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Conscience, God’s Will, and the Christian Life · Reformed Thinking

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Welcome to Reformed Thinking and this is the deep dive where we
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take a stack of your sources, articles, extensive research,
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our own detailed notes, and extract the most important
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Nuggets of knowledge or insight. Our aim is really to give you a
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shortcut to being well informed with surprising facts and
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hopefully just enough humor to keep you hooked.
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Today we're diving into a topic that genuinely touches well
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every corner of your life. How to make God honoring
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decisions, especially in those, you know, Gray areas where
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direct biblical commands seem absent.
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We're also going to get into the very heart of something many
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believers often misinterpret or struggle to grasp your
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conscience, that internal moral compass.
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Well, maybe think about a hypothetical listener, Sarah,
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who's weighing a big life decision, maybe two different
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career paths, and how the truth we unpack today can help her
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move forward with some clarity. Yeah, that's right.
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We've gathered insights from various sources for this deep
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dive, including careful theological interpretations of
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God's will, some really practical wisdom for daily
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choices from biblical scholars, and a thorough look at how your
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internal sense of right and wrong functions you know in the
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light of Scripture. Our mission for this deep dive
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is basically to help you understand what God truly asks
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of you in your decision making, and how your conscience plays a
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vital part in that walk. By the end of our conversation,
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you should gain a clearer path for moving forward with
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confidence, even when the answer isn't immediately obvious.
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And yeah, maybe we'll see how Sarah might apply these
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principles to her situation. OK, let's unpack this starting
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point then. Truly understanding God's will.
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It's a question many people grapple with, isn't it?
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Oh. Absolutely.
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They ask what's God's will for me in this situation, as if it's
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some kind of hidden Riddle. You know, the secret code they
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need to crack. Maybe they feel like they're
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playing a game of Pin the Tail on the donkey with their life,
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where if they don't land on that one single specific choice,
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they've somehow missed God's plan entirely.
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Right, that feeling of pressure. Yeah, but the material we looked
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at draws a clear distinction, one made by theologians from
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careful study of Scripture, which really helps clarify
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things, kind of remove that pressure.
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It's a helpful way to see that God isn't in conflict with
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himself. Rather, his will is presented to
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us in two distinct categories. First, there's what theologians
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call God's secret will. You might hear it called his
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decreative, sovereign, or efficient will.
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This refers to God's full decree or his well hidden plan for all
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things, the entire universe, every moment in history, every
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little detail of your life, the. Big picture.
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Exactly. And the simple truth here, based
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on what we've studied, is you do not and you will never know this
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in its entirety. The research underscores that we
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are not called to search this out.
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It's not our job, basically, to decipher every detail of God's
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overarching hidden blueprint for the universe or even for our
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individual lives. So if you ask what God's secret
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will is for your life, the straightforward answer,
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according to these sources, is kind of like no idea.
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It's just not something the Lord asked us to seek.
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And that can be freeing actually.
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It really can. We can rest in the fact that He
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is sovereign and His plans will unfold exactly as He intends,
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but we aren't burdened with knowing them all in advance.
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That takes away a lot of unnecessary anxiety.
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Then there's God's revealed will.
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This is also known as His perceptive, moral, or permissive
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will. Now this is what God anticipates
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from you, what He desires for you, and what He is plainly made
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known. OK, so this isn't hidden.
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Not at all. This aspect of his will is not a
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puzzle. It is explicitly laid out in
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Scripture for us. Deuteronomy 29.29 points out
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that what God has given us in His Word is precisely what He
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wants from us. We are explicitly told to find
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out and obey this revealed will. It's not a secret to be
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uncovered, it's a truth to be embraced and lived out.
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Think about Colossians 1.9, where Paul prays that believers
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be filled with the knowledge of His will.
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Filled with it. Notice the wording filled with
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not seeking to discover. This means God's will should
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fill all aspects of your being, pervading your thoughts, your
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desires, your actions, rather than being something you need to
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go on a treasure hunt to find. So it's more about posture.
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Exactly. It implies a posture of living
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within his known will, rather than constantly searching for
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some unknown specific path for every single little decision.
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OK, so building on that, if you are wondering about God's will
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for your life, the New Testament gives us a pretty clear
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framework. Our research refers to a summary
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of God's revealed will through a series of characteristics.
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You can kind of think of them as the S words drawing from
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insightful biblical teachings. S words.
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I like that. Yeah, and the idea is, if your
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life consistently displays these characteristics, you are already
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living according to God's will. This is a really vital
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understanding because it shifts the focus, doesn't it, away from
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trying to pinpoint a detailed prescriptive plan for every
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single choice towards more of a holistic character formation in
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Christ. That makes sense.
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O what's the 1st? Well, the first characteristic,
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and really the starting point for everything else, is saved.
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God's fundamental desire, the very beginning, is for you to be
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saved. This is the foundational aspect
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of His revealed will for humanity.
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Right. The absolute foundation.
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Exactly. Without this, none of the other
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S characteristics can truly be lived out in a God honoring way.
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It's the beginning of a life lived according to His desires,
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bringing you into that relationship with Him.
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OK, saved. What's next?
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Next, we have Spirit controlled. Ephesians 5 clearly indicates
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God's desire for you to be under the Spirit's control.
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And what does that look like practically?
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Well, it means yielding to the Holy Spirit's guidance and
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influence in your daily life, allowing him to direct your
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actions, your attitudes, your words.
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It implies a life not driven by, you know, fleshly desires, but
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by the spirits leading towards righteousness and godliness.
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This isn't usually about some dramatic audible voice, but more
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of a settled disposition to walk in up with the spirit.
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Gotcha. Save spirit controlled.
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Then sexually pure First Thessalonians 4 states it
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plainly. God's will is for you to be
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sexually pure. Yeah, that one's pretty direct.
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It is, and our sources point out this is a really foundational
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aspect. It's often called the elephant
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in the room when discussing other decisions.
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Why is that? Well, because it isn't just one
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item on a checklist. If this aspect of God's revealed
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will isn't being lived out, it profoundly impacts our ability
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to discern any other Gray area decisions with clarity.
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I see it affects everything. Else Exactly.
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It's like trying to build a house on shaky ground.
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Every decision after that foundational one will be kind of
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wobbly. This purity isn't just about
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actions, but about aligning our desires with God's design for
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intimacy and relationships. And that alignment then frees us
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up to think clearly about job choices, friendships, where we
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live, all those other facets of life.
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OK, that's huge. What's the 4th S?
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The 4th S is submitting. God's will is for you to be
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subject to human institutions for the Lord's sake, as we see
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in first Peter. So submitting to government
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authorities. Yes, authorities like governing
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officials. You're called to do good to
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quiet foolish people by your obedience and respect for the
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governing structures God has put in place.
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It demonstrates a heart that honors God by honoring the
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structures he has ordained, even when it might be difficult or,
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you know, inconvenient. It's about recognizing God's
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order in the world. OK, makes sense.
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What follows Submitting. Following that is stewarding.
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Luke 12 shows God's will for you to be a good steward of all He
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has given you. Not just money, right?
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Not just money, no. It includes your finances, sure,
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but also your time, your talents, your resources,
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basically everything entrusted to you.
