QUESTIONS I ASK ABOUT THE “QUESTIONABLE”
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

INTRO:
Good morning. For our text today I would like us to consider two very short verses 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 – “21. Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22. Abstain from every form of evil.”

As I confront the issues life brings to me daily, I realize how fortunate I am in the advice that the apostle Paul has given to me. I recognize too that this is the advice of inspiration, the advice of the Holy Spirit. As I have passed through the various stages of life through the years, I have as you have, had to deal with moral and ethical issues. Some of those issues which I had to confront were long held issues and opinions.

The investigations of these issues are not always easy and not always pleasant. There have been times, I frankly admit, when such queries and investigations have raised more questions than they answered. Still, such things must be considered, must be confronted. They must be confronted with an open heart, a sincere heart, an honest heart, a heart willing to be instructed and taught by God’s word.

As the years have passed, it has come to be my practice in dealing with difficult and thorny issues to ask myself a series of questions. That’s how I begin. Often in asking and answering those questions I have discovered that I am brought to a proper, wholesome and spiritual answer out of what has sometimes been considerable confusion.

This morning what I would like to do for just a few minutes is, if I may, share with you some of those questions that I ask myself and try to explain to you why in the asking of those questions I am brought to a better understanding of the issue being considered, and often why I am brought to a determination of what course I should follow.

