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What We Believe and Why
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

DOUBTFUL THINGS

I COR. 10:22-23

The purpose of this lesson is to shed Bible light on borderline activities. Quite often people who are saved engage in activities which are questionable, then defend themselves by arguing that the activity or questionable practice is not specifically forbidden in God's Word.

I. Perhaps it can be proven that a particular practice is not specifically forbidden in God's Word; but that does not prove the practice is good, nor does it give anyone an open license to practice it:

A. It is the false assumption that it does, which has led many Christian people into sinning against God by practicing some of these shady activities: activities such as:

1. Drinking a beer or two socially now and then.

2. Night clubbing from time to time.

3. Dancing.

4. Using certain profanity which may not involve God's name in vain.

5. Mixed bathing.

6. Wearing hair in excessive lengths then asking, "What's long?"

7. Women wearing excessively short or revealing dress.

8. Women wearing men's type apparel and men wearing women's type apparel.

9. Men and women being seen together in certain situations with other than their own marriage partners.

10. And, there are lots of other activities which could be named which may be lawful and innocent enough, yet which should never be practiced by a child of God.

B. There is a Bible principle which forbids certain practices, even though they may be borderline, questionable, and not specifically forbidden in God's Word

1. The principle is that if a thing would hinder, cast reflection or doubt upon the cause of Christ, rather than strengthen and upbuild it; then the thing shouldn't be done.

2. And, if one persists on doing the thing, in spite of its reflection on the cause of Christ, the thing becomes sin to him, even though it was lawful and not specifically forbidden:

a. If it brings reproach upon the cause of Christ, then it is not good and Jas. 4:17 says, "to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

b. And, I Cor. 8:12 in specifically talking about things which are Biblically lawful for a Christian, yet which hurt a weaker brother and so bring reproach on the cause of Christ, says, "But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ."

3. So, it is simply not an absolute proof of innocence for a child of God to defend a practice just because that practice is not specifically mentioned as wrong in the Bible.

II. Now, look at how the Bible spells out this principle on doubtful things:

A. The principle as Biblically stated:

1 . It is stated in I Cor. 6:12, "all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

2. It is stated again in I Cor. 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."

3. In other words just because a thing is legal for us does not mean we should go right out and practice it.

B. Two Bible reasons for this principle:

1. Some things have the characteristic of bringing people under their power; and a man should abstain from things which would bring him under their power. This is the argument of I Cor. 6:12:

a. Such things as liquor, tobacco and drugs have an addictive power within them.

b. Put yourself in certain association with members of the opposite sex, and the sex passion can overpower you.

c. What the principle says is that you shouldn't subject yourself to these practices which tend to bring you under their power, however lawful or legal they might be to you.

2. The second reason is that some things which are lawful for you will offend and cause a weak brother to stumble, or maybe even keep someone from being saved:

a. I Cor. 10:23 argues that some legal things "edify not:"

(1) But we should give some consideration so that what we do helps: never hurts a brother; the next verse says, "Let no man seek his own, but every man anothers' wealth", I Cor. 10:24.
(2) Phil. 2:4 says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."
(3) The principle is saying a man shouldn't hurt and cause his brother in Christ to stumble. Parents consider your kids.

b. Neither should he do anything to keep a lost man from being saved:

(1) Imagine your action turning a man into hell. (your saying, "Well, I don't think there's anything wrong with it.")
(2) The argument of this principle says in I Cor. 1O: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.

c. In general the principle says, "Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God. " I Cor. 10:32.

C. The results of violating this principle:

1. It provokes the Lord to jealousy when we try His patience by seeing just how much we can get away with. I Cor. 10:22, "Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?" Isn't that a foolish and shameful way for a son to act?

2. It is sin for us to violate it and thus become a stumbling block to the weak. I Cor. 8:9 says, "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak." And verse 12 says, "when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

III. The guiding principle for the earnest child of God is spelled out in I Cor. 10:31, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God:"

A. It's the idea that "if a practice is injurious to the cause of Christ, and brings no glory to God; then I want no part of it."

B. The child of God should have the attitude:

1. My life belongs to God for I Cor. 6:19-20 says, ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

2. Therefore, I will yield it to Him to upbuild and strengthen His work; never to Satan to discredit and cast reflection on Christ's work.

C. In other words the Christian should say:

1. "I'll not be the kind of son who sees iust how far I can go without getting into too much trouble with my heavenly Father."

2. "Instead, I'll try to be the best son I can, living as near to what I ought to be as I possibly know how, doing all I do to the glory, not the dishonor of God."

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"