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It's about managing what God has blessed you with responsibly and
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for His purposes, recognizing that you're a manager, not the
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ultimate owner. Using it all wirely.
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Exactly. Using your money wisely,
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investing your time for Kingdom purposes, developing your gifts
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for His glory, all of that. Right.
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What's number six? The 6th S is supporting the
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Saints. God desires you to give
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financially to His Kingdom with joy and eagerness, just as
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Saints in Scripture gave themselves first to the Lord and
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men sacrificially to others. So generosity towards the church
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in God's work. Yes, this characteristic
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highlights generosity and contributing to the work of the
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church and the spread of the gospel cheerfully and without
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compulsion. It's a really tangible
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demonstration of your love for God and his people.
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Got it. What else?
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Then serving. Serving as an act of worship,
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discerning what is good, acceptable, and perfect.
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That's God's will. It's not just ticking a box on
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some spiritual checklist. Right, not just showing up.
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No, it's about actively using your gifts and abilities to
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build up the body of Christ and bring glory to God, viewing
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every act of service as an offering to Him.
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This could be in your church, your community, your home,
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wherever God has placed you. OK.
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Are there more? Just a couple more.
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Another characteristic is suffering.
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Now. This one sounds a bit
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counterintuitive. Maybe?
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Yes. Suffering.
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Well, first, Peter 4.19 indicates it is God's will that
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you might suffer. This doesn't mean God desires
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you to seek out suffering, of course, but it is His will that
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you would do what is right, even when it hurts.
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OK, suffering for doing good. Precisely, For instance, when
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you face hardship for doing what is right, like maybe being
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ridiculed for your faith at work, that perseverance and the
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suffering is part of God's will for your character development.
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It's about entrusting your soul to a faithful Creator, knowing
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that even in hardship, God is at work and can be glorified
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through your perseverance and faithfulness.
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That reframes it quite a bit. OK, what's the last one?
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Finally satisfied, thankful. Giving thanks in all
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circumstances is also God's will.
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Now, OK, thankful doesn't start with an S, but the idea of being
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satisfied in God's provision and expressing gratitude is a clear
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aspect of His revealed. Will contentment and gratitude.
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Exactly. It reflects a heart at rest and
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His sovereignty and goodness, trusting Him in every situation,
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good or challenging. This isn't about some
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superficial happiness, but the deep contentment rooted in God's
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character and His care for you. Wow.
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OK, so that's a really comprehensive list.
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Saved spirit, controlled, sexually, pure submitting,
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stewarding, supporting, serving, suffering and satisfied.
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Thankful that covers a lot of ground in terms of God's
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revealed will for how we should live.
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It really does. It paints a picture of the kind
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of person God wants us to be. So what does this all mean then
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for those day-to-day decisions, the ones that aren't explicitly
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spelled out, like which job to take or where to live or what
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major to declare in college? Let's think back to Sarah and
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her two job offers, one stable but maybe uninspiring, the other
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riskier but potentially more exciting.
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How does this S framework guide her?
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This is where it gets quite interesting, based on the
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research. If your life is already
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consistently displaying these S characteristics, if you are
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living, saved, spirit controlled, sexually pure,
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submitting, stewarding, supporting, serving, suffering
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well and satisfied, thankful, then the question for decisions
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not directly addressed in Scripture shifts entirely.
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It moves from what does God want me to do in this specific
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situation? To essentially what do you want
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to do? Now hold on, that sounds a bit
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risky, like a license for selfishness.
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I get why you'd say that, but no, it isn't a license for
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selfishness or an invitation to just follow every fleeting
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desire. Instead, it assumes that your
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ultimate desire, precisely because you are living out God's
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revealed will, is to be a vessel.
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God can use a person whose heart is aligned with His purposes.
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OK, so the foundation is key. Absolutely.
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You're not trying to find some hidden blueprint anymore.
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You're walking in freedom within the boundaries of the revealed
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will. This is where Psalm 37.4 really
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comes alive. Delight yourself and the Lord,
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and He will give you the desires of your heart.
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When your heart genuinely delights in the Lord, when it's
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saturated with His revealed will, and striving to honor Him
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in all these foundational ways, He will shape your desires to
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align with His purposes. So it's not about us conjuring
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up desires, but God working in our desires.
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Exactly, It's not about forcing your will to match some unknown
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divine preference, but about God transforming your desires from
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within. So if Sarah, for example, has
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her heart delighting in the Lord and is living out those S
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characteristics, then her desire for one job over another becomes
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something God can use. She can then go forward and
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pursue her unique gifts, abilities, and interest, whether
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that's becoming an engineer or a teacher or starting a business.
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Because God is concerned with who you are, your character, and
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your desire to follow His revealed will, rather than a
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single hidden choice for every minute detail of your life.
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I see. The material we explored
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suggests this might be one of the few times it's truly
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appropriate to kind of go follow your heart, because your heart's
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desires, when they're aligned with God, become His desires for
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you. This allows for a wonderful
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freedom and personal choices that aren't explicitly addressed
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in Scripture. Recognizing God has given you
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unique passions and skills to use for His glory.
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That really is a liberating concept, isn't it?
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Moves us away from that anxiety of missing the one right thing
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and towards a focus on Christ like character.
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Yeah. Now, while God grants us this
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freedom in these Gray areas when we are living according to His
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revealed will, there are still some methods and motives for
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decision making that our sources caution against pretty strongly.
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These are common pitfalls that believers can fall into, often
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out of a sincere desire to hear from God, but which aren't
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biblically supported as reliable methods for guidance.
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You should probably walk through some of.
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Those definitely. What's the first caution?
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One method to approach with care is, well, drawing straws, coin
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flips, or rock paper scissors. OK, yeah, that seems a bit
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random for big decisions. Right.
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Our research highlights that casting lots for decision making
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for daily life just isn't seen in the New Testament epistles
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after Matthias was chosen as an apostle to replace Judas, and
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that was a very specific one time historical event for an
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Apostolic office. Unique situation?
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Exactly. While it's maybe not inherently
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wrong for trivial stuff like deciding who gets the last piece
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of cake, it's certainly not how believers are shown to make
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substantial life choices like marriage, career, or major
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moves. Relying on chance for
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significant decisions can feel like you're abdicating
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responsibility for thoughtful, prayerful consideration.
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It might even suggest a lack of trust in God's guidance through
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wisdom and His revealed will. OK, so avoid the lottery
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approach for life choices. What else?
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Another caution is seeking after signs.
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We've all probably heard stories, maybe even experienced
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it ourselves, of someone making a major life decision based on
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something completely subjective. Like, oh, that specific worship
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thong played on the radio right when I was praying, so God must
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want me to move across the country.
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Right, trying to read the tea leaves basically.
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Pretty much. While God can speak in many ways
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and He is sovereign over all circumstances, the material we
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are reviewed warns that relying on these external signs for
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specific guidance outside of His revealed word can lead to
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misinterpretation or even just rational nationalizing our own
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desires. Yeah, easy to see what you want
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to see. Exactly.
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God has already revealed his will clearly in his Word.
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The danger here is that the signs are so subjective and open
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to misinterpretation, potentially leading people
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astray or making them think God is speaking directly when He's
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not, at least not in that way. OK, be wary of subjective signs.
