Something that has been on my heart recently, I have heard other believers say that not everything is "black and white" that there are a lot of gray areas? This is confusing to me especially when the topic is about sin...what "gray" areas are there according to the Bible? Didn't Jesus have very strong words to say about those who were neither "hot" or "cold" but rather lukewarm??? I always thought being lukewarm was rather like being in a "gray" area?

Anyone have any thoughts?

God Bless
mj

Perhaps, it would be areas where one doesn't have a clear scriptural argument for whether one should do this or that. I.e. discernment when it comes to movies, TV, games, etc.

Some people might consider it to be wrong to watch "Lord of the Rings" while some may enjoy it. Therefore, it's black to some and white to some, and the combination of that is gray.

I assume that is what these believers you refer to are talking about. If it's about something that can be proven biblically to be either black or white, there's a problem though.

That's my thoughts :)

Great question :)

People make up lots of excuses for sin and thus a "gray" area is born. You know the homosexuality is starting to become a gray area in many christian circles? Basically those that don't want to hurt people's feelings or tell the truth of sin accept these gray areas and live as if God's word doesn't speak against them.

I asked this question on a different forum, is it judging someone if you are telling someone living in sin their lifestyle will lead them to hell in a loving a compassion way on sin that the Word makes clear the lifestyle will end in hell? Ie like lying or sexual immorality.

Its not that the world is growing more and more wicked (though it is) its that the church has willing lost its voice against sin.

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Matthew Guldner

Matthew wrote:I asked this question on a different forum, is it judging someone if you are telling someone living in sin their lifestyle will lead them to hell in a loving a compassion way on sin that the Word makes clear the lifestyle will end in hell? Ie like lying or sexual immorality.

Its not that the world is growing more and more wicked (though it is) its that the church has willing lost its voice against sin.

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I have seen this too. So many people who profess to be Christians live together now before getting married(if they get married at all) and many churches consider it to be no big deal.

God Bless
mj

Does this help:

Cold water came from the springs and was good for drinking. Hot water was for bathing. Lukewarm water was undesirable for either. It was imported water, and full of sediment. (From the IVP Bible Background commentary)

This metaphor from Revelation has nothing to do with the legal paradigm - which aims to slot all behaviors into a black or white category: Either it's right or its wrong. Period. "Grey" includes all those behaviors judged by some as compromise, and defended by others as acceptable. (Romans 14 addresses this shade)

I don't think the passage in Revelation is merely distinguishing behaviors. It's talking about ineffective living caused by spiritual poverty. (See Rev. 3:14-20) It's pointing readers to Jesus Christ - something which the legalist paradigm fails to do (because of its focus on behavior).

The difference in focus I would say is location: the inside of the "cup" vs the outside of the "cup".

Diane

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Diane

Diane

I see what you are saying but I wonder, can all these attitudes of compromise lead to a "lukewarm" living and spiritual poverty. Once we become accepting of "some" gray areas can that lead us into spiritual poverty and away from Christ?

Putting the "lukewarm" reference aside then I guess I am asking about sin being "black or white" while there are those who sincerely believe there is a lot of "gray" areas even when it comes to sin.

Not sure if I am really conveying very well what I am seeking to understand(sorry) I realize that our focus must clearly be on Jesus and yet our behavior and attitudes matter as well. We must keep our focus on Jesus and yet HE looks at our hearts and responses??? Is the idea of a "gray" area another way to justify or excuse sin?? Wondering this even of myself??

God Bless
mj

Hello Ma'am,

Your question reminded me of Evan Roberts and the great Welsh revival of 1904-5. One of the tenants of Roberts' was that the people must aggressively cease all doubtful (or gray-area) practices. And great was that revival, as the people began to walk with the resulting clear conscience that comes when we seek only to do those things that are pleasing in God's sight.

Certainly this was the apostle's practice as well:

"And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men." Acts 24:16


The Scriptures do not spell out everything for us, especially in our modern world, 2000 years after-the-fact. Yet, the principles that should guide our day-to-day decisions are all there for us to read and glean from.

Out of our study of the Word, and our singular devotion to God, may arise a prayerful attitude like this:

Asking the Lord, our Heavenly Father,

- To please give us divine Wisdom to understand His Word: that we may know how to serve Him in righteousness; that we may give no offence to Him or to any man at all.

- In all things "doubtful" [the gray areas], that He would please give us the grace and peace to simply CEASE doing them, unless and until we receive more light from His Word in the matter.

- That He would please give us the grace to withstand any ridicule or contempt from our dear brothers and sisters, who may call us legalistic, or who may belittle our tender consciences in other ways, simply because we will spare nothing in this life to come between us and Him.

- That He would mercifully grant that we may joyfully be conformed into the image of His Dear Son, and on the Last Day, be raised again in His Glorious Likeness.

- That He may receive all the praise and all the glory, forever. Amen

Be well Sister,
Doug

Wow, I was thinking about the same scripture today and thought of sharing it in SI. According to me Jesus was talking to the angel of a Church(elder) so it is from a Church perspective. In their preaching and Church conducts, they were lukeworms. They decided they were already blessed with everything and stopped seeking God.

I think if you apply it personally to our spiritual life, it refers to the time when we lose the longing for spiritual growth and have a stagnated Christian life. God always wants us to grow more and more in Christ Jesus and to bear more fruits for him (John 15:1).

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Sreeram

It all depends on how it's used.

For example, last night when I was talking to our Father, I said, "Remember when I was a kid when I used to spend all that time with you while everything around me was grey?"

In that example, Grey has no appeal, no lure, it's boring.

Amen! Doug...

I was not going to respond to your question but the issue keeps troubling me, like as though it demands a reaction...

I know what you mean by gray-areas. They do exist because we encounter issues where depending on my motive, circumstances can determine where something is right or wrong. Confusing? You bet, it is, unless you are listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit but then at times even he is silent. So what does one do?

Allow me to illustrate. Suppose you need a new or another pick-up. Your husband uses it for his work and the one he now has needs replacing. The question comes "which one shall I buy?" A brand new one with all the bells and whistles the industry offers, or something less expensive but more functional for my present needs? Is it sin to own a very expensive pick-up truck? No. But could it be sin for you to? Yes. Why? Because it could be because of pride that would motivate this choice - owning and running a fancy pick-up feeds the macho-ego, or pride. But then, maybe this pick-up could be had cheaply and would satisfy your practical needs, but what would this tell your neighbors? Still, it is no sin to own a fancy pick-up. (This reminds me of a testimony given by David Wilkerson who purchased a fancy car...after driving it for a short period of time, he returned it for a cheaper model because he felt so foolish and condemned.)

For women: we want our houses to look nice, be nice. Do I demand new furniture when what I have serves our needs well? So, it is looking shabby? what if I become a bit more resourceful and see if I could not repurpose it, making it look nice without an outlay of ridiculous amount of money? And why do I think I need new furniture? is it worn out - and it will in time with usage - is it to impress someone else? Once again pride rears its ugly head...It all comes down to a wise expenditure of resources and my defining a need.

This is just a few examples of issues we have to deal with in life that forces us to make decisions and we need to consider why we make the choices we do.

Someone once said , "we spend money we don't have to buy the things we don't need to impress the people we do not like!" Methinks this sums it up quite well, don't you think?


My understanding of this issue...

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Sandra Miller