus 1:15 Unto the pure
all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled
and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their
mind and conscience is defiled.
A. Does genuine concern for
others prevail over rationalization (intellectual justification)?
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now
as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all
have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up [makes
arrogant], but charity edifieth.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive
we the love of God, because he laid down his life
for us: and we ought to lay down our lives
for the brethren.
11. The Total Commitment
Test
A. Does our love for God ultimately
determine and settle every issue?
1 Corinthians 8:3 But
if any man love God, the same is known
[known, recognized or approved] of him.
B. Is God's approval more
important than anything else to us?
Matthew 25:21 His lord
said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful
servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things,
I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into
the joy of thy lord.
A. What is the product of
the proposed course of conduct?
Galatians 5:19-23 Now
the works of the flesh are manifest, which
are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness,
revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before,
as I have also told you in time past, that they which do
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law.
B. Are we willing to put aside
the immediate for the sake of the permanent?
Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith
Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the
son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to
suffer affliction with the people of God, than
to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense
of the reward.
A. Am I taking for my own
pleasure that which really belongs to another?
1 Thessalonians 4:3-6
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that
ye should abstain from fornication [sexual
sin]: 4 That every one of you should know how to posses
his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust
of concupiscence [passion of lust], even as the
Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond [overstep
or overreach] and defraud [take
more than one’s due] his brother
in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all
such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
B. Am I taking
for my own pleasure at the personal expense of another?
(1) his
purity or the sanctity of his physical body?
(2) his
life, without a reciprocal commitment of my own life?
14. The "Garbage
In" Test
A. Am I willingly participating
in my own temptation or the corrupting of my own mind?
Psalms 101:2,3 I will
behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou
come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect
heart. 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine
eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside;
it shall not cleave to me.
B. Am I protecting my own
heart and mind in a responsible manner?
Proverbs 4:23 Keep
thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are
the issues of life.
15. The "Temple"
Test
“Temple” in the following verses
is the word used to describe the Old Testament “Holy
of Holies”, the most sacred place of God’s dwelling
on earth!
A. Does it result in harm
to my physical body?
1 Corinthians 3:16,17
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If
any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye
are.
B. Does it give due reverence
for this “dwelling place” of the Holy Spirit?
2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement
hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are
the temple of the living God; as God hath said,
I will dwell in them, and walk in them;
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
1 Corinthians 6:19,20 What? know ye
not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
which is in you, which ye have of God,
and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body, and
in your spirit, which are God's.
16. The Intrinsic
Value Test
A. Is it good, worthful, of
significant or of permanent value?
2 Corinthians 5:10 For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that
every one may receive the things done in his body, according
to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad
[worthless].
B. Is it a waste of time and
effort in the light of real needs and eternal values?
1 Corinthians 3:15 If
any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer
loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as
by fire.
17. The Definite
Command Test
A. Is there a command or statement
of Scripture that clearly and definitively addresses the
issue in question? If so, the issue is settled once and
for all.
B. Where there is no direct
reference to the issue in question, the issue must be put
under the scrutiny of the tests listed above.
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