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What's next on the caution list? Then there's waiting on the Lord
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used as an excuse. Now, seeking the Lord in prayer
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and patience is absolutely a biblical virtue.
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We're not knocking that. But this phrase can sometimes
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become an excuse for inaction. It might mask a desire to simply
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wait for personal preferences to align perfectly, or maybe an
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unwillingness to act, or humble oneself in difficult situations
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that actually need effort. Can you give an example?
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Sure, someone might say they're waiting on the Lord for a job,
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when what they really mean is they're waiting for the perfect
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job that suits all their desires, and they're may be
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unwilling to humble themselves to take a less desirable but
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available position in the meantime.
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Life often requires us to push through hard decisions and take
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initiative, guided by wisdom, rather than just passively
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waiting for all the stars to align perfectly.
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OK, so waiting shouldn't mean procrastinating or avoiding
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responsibility. Got.
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It precisely Next, consider open and closed doors.
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Just because a door seems closed doesn't always mean you
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shouldn't try again. The sources even use the WD40
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example took forty tries before it worked.
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Persistence can be a virtue. Conversely, and this is maybe be
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more subtle, an open door like a high paying job offer.
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An easy path doesn't automatically mean it's the
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wisest choice or God's intended path.
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Right. Easy isn't always right.
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Exactly. Other factors have to be
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considered. Pauls journeys and acts show him
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encountering both closed and open doors, but he always seemed
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to weigh them against broader Kingdom principles, not just the
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ease of entry. So Sarah, our example listener,
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might have an open door for a high paying job, but if it
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requires her to compromise her spiritual commitments or
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integrity, it might not be the wise choice, despite the
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apparent ease. That's a really good point.
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What about getting advice? Counsel and advice from others,
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while valuable and often biblical, also requires caution.
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Advice can sometimes conflict, leaving you more confused than
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before. Definitely experience that.
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Haven't we all? Or worse, and might just tell
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you only what you want to hear, confirming your biases rather
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than challenging them with truth.
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So discernment is really needed in its application and from whom
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it is sought. Make sure counsel comes from
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wise, biblically minded individuals who genuinely have
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your spiritual well-being at heart.
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Good counsel matters, OK? What else should we be careful
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about? A very common one to be cautious
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about is relying on a peaceful feeling.
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Now, God does give peace, and a clear conscience certainly can
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bring peace. Philippians 4 talks about that
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peace, right? But a feeling of peace does not
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automatically mean something as God's will.
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The research warns that people can feel quite peaceful about
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many sinful or just plain bad decisions.
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Wow. Yeah, feelings are often
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unreliable guides. They can be influenced by
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circumstances, personal desires, tiredness, even deception.
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Relying solely on a feeling of peace can be a dangerous way to
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justify choices that aren't actually aligned with God's Word
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or wisdom. So peace is a fruit, not
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necessarily a guide in itself. That's a good way to put it.
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Then there's fasting. The aim of fasting biblically is
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to devote your attention to the Lord, especially during big
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decisions. It's really more of a Worshipful
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act, dedicating yourself to Him. OK.
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However, it doesn't guarantee clarity in decision making.
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In fact, the research notes that you know for anyone that's
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fasted, you're not usually like in the top of your game trying
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to make decisions at that point. Huh.
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Yeah, probably true. Low blood sugar, maybe?
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Could be, but the point is it shouldn't be used to sort of
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baptize a decision making it seem unquestionable or divinely
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man inundated simply because you fasted about it.
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Fasting is a spiritual discipline for drawing near to
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God, not a method to force an outcome or guarantee you make
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the infallible choice. Got it.
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Fasting is for devotion, not divination.
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What else? Also be cautious about claims
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like being called or made for this.
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This can be really subjective and sometimes gets elevated
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above Scripture. While God does give us gifts and
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callings in a general sense, framing every personal desire or
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skill as a specific, unassailable divine call for a
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particular life choice can lead to misdirection if it's not
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carefully weighed against biblical principles and sound
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wisdom. So Sarah might feel called to
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that risky job because it aligns with her passions.
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Right, but without prayerful consideration of all the other
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factors, we'll discuss that calling could just be a strong
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personal preference dressed up in spiritual language.
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OK. Anything else on the caution
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list? Just a couple more on the other
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end of the spectrum from overanalyzing signs.
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Arbitrary or haphazard decisions are also not ideal.
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Not putting any real thought or biblical consideration into a
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decision, just making choices impulsively.
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That's irresponsible and unwise for a believer seeking to honor
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God. This isn't about overanalyzing
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every little thing, but about thoughtful, playerful
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deliberation within the bounds of God's revealed will.
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So don't just wing it. Pretty much.
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And finally, there's the idea of the prompting of the Holy Spirit
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for daily decisions, especially when urges might be
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misattributed. Now, the Holy Spirit absolutely
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gives urges that genuinely lead to righteousness, like an urge
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to share the gospel or serve someone in need or flee
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temptation. Right, those are clear.
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Yes, but Scripture doesn't present these urges as the
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primary authoritative guide for daily preferences or specific
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life choices like where to move, what to eat for dinner, or whom
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to marry. The Spirit primarily guides
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believers into righteousness and a life of obedience, leading
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away from sin and towards living out their faith.
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His direct, specific guidance in Scripture is often tied to major
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gospel advancements or foundational church moments.
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So how should we handle those inner urges or promptings?
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We should weigh them against Scripture, ask, Is this
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prompting leading me towards an opportunity to obey God's
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revealed will? Is it an opportunity to glorify
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Him? Does it align with biblical
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wisdom? We should check if there are
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opportunities to obey God rather than automatically sanctifying
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them as direct divine instructions for every
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preference or personal decision. OK, that's a really helpful set
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of cautions. It really exposes where we often
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go wrong even when we have good intentions.
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So if those are the pitfalls to avoid, what are the better
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questions to ask once you were, you know, living according to
21:35
God's revealed will displaying those S characteristics we
21:38
talked about, And the Bible doesn't provide a direct,
21:41
explicit answer for a specific decision.
21:44
What questions can help you make wise God honoring choices?
21:48
Right. These aren't about finding a
21:49
secret formula, but about applying biblical principles
21:52
wisely. Exactly.
21:54
So first a really foundational question.
21:56
What's most pleasing to God? We see this in 2nd Corinthians
21:59
5.9. First Corinthians 10.31.
22:02
Your ultimate aim in every decision, big or small, should
22:05
be to please him. Yeah, whether you eat or drink.
22:08
Or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
22:11
Asking this helps you filter choices through a lens of
22:14
worship and reverence for God. It pushes you beyond just what
22:17
feels good or convenient to consider what truly honors Him.
22:21
For Sarah, this might mean asking if either job truly
22:24
allows her to honor God with her skills and her time.
22:26
That's a great starting point. Second, ask what's the most
22:30
loving thing to do? Life is messy, right?
22:33
Filled with relationships, job factors, family needs, health
22:36
stuff. When you're faced with layers of
22:38
complexity, sometimes stepping back and asking what does love
22:41
require here can bring surprising clarity.
22:44
Love for God and neighbor. Exactly.
22:46
It focuses your decision on charity and care for God and
22:49
others, which is really a summary of God's moral law.
