"take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak" 1 Corinthians 8:9.

"Gray areas" are troubling. The Bible is crystal-clear about things like murder and adultery, but what about occasional use of alcohol? What about PG-13 and R-rated movies? What about certain video games?

Many people wouldn't add "food offered to idols" to their list of gray areas, but this was certainly a big deal in the times when the apostle Paul wrote. While it's not a pressing issue today, there is a principle associated with it that has significant implications for our contemporary grey areas.

Grey areas become black and white issues when a weaker brother or sister is affected. Our choice of movies or entertainment, or use of alcohol, may not provoke God's judgment but these things most certainly will if the exercise of conscience-free liberty causes someone else a spiritual problem. The greater good is the spiritual welfare of all members of the body of Christ.

Amidst these instructions Paul reminds us that, "yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him" (1 Corinthians 8:6). Sharpening our focus and attention on the one true God and His Son, our Lord Jesus the Christ, is the best solution to the issue of gray areas. The closer we get to truth, the clearer questionable issues become.

A helpful perspective involves asking ourselves what will be contribute to the spiritual health of others, rather than what liberties am I entitled to exercise. Zeal for our relationship with our Father and His Son, our Lord Jesus, best puts things in proper perspective.

We have tremendous freedom in Christ. The greatest expression of that freedom is to passionately love our Father, and His Son. Coupled with a heartfelt desire for the greatest good of the people of God, we will find the clearest answers to questions about gray areas.

©Steve Taylor, 2022 --Used by permission

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