Christians don’t agree on everything. Certainly some things are black and white. However, some areas are gray. There is no clear Biblical command. Yet, the Bible gives us principles to choose wisely. But the issue often is not what is right and wrong, but how we respond to a Christian who comes up with a different conclusion.
In my years involved in churches, I have listed some of the areas Christians disagree: working on Sunday; sports on Sunday; attending movies; drinking wine in moderation; wearing bikinis; playing pool or cards; gambling for recreation; smoking; dancing; listening to rock music; interracial marriage; women wearing makeup; men with long hair or earrings; women wearing short skirts, shorts or pants; taking sedatives; tattoos; speaking in tongues; going to a psychiatrist; celebrating Halloween or Christmas; using only the King James Version of the Bible. You could probably think of many more.
As you read this list you might tend to react with laughter or horror. On one hand, some of these issues are absolutely okay. Why would anyone think it is wrong? On the other hand, how could anyone feel free before God to do some of the things that are ‘obviously’ forbidden by principles of Scripture. Yet, if we asked ten different believers of various ages and backgrounds from different parts of the country to separate these activities into categories of ‘permissible’ and ‘not permissible,’ we would likely end up with ten different sets of lists. Christians disagree.
In Paul’s day the #1 issue on the list was eating meat that had been offered to a false god or idol. He talks about this in 1 Corinthians 8-10. I don’t know of any Christian vegetarian who opposes eating meat because it might have been offered to Aphrodite, the goddess of fertility or Apollo, a popular false god. But the principal Paul shared to settle the issue of eating idol meat is just as applicable to our own ‘gray areas’ as it was in the time of Corinth.
Knowledge is not enough.
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God. (1 Corinthians 8:1-3)
The key words Paul uses to help us understand this issue “know” or “knowledge”. He’s talking to strong Christians who have a mature knowledge of right and wrong. Knowledge is good, but it’s not enough. Knowledge brings pride because it knows so much. Since they were bragging on what they knew, it revealed they didn’t really know anything at all. They were mature in knowledge, but not in love. Knowledge is not enough; you must have love. Love, not knowledge, is the heart of Christian living.
Just because you are right and have truth on your side, isn’t the whole picture. Truth must be balanced with love. Since no one knows everything, our knowledge is partial. So it is extremely arrogant to trust in our knowledge. We may be wrong. But even if we are right, our knowledge is to be a servant of our love.
Whether you go see an R-rated movie, smoke a cigarette, or buy a lottery ticket is something that isn’t addressed in Scripture. But loving your Christian brother or sister is a clear command. To break a clear command of loving others because you are trying to keep a personal opinion of not smoking isn’t mature thinking. We can disagree with others while still loving them. This is one of the marks of a Christian.
If you disagree with someone does not give you the right to not love them and show compassion to them. People who don’t have the example of the love of Jesus or the Holy Spirit empowering them may not be able to love their enemies. But we are commanded and have the power to love even those with whom we disagree.
Tomorrow I will share two other principles about ‘gray areas’ and the liberty we have to choose right and wrong in our life.