22:53
This might mean Sarah considers her family's needs or how her
22:56
choice could impact her community, not just her own
22:58
career path. Simplifies things sometimes.
23:01
It can. Third question, and this is a
23:04
really powerful gutcha, can I legitimately thank God for this?
23:07
Colossians 3.17 says whatever you do in Word or deed, do
23:11
everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
23:14
the Father through Him. That's direct.
23:16
It is sometimes just saying your potential decision aloud and
23:20
then immediately asking yourself, can I honestly and
23:22
genuinely thank God for this choice Provides immediate
23:25
clarity. It prompts honest
23:26
self-assessment if you hesitate. If you can't genuinely thank
23:29
Him, it might be a sign to reconsider.
23:31
It forces an accountability check before God.
23:34
That's a tough but good one. Yeah, 4th What would Jesus do
23:39
now? OK, this isn't always crystal
23:41
clear for every modern scenario or specific daily preference.
23:44
Right. Hard to imagine Jesus choosing
23:45
between software platforms. Exactly.
23:49
But the question still directs you to walk in his ways,
23:52
especially concerning gospel ministry and living a life that
23:54
reflects his character. It encourages you to think about
23:57
how he would prioritize, how he would interact, how he would act
24:01
in a way that furthers the Kingdom.
24:03
Even if you can't picture Jesus in your exact modern
24:06
predicament, considering his values and mission can still be
24:09
guiding. Focusing on his example.
24:11
Right. Fifth question, will this
24:13
promote or hinder my spiritual growth or that of my family,
24:16
friends. This is incredibly individual
24:18
and context dependent. For example, buying a luxury car
24:22
might foster pride and distraction in one person,
24:25
genuinely hindering their spiritual growth.
24:27
But for another person with different means and maybe a
24:29
different heart posture, it might be a non issue or even
24:33
used somehow for God's glory. The question forces you to
24:36
consider the personal spiritual impact of your choice, not just
24:39
the practical outcome. For Sarah, maybe one job offers
24:43
more spiritual accountability or opportunities for fellowship
24:46
than the other. That requires real
24:48
self-awareness. It does.
24:49
Sixth, Yeah. Is this something that will or
24:52
might control me? This assesses the potential for
24:55
unhealthy attachments, addictions or bondage.
24:58
If a decision could lead to something becoming an idol or
25:01
gaining undue influence over your life, that's a significant
25:04
red flag. Like money or status or even a
25:07
hobby? Sure.
25:08
It cause you to consider whether you will be mastered of the
25:11
thing or if the thing will become master over you.
25:13
A high pressure job, for example, might end up
25:15
controlling Sarah's time and thoughts to the detriment of her
25:18
spiritual life, even if it pays well.
25:20
Good morning sign to look for. 7th Will it cause another
25:24
brother to stumble, that is to sin?
25:27
This is a crucial 1 and often misunderstood.
25:29
It is not just about causing offense or making someone
25:32
uncomfortable. Right, it's about leading them
25:33
into actual sin. Exactly.
25:36
If your freedom in a Gray area might encourage A weaker brother
25:40
or sister to act against their own conscious, thereby sinning
25:43
in God's eyes, then out of love you might choose to restrict
25:48
your freedom. It's an act of charitable self
25:50
limitation for the sake of others.
25:52
Putting others first, yeah. 8th question Which is most effective
25:57
for the Kingdom of God? This question prioritizes gospel
26:01
ministry, maximizing opportunities and considering
26:04
what is uniquely fitted to your gifting.
26:07
It urges you to think beyond your immediate circumstances to
26:10
the broader impact on God's redemptive work in the world.
26:12
Thinking bigger picture. Right.
26:14
Which choice will best leverage your unique skills and resources
26:17
for the advance of the gospel? Perhaps one of Sarah's job
26:20
offers provides more opportunity to use her skills for good in
26:23
the world, or perhaps it offers better financial means to
26:26
support missions generously. Considering Kingdom impact. 9th
26:30
What's the best use of resources God's given me?
26:34
This ties back to stewardship, promoting wise use of your time,
26:37
talent, and treasure. God has entrusted you with
26:40
various resources, and asking how a particular decision aligns
26:44
with being a faithful manager of those gifts helps ensure you're
26:47
honoring him with what He's provided.
26:50
It moves beyond simple accumulation to purposeful
26:53
deployment. Good stewardship focus.
26:55
And finally, 10th, which promotes the most unity in the
26:58
body of Christ? The material we reviewed states
27:01
pretty clearly that if two options are viable and
27:04
biblically permissible, but one might create disunity or
27:07
unnecessary division within the church, it is generally no
27:10
longer an option. Wow, that's a strong statement.
27:12
It is. It highlights the high value God
27:15
places on the unity of his people, especially in matters
27:18
that aren't central to the gospel.
27:19
If Sarah's choice might somehow alienate her from her spiritual
27:22
community or cause strife, that's a factor she really needs
27:25
to consider carefully. OK.
27:26
Those 10 questions provide a really robust framework for
27:29
navigating those Gray areas. Yeah, hopefully helpful.
27:32
Definitely. So moving from these guided
27:34
questions, let's turn to that incredibly personal aspect of
27:37
decision making, your conscience.
27:40
Our sources clarify what it is, how it's shaped, and how it
27:43
truly works. And it reveals it to be a really
27:46
dynamic and sometimes complex internal instrument that
27:50
requires careful attention all. Right, let's define it first.
27:53
What is the conscience? Well, at its most basic, it is
27:57
your awareness or your sense of what you believe is right or
28:00
wrong. It operates squarely in the
28:02
domain of morality, which makes it a really serious
28:04
consideration for believers. The Bible mentions the Greek
28:07
word for conscience, sunitis, about 30 times in the New
28:11
Testament. 30 times, OK. So it's significant.
28:14
It really is. It's frequent appearance
28:15
underscores its significance in the Christian life.
28:18
Our research reveals it as this dynamic instrument, a gift from
28:21
the Lord that can act like a guide or a monitor, a witness,
28:25
even a judge within you. It's almost as if it's a
28:27
separate entity speaking to you, sometimes seemingly outside your
28:30
full control warning or informing you about your actions
28:34
or intentions. Interesting, Like an internal
28:36
alarm system? Kind of, yeah.
28:38
And it can exist in various states.
28:40
You can have a good conscience, a bad conscience, or even a
28:43
really bad state, as one source put it.
28:46
The good news is that it can be cleansed, and it possesses the
28:49
capacity to drive you toward action in various ways, pushing
28:53
you towards what you perceive as righteous.
28:55
OK, so it's this internal moral sensor, but here's a crucial
28:59
point you mentioned earlier. It's unique to each person,
29:02
right? Exactly, this is where it gets
29:04
really interesting. It's not a universal moral
29:06
sensor that registers the same for everyone like some perfectly
29:10
calibrated scientific instrument.
29:12
Instead, each individual's conscience is distinctly shaped
29:15
and formed over time. The uniqueness of each
29:18
believer's conscience stems from a whole variety of influences
29:22
and experiences throughout your life.
29:24
These deeply personal factors work together to inform what
29:27
your conscience perceives as prohibitions, those things you
29:30
believe are sinful for you, and freedoms, things you're
29:33
conscious doesn't warn you about.