I. Is this expressly forbidden?
A. The first question is perhaps the most obvious. Is this particular thing which I’m contemplating expressly forbidden in scripture? If I can find these kinds of answers they are the ones that make my life considerably easier.
1. It’s those “thou shall not” passages which clarify things and take all of the discussion away and I’m comfortable with them.
2. These are the sort of answers I believe most of us would like to find. Thou shall not.
B. The question, though, is: Are such things as these found in scripture in the New Testament? It is in the New Testament where we live.
1. In looking there perhaps you will find “the thou shall nots” are not as easy to find in terms of those very words as we would like them to be.
2. Yet, there are numerous passages of scripture in which, if we are careful in our study of them, are explicit in forbidding of certain kinds of activities. I’m not going to read all of these this morning for they are lengthy, but I’m going to give you these for your notes.
3. For example, in Romans chapter one, beginning at verse 26 and going through verse 32. Perhaps this is one of the most extensive such lists of activities which scripture clearly prohibits that you’re going to find in your New Testament. Romans 1:26-32.
4. Then in First Corinthians the sixth chapter, verses nine and ten, there is a very definite list of activities which the writer explains will keep one from being ultimately in the kingdom of heaven. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. It also says “and such were (past tense) some of you.”
5. In Galatians chapter five, verses 19 through 21, there is that list of the works of the flesh concluding with that little expression “and such like”. Galatians 5:19-21.
6. In Ephesians chapter five beginning at verse three and down through about verse seven or eight, you discover behavior that is inconsistent with the life of a child of light. Ephesians 5:3-7.
7. In Colossians chapter three at verse five down through verse nine are those things which a Christian must put off—things that must not be retained in the Christian life. Things that must be “mortified” is the word that is used in scripture. Colossians 3:5-9.
8. First Thessalonians four, verse three, and then beginning at verse one read down through the chapter you see the effect of verse three. It is a description of those things which are clearly revealed from God, commanded from God as part of acceptable behavior or behavior that is not acceptable in a child of God. 1 Thessalonians 4:3.
9. Then in First Timothy chapter one at verses nine and ten there are several things cited. 1 Timothy 1:9-10.
C. These are explicit things. These are things that are expressly forbidden in scripture. Would God that we had for every question we have in life that explicit an answer. I know that that is what most of us would prefer to have. In all of these passages which I have cited there is behavior against which scripture speaks—behavior that is misbehavior that is not acceptable to God.
II. Does this glorify God?
A. The second question takes the issue into the realm of dealing with those things for which I’m not able to find a very explicit “thou shall not”. The second question is this: Will this thing bring glory to God? It is a question that all of us as Christian people need to be asking always, does what we’re doing glorify God?
1. A passage which comes to mind is found over in the book of First Corinthians in the tenth chapter, verse 31 which says: 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, (listen to these words) do all to the glory of God.” Everything that I do must be viewed in terms of does it bring Glory to God.
2. I know that there are many, many mundane things that we might say: How does that glorify God? The question isn’t how does that particular thing glorify God. The question is: Is my life in all of its aspects, all of the decisions I make, all of the activities in which I engage; is my life bringing glory to God?
B. As a Christian my total and complete purpose is to glorify God. Whatever behavior in which I engage must be the kind of thing that brings God glory and honor.
1. Would you look at First Corinthians the sixth chapter for just a minute, verses 19 and 20? These verses are SO profoundly important to the Christian life. I have a strong suspicion that we have not yet touched the hem of garment for their meaning in our lives. I Corinthians 6:19-20 – “19. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, (look at these words) and you are not your own? (wow whispered) (I don’t belong to me) 20. (He goes on to explain) For you were bought at a price (the price, my friends, was the blood of Jesus Christ shed at Calvary); therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.” I am not my own.
2. So many of the decisions we make in our lives are made in view of the fact that this is what I want. It’s all about me. I can make this decision. I have rights. Really?
3. If we understood these two verses, we would know what the apostle is describing. God has made us an offer to buy us out of slavery to sin, to the devil. When we accept that offer we are bought and our ownership transfers to the one who bought us, God. We are His and our allegiance is no longer to the world but to God. We have no rights except those of our owner. Anything contrary to that is rebellion.
4. You don’t have any rights, folks, not if you’re a Christian for you have been bought by God with the precious blood of His son Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are expected to bring glory to our owner in our behavior.
C. This behavior that I’m contemplating, does it bring glory to God? If it doesn’t, it needs to be left alone.
III. Does this have potential for harm?
A. Is there inherent in this thing that I’m contemplating potential harm for me or for others? Does this have potential for harm?
1. I recognize, as I believe that most of you here this morning do, many if not most of the moral decisions that have to be made these days have in them the potential for harm to the individual. There’s the passage over in chapter six of Second Corinthians that seems to me speaks to this somewhat. In describing previously in the context behavior inconsistent with the life we live in Christ then the apostle writes: 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 – “17. Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.'' 18. "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.''”
2. Is there potential for harm in this thing? What these two verses say to us is that there are times when the appropriate behavior, the appropriate action to take, is separation.
3. If I answer this question yes, there is potential harm in this thing, then the advice I’m given in these two verses becomes profound advice, safe advice, for my behavior and my conduct. Separate myself from it.
B. Ah, but you see, brother Tom I am able to deal with the potential harm. Don’t worry about me. When I hear someone say that I wonder if that person really understands what it means to belong to God.
1. Here we have a person who is making some choices that bring him ever and ever closer to sin, but its ok. “I know when to stop.” “I know when to end this.” You are bought with a price therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s. Does this person recognize who they belong to?
2. When I hear this kind of expression I wonder if it’s coming from immaturity. Is it coming from a carnal heart and mind? First Corinthians ten and verse 12 reminds us: 1 Corinthians 10:12 – “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” “I can handle it.” “Don’t worry about me.” Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
3. So many times this is how error starts. Take instrumental music for example. We all know the arguments: “It helps me keep time”, “The instrument helps me stay in key”, “helps me to recall the tune.” “I am still thinking about the words”, “the instruments are not a distraction, they are an aid.” Really? What happens when one day the instrument stops being an aid and becomes—entertainment? “Oh I love to hear the organ, just feel the power and the majesty of it!” When that “potential” that we are sure will never happen is realized that is when we fall. When the edification of each other, an act for the glory of God, becomes entertainment, we fall. Best to listen to 2 Corinthians 6:17 and separate ourselves.
IV. Does this compromise my influence?
A. Is this thing that I’m contemplating going to have any effect on my influence whatsoever? Folks, influence is a very, very important thing in Christian living.
