SHOULD I DO IT?*

Often in the Christian walk, we come across things where the Bible is not too clear about whether something is sinful or not. Using 2 famous passages of the "Liberty" crowd, we can draw some conclusions as to how to conduct ourselves where Scripture is unclear.

1Cor 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

13  Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

1Cor 10:23  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

24  Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

From these two verses we get:

1) Does it bring me under its power?

2) Is it expedient? (appropriate for a Christian)

3) Does it edify? (improve your Christian life)

4) Does it help or hinder my fellow man, or does it cause my fellow man to stumble?

Using these in an honest and sincere manner, we should be able to make better decisions when we are uncertain whether something is right or wrong. BUT remember, where Scripture HAS SPOKEN, we are to obey it all times!

Some verses in summary:

Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

1Pe 2:16  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

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*Adapted from an article by David Cloud entitled "ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL UNTO ME"