29:35
So what shapes that? What are those influences?
29:37
Well, think about your family dynamics.
29:39
That plays a huge part. What your parents consistently
29:42
said was right or wrong, what they permitted or prohibited.
29:45
That deeply imprinted on your developing moral framework.
29:49
The values and rules of your childhood home become
29:52
foundational to your internal sense of right and wrong, for
29:55
better or worse. Makes sense?
29:57
Then the culture in which you were raised also shapes it.
30:00
We see massive differences in conscience sensitivity across
30:04
various cultures, for instance, maybe in the matters related to
30:07
hospitality or modesty, or even how you spend your free time.
30:11
What's considered perfectly acceptable in one cultural
30:14
context might be deeply offensive or even forbidden by
30:17
conscience in another. Right, culture plays a big role.
30:20
Your personal background and foundational experiences are
30:22
also key significant life events, Your personal history.
30:26
They contribute to who you are and how you perceive right and
30:29
wrong. A traumatic experience, for
30:31
example, might lead to a strong prohibition against something
30:34
that others view as harmless simply because of its
30:36
association with past pain for you.
30:38
Yeah, personal history matters. Similarly, consequences from
30:42
past decisions can powerfully mold your conscience.
30:45
Maybe you made a choice and it led to negative outcomes.
30:49
That experience can lead you to believe that those actions are
30:51
always wrong for you because of what happened after you made
30:54
those choices. You learn from the pain or
30:57
regret and your conscience build a barrier there.
31:00
Learning the hard way sometimes. Sometimes, and crucially for
31:05
believers, your interpretation of the Bible is a major
31:08
influence your understanding of Scripture, which is itself
31:11
affected by how long you've been a Christian.
31:13
The kind of teaching you've received will directly impact
31:16
what you understand God to prohibit or permit.
31:19
Sound biblical teaching can refine your conscience, while
31:22
poor teaching can misalign it. So the teaching we sit under is
31:25
vital. Absolutely.
31:27
Now this inherent uniqueness means 2 individuals, even 2
31:30
genuine believers in the exact same situation, can have very
31:34
different conscience responses. One person's internal warning
31:37
bells might be blaring, causing deep conviction about a
31:40
particular action. Well, another person feels
31:42
complete freedom. Exactly and often.
31:45
Neither is it necessarily wrong, depending on the matter at hand,
31:48
especially if it falls within the Gray area where Scripture is
31:50
silent. It's also true that both
31:53
believers and unbelievers possess a conscience that's part
31:56
of being human, made in God's image.
31:59
However, for believers, God's Word is the objective standard,
32:03
the ultimate authority against which their unique conscience
32:06
should be measured and aligned. It's the unchanging Plumb line.
32:10
OK, our sources give us this really helpful triangle diagram
32:14
to visualize our conscience. Think of it like this.
32:17
Your personal conscience is a triangle.
32:19
Inside that triangle are all the things you believe are
32:22
prohibited. Your personal do not cross lines
32:24
based on your upbringing, culture, past experiences, how
32:27
you understand the Bible, all that stuff.
32:29
OK, the no go zones for me personally.
32:31
Right. So for one person, maybe
32:33
drinking alcohol is a big A inside their triangle, signaling
32:37
a strong conviction against it for them.
32:40
But outside that triangle are the letters representing
32:43
freedom, things your conscience doesn't warn you about.
32:46
For that same person, maybe watching a particular type of
32:49
movie is an M outside their triangle, indicating liberty for
32:53
them. So everyone's triangle looks
32:54
different. Exactly the key insight is that
32:58
everyone's triangle is uniquely drawn, making genuine
33:01
understanding and charity regarding different convictions
33:04
so vital, especially within the Church.
33:06
OK, that diagram helps visualize these internal dynamics.
33:10
Now when we start to overlay individual consciences,
33:13
particularly with God's will, which is represented as a sort
33:16
of blue triangle in the sources showing what God actually
33:19
intends to bind everyone's conscience with, like those
33:22
universal moral imperatives such as sexual purity or the sanctity
33:25
of human life, we can begin to diagnose some common and often
33:28
contentious issues that can arise in the church.
33:31
How does that overlay help? Well, this visual helps us
33:34
understand where personal conscience aligns or misaligns
33:37
with divine command and also where it aligns or misaligns
33:40
with other believers consciences.
33:42
Let's consider a scenario when God's will is missing from your
33:46
conscience. OK, if a prohibition is clearly
33:49
articulated in God's revealed will, let's say God's Word
33:54
unequivocally prohibits something like adultery.
33:57
Or we can call it P in the diagram for a prohibition from
34:00
God. But that P is not yet a
34:02
prohibition in an individual's personal conscience, meaning
34:06
their internal alarm doesn't go off for it.
34:08
So they don't feel it's wrong, even though God's word says it
34:10
is. Exactly.
34:11
Then that individual needs to add that prohibition to their
34:14
conscience, the sources say. This looks just a lot like
34:17
repentance. Recognizing the gap and
34:19
changing. Right.
34:20
It involves coming to understand God's standard, acknowledging
34:24
where one's internal compass is misaligned, and actively
34:27
stopping the thoughts, affections, or actions that are
34:30
contrary to God's clear will. This is a necessary step for
34:33
obedience and spiritual health. It's about correcting an error
34:36
in your internal compass based on God's external objective
34:39
standard. OK, that's one issue.
34:41
What's another? Then there's the opposite
34:42
situation when your conscience prohibits what God permits.
34:48
This is where an individual's conscience holds a prohibition,
34:51
let's call it B, for binding on me.
34:55
That is unique to them and is not something God intends to
34:58
bind all consciences with. So God is indifferent to it, but
35:01
my conscience says no. Precisely.
35:04
In other words, God has no specific command regarding it in
35:06
His revealed word. In such a case, God does not
35:10
intend for that person's conscience to be bound by it,
35:12
even if the person currently feels a strong conviction
35:15
against it. Now, importantly, the person
35:17
must act according to their conscience.
35:18
To violate your conscience is sin, even if the conscience is
35:22
mistaken on that point. Right, Romans 14.
35:24
Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
35:26
Exactly. But the prohibition itself is
35:28
not a universal divine command. For example, if Sarah's
35:33
conscience believes it is wrong for her to work on Sundays even
35:36
if her job doesn't require it, and it falls outside specific
35:39
biblical mandates that apply to everyone in every situation,
35:42
that is her personal prohibition.
35:45
God doesn't universally forbid all work on Sundays for all
35:48
people in the New Covenant, but her conscience does.
35:51
OK, so she should follow her conscience but recognize it's
35:55
not binding on others. Ideally, yes.
35:58
And perhaps one of the most interesting and frankly,
36:00
dangerously divisive issues is the danger of shared misplaced
36:04
prohibitions. Our sources call this issue G
36:07
Maybe for group agreement. What's that?
36:10
This happens when two or more individuals agree on a
36:13
prohibition. That is not something God
36:15
intends to bind all consciences with.