1. Over in the fourth chapter of the book of Acts is a marvelous statement made at verse 13. Acts 4:13 The apostles have been arrested again and find themselves in a kind of a court situation. I want you to look at the last part of verse 13 when the religious intelligentsia of the day observed Peter and John. The Bible says they, the intelligentsia, they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.
2. Here are some men who are the disciples of Jesus Christ who are KNOWN to be the disciples of Jesus Christ. They must do nothing which would besmirch the fact they are the disciples of Jesus and which would compromise, call into question, their integrity. They took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. They were known to be the disciples of Christ.
3. Suppose, just suppose, Peter or John had begun to curse the accusers angrily and you might say justifiably because here they are being called in question not for anything they’ve done wrong, simply for being Christians, but that response would have negated their influence, would it not?
B. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Galatians the second chapter. I’m going to read an illustration of a bad influence beginning at verse 11. Listen. Galatians 2:11-13 – “11. But when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12. for before certain men came from James, (these were the Jewish Christians) he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. Now look at verse 13. 13. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.” I want us to just think about this.
1. Peter is an apostle. Everybody knows it. He happens to be in a Gentile area and he finds no problem sitting at a Gentile table, eating a Gentile meal UNTIL, until he discovers that Jewish Christians, Jewish leaders are going to come to the place where he is. When he hears they’re coming, he withdraws himself from the Gentile Christians. He made a bad decision. No question about that, but it was his decision. The fact is, however, that this bad decision affected a great many other people. Think about it. He did not tell other people you cannot eat with Gentiles. He made no demands whatsoever on the other Jews or Barnabas.
2. All of them seemed to be comfortable in this situation until leaders from the church in Jerusalem came. That’s the power of influence. He didn’t have to say a thing. He was an apostle. He was known to be a man of great spiritual knowledge and strength so if Peter behaves this way then it must be ok for me.
3. Influence. That’s the way influence works. I don’t have to constrain you to do anything. I simply have to set before you an improper example. You may be listening to someone speaking here that you know. You know who they are and might think: He knows the scriptures pretty well. He knows whether or not this is right or wrong, good or bad or indifferent, and he’s doing it so it’s got to be ok. I still have doubts, but... There’s the influence.
4. Folks, everywhere we go there will be people who know that we are childern of God and they are watching us. Among other Christian people, you have an awesome responsibility to make right and good and scriptural choices and decisions in all matters, but specifically in matters moral and ethical. We owe each other that as children of God.
C. What about good influence? Interestingly it is in the first of the letters of Peter who was carried away into this erroneous behavior where we find this powerful lesson. In First Peter chapter three verses one and two.
1. I Peter 3:1-2 – “1. Likewise you wives, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2. when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.” I want you to notice in verse one the words “without a word”. What is it that Peter is saying here? What is it that he’s implying? It’s a very simple lesson. There may be those situations, those times, in relationships as in this one, a husband-wife relationship, that a word doesn’t have to be spoken because of the POWER of the influence of a Godly life.
2. That power is so powerful that it has the potential to bring a person who is an unbeliever into Christ without saying a word. The power of influence.
V. Does this have a good reputation?
A. That is the next question: Does this thing have a good reputation? What is the reputation of this activity that I’m considering, this choice that I’m going to make?
1. I say to myself: If I know this thing has a reputation for bringing harm into people’s lives then I really cannot consider that thing to be wholesome or good. There’s a little verse over in the seventh chapter of the book of Matthew that presents us with a principle that needs to be considered, that needs to be thoughtfully considered as we think not just about moral issues but all issues.
2. Matthew 7:20 – “"Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” He’s talking obviously about false prophets in the context here, but the principle of this passage is so clearly stated and so definitely explained to us in simple words—by their fruits, by their reputation you will know whether or not they’re good or bad.
B. What is the reputation of this thing that I’m considering? In the book of Philippians chapter four at verse eight there is a part of this verse that reaches out and makes some demands as we consider the subject this morning. Philippians 4:8 - The verse that begins – “Finally, brethren, whatever things... then he concludes... meditate on these things.”
1. Look in there and you will see whatsoever things are of good report. In other words: whatsoever things that have a good reputation.
2. I had studied and reflected and meditated on how to come to grips with issues in my life, how I think about them, how I consider them. When I came to this little verse of scripture I realized right here in the middle of this verse (I humbly submit this to you) there is a statement that absolutely governs moral and ethical and spiritual choices.
3. Whatsoever things are of good report, whatsoever things have a good reputation. The implication is whatsoever things are not of good report, you don’t have anything to do with those things. You abstain from those things. We’re intelligent people, all of us who are here this morning and we are able to consider the reputation of things in our world—moral and ethical and spiritual—and to make decisions based on those reputations.
VI. Is it expedient?
A. The last question is this: Is it expedient? The apostle Paul had to deal with something called expedience.
1. What brings you to that point is this: There are things with which he dealt which are lawful as far as God is concerned. For example, in his situation the eating of meat that had been offered to an idol—no problem with that. There’s nothing unlawful about that as far as God is concerned, but why did he have to consider expedience?
2. Here’s the situation. It was not whether or not it was lawful. It was whether or not it was viewed to be lawful in the eyes of other Christians. He had to consider while it may be perfectly fine to go to a banquet to eat meat which has been offered in the name of an idol, it may not be expedient if there are other Christians who view this as questionable or sinful behavior. So not for my conscience but for theirs I abstain from this.
B. This whole discussion at least in part begins in First Corinthians chapter six. Look at verse 12: 1 Corinthians 6:12 – “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” Some translations use “helpful” in place of expedient. Or I will not become the slave of anything a modern speech translation says.
1. Expedience. I will not be the slave of anything. I will make my decisions on what is good for both me and others, but when I choose to make decisions that do not take into consideration the faith (weak it may be) of others then I’m violating this very definite principle of the Christian life.
2. If you look at the last part of the verse, and there is so much more to be said about this, look at the last part of the verse and think about this, if I just go ahead and do whatever it is that I’m going to do without any thought of the consequences to me or you, I am violating the spirit of this principle and I’ve become the slave of this thing because I’m going to do it—it doesn’t matter whether it hurts me or you spiritually—I’m going to do it. I’ve become a slave to this thing.
C. Are we, folks, that self-centered? Things like tradition can make us a slave violating what we should be up holding. Listen to first Corinthians 10:33, and by the way in verse 23 the apostle mentions this same thing again: 1 Corinthians 10:23 – “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful; all things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify.”
1. Now look with me at verse 33: 1 Corinthians 10:33 - “just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” That decision he made is based on the principle of expedience.

