How do we respond to a person we respect who has “lower” standards than we do? Why can’t they come to the same conclusion I have? After all, I know I’m right! Truthfully, there are areas where the Bible gives principles rather than explicit instructions. The application of these principles sometimes permits believers coming to different conclusions, and yet still not sin against their consciences. How do we walk through this landmine?
Prioritizing our lives according to the Scripture
Christian liberty is learning how to prioritize our lives in accordance with Scripture. A great value is placed upon wisdom and discerning in both Testaments. In order to navigate the arena of liberty, four principles have been helpful for me personally.
- There are COMMANDS in Scripture.
- When dealing with the level of commands, we have no room to argue or debate.
- Christian liberty isn’t a justification to disobey clear commands.
- Consider these examples:
- “Flee fornication”
- This is an imperative
- We have no wiggle room to practice “Christian adultery”
- To follow this command isn’t a bent toward legalism, performance-based Christianity, or moralism. It’s simply obedience to God’s revealed will.
- “Thou shalt not kill”
- Christian liberty doesn’t allow a “Just this one time” approach!
- Further, Christian teaching attributes sin to the very thought of murder.
- Again, there is no wiggle room here for justification via means of an appeal to Christian liberty.
- It’s not “Christian” liberty if it violates Christ’s teaching.
- “Flee fornication”
- Consider these examples:
- When Scripture is clear and unambiguous, our only response is obedience.
- There are PRINCIPLES taught by Scripture
- The Bible doesn’t specifically address every area of our lives.
- At this level, we look for principles to guide us to a godly decision.
- The Bible doesn’t say, “Thou shalt not gamble,” but there are clear principles of stewardship.
- The Bible doesn’t say, “Thou shalt not pay your bills,” but there are clear principles about debt, and about having a good testimony.
- No one reading the Bible as a believer would be able to say, “God thinks debt is a good idea.” Or, “God doesn’t care what you do with your finances.”
- We will agree with the principles, though we may develop different standards to help us live by those principles.
- There are INFERENCES from the Scriptures
- The gap for disagreement will be wider at the inference level than at the principle level. The reason is self-evident. A command is vested with absolute authority. A principle is vested with general authority. However, an inference has no binding authority on other believers.
- For example, there is a biblical command, found in both Testaments, to be holy.
- In principle, our sanctification is affected by thinking on, meditating upon, and viewing things that are conducive to a holy lifestyle.
- Applying that principle to “entertainment” shows where many personal inferences abound. Christians are left to infer what course of action to take.
- Some believers will not own a TV, or watch any digital media
- Some believers will own a TV, but have many filters
- Some believers will own a TV, but not go to see a movie
- Some believers will go to the theater, but only watch G or PG movies
- The list could continue, but no believer seeking to follow Jesus can justify watching pornography – at the extreme, we know there are principles against that.
- Believers understand the command and general principles. The disagreement is where the boundary should be, or must be, set.
- This type of inference is determined at a personal / home level
- If a believer sets a different standard, it doesn’t mean they are more spiritual, nor does it mean the other one is carnal.
- When the purpose of standards is misunderstood, confusion abounds. Standards were never meant to produce spirituality. Rather, they were meant to protect spirituality.
- There are PREFERENCES outside the Scriptures
- There are places where there are no commands, principles, or inferences clearly made with biblical authority.
- At that point, Christian liberty is on full display!
- Some pastors wear three-piece suits; some are more casual – neither violates Scripture. Both illustrate personal preference.
- Some churches have Sunday night services; some do not – neither violates Scripture. Both illustrate different underlying philosophies at work.
- Division, strife, sedition, and heresies come when we elevate a preference to the level of inference, principle, or even command. If it’s a preference, we must be humble enough to admit it.
CONCLUSION
Knowing the purpose of Christian liberty is for service to others, this framework helps me work through debatable issues within a biblical worldview. Commands are non-negotiable, with no interpretation needed. Principles are clearly taken, but the application form a first century to a twenty-first century church may create blindspots. Inferences are based upon one’s personal standards but have no binding authority to the rest of the church. Preferences are not tests of fellowship.
Romans 14-15 describe the church as having both weak and strong believers. Both are loved by God, both are brothers in Christ. Disagreements at any level other than a clear command can be handled respectfully and civilly without having to separate and withdraw fellowship.
Navigating the debatable issues, even within the realm of liberty, requires that a believer walk in wisdom, be grounded in the Word, and be living for His will (not ours).