36:17
They share this conviction. Maybe they even, you know, high
36:20
5 each other over their shared adherence to this particular
36:22
belief or. Practice like we're the ones who
36:24
really get it. Exactly that kind of attitude
36:27
can creep in. However, because this
36:29
prohibition is not rooted in God's revealed will, elevating
36:33
it to a binding status can quickly lead to factions and
36:36
disunity within the church. People might become exclusive,
36:40
looking down on or dividing from others who do not share this
36:43
specific self-imposed conviction.
36:45
So it elevates a personal or group belief above God's actual
36:49
word. Precisely.
36:51
It causes unnecessary division over something the Lord actually
36:55
gives freedom on. Imagine maybe a group of friends
36:58
in church all agreeing that listening to any music with a
37:01
drum beat is worldly or of the devil, and then they start
37:05
judging others who listen to contemporary worship music, even
37:08
though scripture doesn't make that specific musical
37:10
distinction sinful. That's a misplaced shared
37:13
prohibition causing division. Wow.
37:15
Yeah, you can see how that would cause problems.
37:17
This raises a critical point, then.
37:19
If our consciences can be so different and obviously prone to
37:22
misfire sometimes, how do we navigate these differences both
37:25
within ourselves, trying to figure out our own conscience,
37:28
and with others in the body of Christ?
37:30
Yeah, that's the $1,000,000 question, isn't it?
37:32
It feels like it. Thankfully, the Apostle Paul
37:35
helps us with this significantly.
37:36
In Romans 14 and 15, and also First Corinthians 8 through 10,
37:41
he introduces and elaborates on the term strong and weak
37:44
conscience. These terms are absolutely
37:46
crucial for understanding how to interact charitably when
37:49
convictions differ. OK, strong and weak.
37:51
Let's define those. Well, first, our sources
37:54
illustrate the conscience generally as this fallen
37:57
imperfect instrument. It can be out of tune playing
38:00
wrong notes. Like a poorly tuned piano.
38:03
Exactly. Just like a musical instrument
38:05
that's not properly tuned will produce discording sounds, a
38:08
conscience that's misaligned with God's Word can misfire.
38:12
It might label something is wrong that isn't actually wrong
38:14
in God's eyes. Or, conversely, it might fail to
38:17
warn you about something that is wrong.
38:20
This analogy helps us see that a conscience isn't always a
38:22
perfect, reliable guide on its own.
38:24
It needs constant tuning against the objective standard of God's
38:27
Word. OK.
38:28
So it's fallible. Right.
38:30
So within that context, what then is a weak conscience?
38:34
According to Paul's teaching and based on our sources, a weak
38:37
conscience is one that is misfiring or not properly
38:40
aligned with God's word on a particular matter.
38:43
This is often due to a lack of knowledge, as Paul puts it in
38:46
verse Corinthians 8. OK, lack of knowledge meaning.
38:49
Meaning they might not fully grasp the freedom they have in
38:52
Christ in a certain area. So it binds a person to more
38:55
prohibitions than God actually intends.
38:57
It leads to reduced freedom for that individual in areas where
39:00
God has actually granted liberty.
39:02
Can you give an example again? Sure, a person with a weak
39:05
conscience in a certain area might believe it is sinful to
39:07
eat meat offered to idols even though Paul clarifies the idol
39:11
is nothing, or that it is wrong to observe certain days over
39:15
others, or maybe in a modern context to watch any movie.
39:18
Rated PG13. Their conscience is over
39:21
restricting them in an area God allows freedom.
39:24
It isn't about their faith being weak, but their understanding or
39:27
application of Christian liberty in that specific area is
39:30
limited. OK, so weak means more
39:33
restrictions than necessary. What about strong?
39:36
Conversely, a strong conscience, in Paul's terms, is one that is
39:40
aligned with God's intention for them on a particular matter.
39:44
It correctly recognizes freedom where God has not commanded
39:48
restriction. This individual understands that
39:51
God has granted liberty in certain Gray areas and feels
39:54
free to participate in those actions without a sense of guilt
39:57
or wrongdoing. They have a clearer grasp of
40:00
biblical freedom on that specific issue.
40:02
All right, so strong means understanding and walking in
40:05
legitimate freedom, Yes. Now, it is absolutely crucial to
40:09
understand what weak does not mean in this biblical context.
40:12
This causes so much confusion and judgement.
40:15
OK, what doesn't it mean? It does not mean a lack of
40:17
conviction. A person with a weak conscience
40:19
can be deeply, sincerely convicted about their
40:22
prohibition. It does not mean weak faith
40:24
overall, or that they love the Lord less than someone with a
40:27
strong conscience. It definitely does not mean a
40:30
lower standing in the church or being less spiritual.
40:33
That's important. Very.
40:34
Furthermore, it doesn't necessarily mean being quiet
40:37
about one's convictions. Sometimes those with a weak
40:40
conscience can be quite vocal about what they perceive as
40:43
right or wrong, maybe even trying to bind others
40:46
consciences. These misconceptions often lead
40:49
to pride in the strong and judgement towards the weak, or
40:52
vice versa, causing disunity. Right, avoiding that judgement
40:56
trap. Exactly.
40:57
And here's a vital nuance. Everyone is simultaneously
41:01
strong and weak on different issues.
41:04
Oh, interesting. So it's not like you're just
41:05
globally strong or weak. Not at all.
41:09
You can be strong on one matter, correctly recognizing your
41:12
freedom and God's permission, and simultaneously weak on
41:15
another matter, binding yourself with an unnecessary prohibition
41:18
based on maybe your background or interpretation.
41:21
No one's conscience is perfectly aligned with God's will on every
41:24
single matter across the board. Even the most mature believer
41:27
will have areas where their conscience might not be fully
41:29
calibrated yet. That levels the playing field
41:32
quite a bit. It really should.
41:34
Moreover, practice reflects belief.
41:37
Both strong and weak consciences dictate what a person believes
41:41
through their practice. If a person with a weak
41:43
conscience deems something wrong for them, they will not
41:46
participate in that activity. Their actions are a sincere
41:49
reflection of their internal conviction, even if that
41:52
conviction might be misaligned with God's fullest intention of
41:55
freedom on that specific matter. And, as we said, they would be
41:59
sinning if they acted against that internal conviction.
42:01
So you have to follow your conscience, even if it's weak on
42:03
some point. Yes.
42:04
And lastly, and this is so important for church unity, both
42:08
those with strong and weak consciences can be tempted to
42:11
sin against each other. The strong may be tempted to
42:14
judge or despise those with less freedom, perhaps looking down on
42:18
them as legalistic or immature, or even carelessly flaunting
42:21
their freedom in a way that pressures the weak.
42:24
Conversely, the weak may look down on those with more freedom,
42:27
labeling them as unspiritual, worldly, or even sinful for
42:31
exercising liberty in areas where the weak conscience sees
42:34
prohibition. Resisting these mutual
42:37
temptations to judge and condemn is absolutely key to maintaining
42:40
unity and love in the body of Christ, as Paul hammers home in
42:44
Romans 14. Wow, OK.
42:46
That framework of strong and weak with all those nuances is
42:49
incredibly helpful for navigating differences.
42:52
It really calls for humility on all sides.
42:54
Absolutely. And it's truly liberating to
42:55
realize that for matters where God is in different meaning, He
42:58
has no specific command or prohibition in His Word,
43:01
allowing for freedom, both the strong and the weak in
43:04
conscience can actually honor the Lord and their choices.
