There are a lot of questions that surround gray areas in real life and the Bible. This is especially true in the topic of sin. There are times when the Bible does not clearly or solidly state if something is indeed a sin or not. And during those times, often people are left confused without an answer.
There are Gray areas if you don't know the right question
This entry is inspired by the message of Ravi Zacharias in his podcast “What is worthwhile under the sun”
When we think the Bible has left us grasping for straws
There are times when there are no water tight explanation on why something is a sin or not – at least not directly. And during those times we find it hard to find solid answers elsewhere. People might tell us “It depends” or “What’s your conviction?” and so on…
And there will come a time when you want some answers but you’re left confused. So what is it? How will you know the black and white answer to a gray area where you’re not really sure if it is indeed sin or not?
There is a rock-solid answer
I am so amazed by the simple but prudent answer that Ravi Zacharias quoted in his message from the mother of John Wesley. One day, she was asked by John Wesley “Can you give me a definition for sin?” This is what she said:
“Whatever weakens your reasoning, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes away your relish for spiritual things, in short if anything increases the authority and the power of the flesh over the spirit, that to you becomes sin, however good it is in itself.”
Can’t you just feel the power behind those words?
Sometimes we tend to compromise and take some things in a ‘good’ light. We reason and justify that there is ‘good’ in a certain gray area. But when we think of things as John Wesley’s mother puts it – then it just blots out all other so-called ‘reasons’ doesn’t it?
Think about it. Keep these words into heart so that next time you think you’re in a gray area, you’ll know what’s sin and what’s not.