A Closer Walk With God
Discerning Between Good And Evil
In the previous lesson we talked about overcoming sin by understanding the development of sin and utilizing the help of God to:
1) Change our desires.
2) Limit our opportunities to sin.
3) Exercise self-control.
4) Seek forgiveness.
Assumed in all of this, is that we know or can discern the difference between what is good and evil. Knowing the difference does not come automatically upon conversion. It is an ability that comes with time and "exercise" - He 5:12-14 "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, or everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." This lesson is designed to help us develop this ability to discern, so that we might truly have "a closer walk with God".
Deciding what is right and what is wrong is really very simple. It involves asking a few questions about the matter at hand... Such as "is it clearly condemned in the Bible? Many things are specifically mentioned as being wrong. One list of such things is found in Ga 5:19-21 "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." A similar list is found in Ep 5:3-6 "But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." For such things, that settles the matter. At least as far as Christians are concerned. There is no room for debate when the Scriptures clearly condemn some practice.
But not all sins are mentioned by name, for the Bible would be endless if that were true! So another question needs to be asked, "is it similar to those condemned in the Bible"? In Gal, 5:19-21, note the phrase "and the like". When we are uncertain about some matter, we should ask whether it is like sins specifically mentioned. For example, what about smoking marijuana? Is it not like "drunkenness"? You might compare something in question with the good things mentioned, noting those things in Ga 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Is the matter in question more like the "fruit of the Spirit" (that which is good) or the "works of the flesh" (that which is evil)?
Another question to consider, does it hurt your conscience? Note the importance of a good conscience in light of the following Scriptures - 1 Ti 1:5 "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.", 18-19 "This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,"; 3:9 "They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience." Violating our conscience to the degree it no longer bothers us is a sure sign of apostasy! - 1 Ti 4:1-2 "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,"
This may help us to appreciate Romans 14:23 "But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." . Doing something when you doubt its rightfulness is to violate your conscience. That, declares Paul, is sin! So an act may be good in of itself, but if you think it is wrong (because of incorrect knowledge) or have doubts about its rightfulness, then don't do it!
Another help is to ask, "what do mature Christians say about it? Of course, this is not the ultimate determining factor for mature Christians can be wrong, as they would be the first to admit. But, Heb 5:14 does say that those who by "reason of use" are in a position to discern. "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." This is why the advice of mature Christians can be helpful - Ph 3:17 "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us." The example of Rehoboam's failure to listen to the advice of older, mature men should teach us something - (1 Kin 12:6-20). Paul instructed Titus that the younger should look to those older - Ti 2:2-5 "Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled."
Then a question that is often overlooked is does it hinder our influence. By both example and word, Paul stressed the importance of being concerned about our influence on others. Notice his concern for how his influence affected the salvation of others - 1 Co 9:19-23 "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings." He then commands to do likewise, in which we are simply imitating the example of Christ! - 1 Co 10:31-11:1 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."
Peter taught the value of a good example in helping a wife win her husband to the Lord - 1 Pe 3:1-2 "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives-- when they see your respectful and pure conduct." What is said of a wife's example would also be true of a Christian's example. So we should be concerned as to whether a practice under question helps or hinders our influence for the Lord!
We might question is it poor stewardship? That we are "stewards" of our time, money, and bodies is evident from the Lord's Parable of the Talents - Mt 25:14-30. Also from Paul's instruction concerning our bodies - 1 Co 6:19-20 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." From his directions for those rich in this world - 1 Ti 6:17-19 "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."
Some activities may be harmless in themselves, but require so much time and energy there is none left for the Lord! This can be true of vocations, hobbies, etc. We should bear in mind that time is limited and therefore priorities must be set and kept - Ep 5:16 "making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."; Mt 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Finally, we can ask would Jesus do it? Remember the goal of discipleship as found in Lk 6:40 "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher." In other words, to be like Jesus! "Would Jesus do it?" is therefore an appropriate question. If you think He would not, it is probably wrong! This makes the study of Jesus of prime importance. Studying His life, His examples, His Word. So that we can have the "mind of Christ" - Ph 2:5 "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,".
I hope that these seven questions can help in identifying what is good and what is evil. The importance of properly discerning between good and evil is seen in such passages like 2 Co 6:16-7:1 "Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." We are reminded of how blessed we are to be the people of God and the responsibility to act accordingly, if we wish to have a closer walk with God!
Here are some questions to stimulate your thinking.
Do you have some older Christian to whom you feel free to go to for advice?
Do you feel that you usually give enough thought to the effect of your actions on other people?
Are you trying to keep a good conscience in all that you do?
Will you ask, when in doubt, "What would Jesus do?"
