Do The Best Christians I Know Agree That it is Right? #Questionable Things

"In multitude of counsellors there is safety."—Proverbs 24:6.

There have been instances in my life where I have had a difficult time deciding about a matter. After using all the previous guidelines we've discussed, I still wasn't satisfied. My last resort was to seek the counsel of good, godly Christians.

When you are faced with a questionable matter, approach several Christians individually and get their opinions. Their counsel is valuable in helping make the right decisions.

—this series was condensed and used from the pamphlet, Deciding Questionable Things for the Christian by Dr. Curtis Hutson. If you would like to read this in its entirety, please order your copy today from SwordBooks.com

Am I Fully Persuaded That it's Right? #Questionable Things

"One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."—Romans 14:5.

If you are not thoroughly convinced that a thing is right, then it is best not to do it.

Romans 14:23 warns, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

If you don't have peace about the matter, don't do it.

When a believer is faced with a decision regarding a questionable matter, he should never proceed unless he has complete peace about it. If there is nothing wrong with it, then God is able to give complete peace.

Colossians 3:15 says, "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts." You can rest assured that every time you violate the scriptural principle of this verse, you will regret it. A Christian should have complete peace about it and be thoroughly persuaded or convinced that it is right.

Does it Offend Other Christians? #Questionable Things

"Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."—I Corinthians 8:13.

It is clear from this passage that some weaker Christians thought eating meats was wrong; and, though Paul taught that "every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving," he said, "If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."

When I ask, 'Does it offend other Christians', I don't mean that if you can find one single Chistian anywhere in the world who is offended by the thing in question, then you shouldn't do it. You will find some Christians who would be offended at almost anything you did. But if it offended several good and respected Christians, then I wouldn't do it.

As children of God, we have a responsibility to every other born-again believer.

Can You Give God Thanks for It? #Questionable Things

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."—Colossians 3:17.

Whatever the matter in question, can you honestly thank God for it? If you cannot sincerely give thanks to God for the matter in question, then it is best not to do it.

Can You Do It in the Name of the Lord Jesus? #Questionable Things

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."—Colossians 3:17.

Notice the words whatsoever ye do in word or deed. That covers every word the believer will ever utter and anything the believer will ever do. And according to the verse, we are to do it "in the name of the Lord Jesus."

When the believer is faced with a matter and can't decide whether it is right or wrong, he should simply ask, "Can I do it in the name of the Lord Jesus?" If you can't, it's wrong.

Do You Have the Leading of the Holy Spirit? #Questionable Things

When things are not spelled out clearly in the Bible, we can expect the Holy Spirit to lead us.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."—Romans 8:14.

Someone suggested that the stops as well as the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. The Holy Spirit leads us in prayer. Most believers who have been saved any length of time have experienced times when the Holy Spirit gave definite leading regarding a matter. 

When I talk about the leading of the Holy Spirit, I'm not talking about hearing an audible voice or having strange visions. God works in us the desire and then gives us the power to make the desire a reality.

In any matter where we have questions, we have a right to ask the Holy Spirit to lead us and to expect His gentle guiding.

Have You Prayed About it? #Questionable Things

The Bible indicates that we are to pray about all things. Philippians 4:6 says,

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

One of the saddest verses in the Bible to me is James 4:2: "Ye have not, because ye ask not." It doesn't say what we don't have; it just simply says we have not because we ask not. That would certainly include the leading of the Lord regarding a questionable matter.

When praying for the Lord's will about something questionable, don't give up if you don't receive clear leading after one prayer; just keep on praying until God makes it clear. When God answers, He will not answer in an audible voice; He will lead you by the Holy Spirit.

Does It Agree With the Bible? #Questionable Things

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."—II Peter 1:20

This verse doesn't mean that one cannot sit down in private and read and study the Bible. It simply means that one passage of Scripture is not to be isolated and interpreted without considering all that the Bible has to say on the same subject.

A good rule to follow is: never use an obscure passage to contradict several clear passages. 

When the honest, sincere Christian is faced with the decision regarding whether a thing is right or wrong, he  should ask...