43:06
So you don't have to get everyone to agree on 3rd tier
43:09
issues. Exactly.
43:10
It means that if God has no specific command regarding an
43:14
issue, you don't necessarily have to change your personal
43:17
conviction or abandoned your practice, even if it differs
43:20
from other believers, provided you're not causing them to sin
43:23
against their conscience. How does that work?
43:26
How can both honor God? Our sources highlight this
43:28
principle of honoring the Lord in matters of indifference.
43:31
Romans 14.5 to 6 illustrates this perfectly.
43:35
One person esteems one day as better than another, while
43:38
another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully
43:41
convinced in his own mind, Paul continues.
43:45
The one who observes the day observes it in honor of the
43:47
Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor
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of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who
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abstains abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to
43:55
God. So motivation in the conviction
43:57
matter. Precisely this passage teaches
44:00
that even if your conscience leads you to abstain from
44:03
something, God permits making you weak on that point, you can
44:07
do so in honor of the Lord. The research we looked at shares
44:10
that God generally does not require someone who is weak on
44:13
an indifferent issue to suddenly become strong on that issue.
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Just for uniformity sake, that's.
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Huge. It is the priority here is to
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act according to your own conviction with a clear
44:24
conscience before God, and to give thanks to God for your
44:27
choice, recognizing that God is honored by sincere obedience to
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1's conscience in these matters, as long as it doesn't violate
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His clear revealed will or harm others.
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This allows for tremendous diversity within the unity of a
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local church body. That makes so much sense.
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It really takes the pressure off needing everyone to be
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identical, doesn't it? But it also raises another vital
44:46
point. You said the conscience isn't
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static. It's a dynamic instrument that
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can change, or as our sources put it, it can be calibrated or
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refined. That's right, it's not set in
44:56
stone. This is a continuous process for
44:58
believers as they mature in their walk with Christ,
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constantly striving to align that internal compass with the
45:04
objective, Plumb line of God's Word.
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So how does that calibration happen?
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Well, there's a natural refinement that occurs for those
45:12
who are in Christ. Your conscience has already
45:13
changed since conversion, and it will continue to be refined
45:17
through God's Word as you mature in your walk.
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As you consistently expose yourself to Scripture, meditate
45:24
on it, apply its truths, and grow in your understanding of
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God's character and will, your conscience will naturally become
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more accurately tuned to His standards over time.
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It's a gracious work of the Holy Spirit in every believer.
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OK, so growth in Christ naturally refines it?
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Yes, but beyond this natural process, there can also be
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intentional calibration. This is about actively and
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intentionally seeking to align your conscience more accurately,
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which can involve moving from a weak to a strong position where
45:51
suitable, or adding prohibitions where God's word demands it.
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It involves 2 key movements all. Right.
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What are they? The first is the addition of
45:59
prohibitions. This occurs when God's Word
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reveals something should bind your conscience that previously
46:05
did not. For example, maybe through a
46:08
study you realize gossip is more serious than you thought.
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Or maybe your conscience didn't register sexual impurity as a
46:14
major prohibition, meaning it didn't warn you against certain
46:17
thoughts or actions, but God's Word clearly makes it one for
46:20
everyone. Then you need to actively add
46:23
that prohibition to your conscience.
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Our research says this looks just a lot like repentance and
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involves stopping thoughts, affections, or actions that are
46:32
contrary to God's revealed will. It's about consciously aligning
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your internal sense of right and wrong with God's objective moral
46:39
law found in Scripture. This is a non negotiable area
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for growth for all believers. So adding things God clearly
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forbids, what's the other movement?
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The second is the subtraction of prohibitions.
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This happens when you become convinced, after careful study
46:52
of God's Word and prayer, that your conscience was previously
46:55
misfiring about an issue God is actually indifferent to.
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Moving from weak to strong on an issue.
47:02
Exactly. For example, maybe you
47:03
previously believed wearing flip flops to church was sinful, or
47:07
eating certain foods was wrong, but you become biblically
47:10
convinced God has no such command and grants freedom in
47:13
that area. You can then thoughtfully and
47:15
prayerfully remove that prohibition from your
47:18
conscience. Do you have to do that?
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Well, the sources suggest it's not absolutely commanded in the
47:23
same way adding God's prohibitions is.
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You can honor God while remaining weak on a different
47:28
manner. However, the sources also stayed
47:31
that moving towards understanding and embracing the
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freedom God gives represents a more desirable state.
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It allows you to walk in greater liberty where God has granted it
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without unnecessary self-imposed restrictions.
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But this process requires genuine biblical conviction, not
47:47
just casually disregarding a previous belief because it's
47:50
inconvenient. It's about letting go of
47:52
self-imposed legalism based on scriptural understanding.
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OK, adding God's commands, subtracting unnecessary
47:58
restrictions. Right, and our sources use a
48:01
helpful garden analogy to describe this ongoing process.
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Your conscience is like a garden that requires continuous
48:08
tending. I like that, Tending the garden
48:10
of the conscience. Yeah, this involves diligently
48:13
digging out weeds which represent misaligned beliefs or
48:17
unnecessary prohibitions that shouldn't be rooted in your
48:19
conscience. It also means cultivating the
48:21
soil to create a healthy environment for the beliefs and
48:24
convictions that should be there, those firmly rooted in
48:27
God's Word. And finally, it's about planting
48:30
things that result in beauty by aligning your conscience more
48:34
and more accurately with God's revealed will.
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This is an ongoing process, a lifelong task that believers
48:40
engage in, always striving for more fruitfulness and alignment
48:43
with God's truth. The garden analogy is perfect
48:46
for capturing that ongoing growth and the need for active
48:50
cultivation and understanding. This calibration of conscience
48:53
is closely tied into recognizing that not all matters of
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conscience are of the same weight or significance.
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This is crucial. Our sources present a helpful
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hierarchy of conscience issues categorized into 3 tiers, which
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is really vital for maintaining unity in the Body of Christ and
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discerning essential truths from non essentials.
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OK, a hierarchy. What are the tears?
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At the top we have first tier issues.
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These are the central, foundational, non negotiable
49:18
truths essential to the Christian faith itself.
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Like the core doctrines? Exactly.
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Examples include the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, His
49:27
substitutionary atonement, his bodily resurrection, salvation
49:30
by grace through faith alone, the authority of Scripture, or
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indeed the core elements of God's revealed moral will for
49:37
all believers. Like sexual purity, to deny
49:40
these foundational truths means you cannot genuinely be
49:43
considered a Christian. They align directly and
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unequivocally with the objective standard of God's Word, forming
49:49
the very bedrock of our faith. There is simply no room for
49:53
difference of conscience on these matters.
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They are binding for all true believers.
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OK, first here, Essential Gospel truths.
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What second tier? Stepping down, we find 2nd tier
50:02
issues. These are matters that are
50:04
important, often essential to the life and ordering of the
50:07
local church, but they do not define the gospel itself.
50:10
Differences here don't mean someone isn't a Christian.
50:13
Can you give example? Sure.
50:14
Examples include convictions on the proper mode and subjects of
50:17
baptism, infant versus believers baptism, specific views on the
50:22
role of men and women in church leadership, perspectives on
50:25
spiritual gifts, or specific theological positions on the
50:28
details of God's sovereignty versus human responsibility.