CONCLUSION:
Oh, yes, there is yet one last question. It’s a question that I try always to ask. Will this decision that I’m contemplating in any way, will this activity that I’m considering, compromise, violate, the spirit of the golden rule?

You know the passage, Matthew seven verse 12? Matthew 7:12 – “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” The golden rule.

If any way this choice that I’m contemplating could be harmful to that wonderful, ethical statement then I need to leave it alone. Here’s the reason. Romans 13:10 – “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

As we go about daily, these and other questions can help us deciding what is right, what is wrong, what is good, what is bad, what is appropriate, what is inappropriate, but if we just go through life, well like Mother used to say to me—like a bull in a china shop—then we’re going to make tragic mistakes.

With a little thought, a little consideration, we’ll make good decisions. Perhaps there are those in the assembly this morning who have made a decision about obeying the gospel and Jesus Christ.
Choosing to obey the gospel by confessing the name of Jesus Christ and being buried in baptism. If you’ve made that decision, if you’ve asked all the questions you need to ask to make a decision, and you came to that point where you say: Yes, this is the right decision to make, but you didn’t do it.
Do it today.
The invitation song is just that, an invitation, which by the way seems to me to address both the thoughts of our lesson this morning and decisions we make about obeying the gospel.

If you are child of God and need the prayers of your brothers and sisters you are invited to come. Whatever the need, we would like to know how we can serve you, how we can help you.

We pray that you will let God have His way while we stand and while we sing.

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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins... If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If you have never done these things, we urge you to do so today. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

# 100 – Take My Life, and Let It Be
Reference sermon, Cecil A. Hutson, 15 April 2007