50:31
OK, important church issues, but not salvation issues.
50:35
Right. Differences here, while often
50:37
sincere and biblically based on both sides, may create sensible
50:41
and even necessary boundaries between different local
50:43
congregations or denominations. It can make it logical for
50:47
churches with significantly different convictions on these
50:49
matters to form separate congregations oriented around
50:52
those specific beliefs, simply for cleaner operation and
50:55
greater unity within that particular body.
50:58
But again, disagreeing on a second tier issue does not make
51:01
someone outside the faith. Got it.
51:03
First tier, second tier, what's left?
51:05
Finally, at the bottom we have third tier issues.
51:07
These are often referred to as idiphora, or matters of
51:10
indifference. These are issues where the Lord
51:12
is, well, indifferent, meaning God does not have a specific
51:15
command in Scripture to bind a believer's conscience on them
51:18
one way or the other. So areas of freedom.
51:20
Exactly. Individuals have freedom in
51:23
these matters. They do not affect a person's
51:25
understanding of the gospel, and crucially, they should not
51:27
'cause division in the church. Our sources give that
51:30
straightforward example again, someone believing it is
51:33
absolutely sinful to wear flip flops in church.
51:37
While a person might have a sincere conviction about this
51:39
for themselves, it is clearly 1/3 tier issue.
51:43
Other examples might be choices about food and drink within
51:46
biblical bounds, entertainment choices again within bounds,
51:50
holiday observances, specific worship styles, or choosing
51:54
between two equally moral hobbies.
51:56
The Lord is generally silent on such preferences.
51:59
OK, that distinction seems really important for church
52:01
unity. It's critical because the
52:03
problem of misplacement is identified as a primary cause of
52:06
disunity, unity in the church. This happens when a third tier
52:09
issue gets elevated in people's minds or in a church's practice
52:13
up to a higher tier, particularly when it's treated
52:15
like a first tier gospel issue. Making mountains out of
52:18
molehills, basically. That's a good way to put it.
52:21
This leads to division over something the Lord gives freedom
52:24
on, fracturing the unity of the body over something God himself
52:27
is silent about. If a church were to separate
52:30
over whether believers should or shouldn't drink coffee or only
52:33
use the King James Version, that's a clear case of elevating
52:37
1/3 tier issue inappropriately. So the goal is balance.
52:41
Yes, the goal is to aim for a wise middle ground, avoiding
52:45
both lawlessness and extreme freedom that disregards even
52:48
clear biblical commands and legalism, an extreme restriction
52:52
that adds human traditions or preferences to God's commands.
52:56
Paul provides a great example himself in First Corinthians 9,
52:59
where he talks about being all things to all men for the sake
53:02
of the gospel, sometimes exercising his freedom,
53:04
sometimes withholding it based on what best promoted the gospel
53:08
and unity in that context. OK, this whole discussion on
53:10
conscience, its uniqueness, calibration, the strong weak
53:13
dynamic and these tears is so clarifying.
53:16
It gives a framework for understanding ourselves and
53:18
others better, hopefully. Now let's bring it back to the
53:21
practical decision making for those of you listening, maybe
53:25
like our hypothetical Sarah, who might be struggling with what
53:27
are sources called analyzation paralysis, that state where you
53:31
just overthink or overanalyze a decision to the point of being
53:35
completely stuck, unable to make one even after applying biblical
53:39
principles, asking helpful questions, seeking counsel.
53:42
Spinning your wheels. Exactly what's the advice then?
53:46
The material we reviewed give some very direct advice here.
53:49
Essentially, just make a decision.
53:51
Pretty. Much this is a truly freeing
53:53
concept grounded in what we discussed earlier.
53:56
God's will for these non mural Gray area decisions is not like
54:00
playing pin the tail on the donkey where if you miss one
54:03
specific hidden choice, you're suddenly outside His will or
54:06
you've messed up His plan. It's not like a target with only
54:09
one tiny bullseye representing the correct path.
54:11
If you were truly living for Him.
54:13
If your heart's desire is to glorify Him, and you are
54:16
genuinely striving to do all the things He's revealed in His
54:19
Word, embodying those S characteristics we talked about,
54:23
then you are in His will. You're walking within the
54:26
boundaries He's set. The focus is on your character,
54:29
your faithfulness, your heart's desire to obey, not on
54:33
pinpointing one single perfect hidden outcome for every non
54:37
biblical choice. So The Who matters more than the
54:40
specific what in these areas? That's a great summary.
54:43
So for Sarah, after prayerfully weighing all the factors, using
54:47
those helpful questions, and checking our motives, she can
54:49
make a choice between her two job offers, trusting that God is
54:53
honored by her sincere desire to follow Him, not just by her
54:56
picking the one single predetermined path, because
54:58
there might not be one single predetermined path for that
55:01
choice. And what if the choice doesn't
55:02
turn out perfectly? What if she takes the job and
55:04
it's not great? Does that mean she missed God's
55:06
will? That's a crucial follow up, and
55:08
the answer from our sources is no.
55:11
If a decision you make later turns out not to be ideal or
55:14
perfect in its outcome, it doesn't mean you were outside
55:16
God's will or that you made some huge spiritual error.
55:20
It simply means you might need to make another decision.
55:23
OK, course correction is possible.
55:25
Exactly. The aim is not infallibility in
55:27
every non biblical choice, it's to continue to glorify the Lord
55:30
in whatever context you find yourself.
55:33
God is concerned with who you are, your character, your
55:36
faithfulness, your posture of obedience, and your ongoing
55:39
desire to live for Him regardless of every specific
55:42
outcome. In those Gray areas, you can get
55:45
back up, learn from the experience, make another wise
55:48
decision based on what you now know, and keep pressing forward,
55:51
continuing to honor Him. That's the grace of God active
55:54
in our decision making journey. That really takes the fear out
55:56
of making decisions in freedom. It should.
55:59
So as we conclude this deep dive, the invitation for you
56:01
listening is to reflect. Where do you go from here?
56:04
What is the Lord maybe prompting in your heart based on our
56:07
conversation today? Yeah, consider if there's
56:09
something specific from this deep dive that you need to
56:12
revisit or apply in your own life.
56:14
Perhaps it is a conscience issue.
56:16
You realize you need to calibrate, maybe digging out
56:18
some weeds from that garden analogy or adding a prohibition
56:21
God's word makes clear. Or maybe it's a decision making
56:24
habit you need to adjust, moving away from some of those pitfalls
56:26
we discussed. Or perhaps by God's grace, you
56:30
feel generally aligned. You're striving to live out
56:32
those cess characteristics. Then the question might become,
56:36
where does the Lord want to use me next?
56:38
Where can I, from this position of understanding His will and my
56:42
conscience, best serve His Kingdom and glorify Him with the
56:45
freedom He's given me? That's the ongoing adventure,
56:48
isn't it? Our hope really is that you will
56:50
continue to take God's Word seriously, live according to it,
56:54
delight in Him, and walk in a way that is pleasing to Him,
56:57
always seeking to glorify Him in every facet of your life,
57:00
trusting His grace as you make decisions day by day.