There are many things in the life of a believer in Christ that may be challenging as to whether or not something is appropriate. We are faced with decisions every day concerning our walk with the Lord and our pursuit of holiness. There may be times when a believer finds himself at a point of crisis. There is a desire to do a certain thing, but there is hesitation in determining whether the action is acceptable to the Lord or not.

                It is also agreed that there are many things in life that the Bible may not necessarily address directly. There are those ‘gray’ areas in life. Some examples of such ‘gray’ areas may include whether or not a Christian should drink alcohol or if a Christian should watch an R-rated movie. There is also the issue of violating one’s conscience. Though truth is absolute, decisions regarding one’s behavior may be relative to the individual regarding those things that are not understood as sinful. For one to violate his conscience and personal conviction to do a certain thing, to him it is sin, though the actual act may not be considered as a sin.

                Making such decisions of right and wrong is not easy. It can be frustrating to many believers (especially new believers) to attempt to understand whether or not something is right or wrong. So what should we do? Let us consider three simple things that will help us in determining right from wrong.

                Look to the Bible. The Bible is God’s revelation to mankind. It is inspired by God. It is the truth of God. The Bible has no error. You can trust everything the Bible says. The Bible not only reveals to us who God is and His plan of redemption, it also serves as a practical guide for believers in Christ. The Bible is our guidebook to life. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”^[1] God’s Word lights the way. Therefore, when determining whether or not something is right or wrong, we should look to the Bible. As we look to the Bible, there are three questions to consider. (1) Is there a command to obey? The Bible contains direct commands given to us by God. These commands are to be obeyed. For example, the Bible says, “Thou shall not murder.” This is an obvious command. It is not a suggestion. There are a number of such commands in the Bible. Perhaps you wake up on a Sunday morning and you have no physical problem or legitimate obligation. It is a beautiful day and you just don’t feel like going to church. A friend calls, and asks if you want to play golf instead of going to church. You wrestle with the decision and look to God’s Word. You find Hebrews 10:25 which says, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”^[2] As you study this passage, you realize that this is certainly a direct command. What do you do? Do you play golf or do you go to church? (2) Is there a principle to obey? Sometimes, there may not be a direct command that deals with the issue in question. However, the Bible is full of principles by which we are to live. For example, the Bible does not say that it is a sin to watch an R-rated movie. However, the Bible does tell us to not look upon someone in lust and to be careful what we feed upon. The seeds we plant into our minds may reap actions and behaviors that are sinful and hurtful to ourselves and others. There are many such principles in the Bible that helps us to determine whether or not something is right or wrong for us to do. (3) Is there a sin to avoid? When faced with the question of whether or not something is right or wrong, it is important to look to the Bible to see if there is a command to obey, a principle to follow and/or a sin to avoid. You will find that the Bible is very direct. There are very few issues (if any) that is difficult to find direction from the Bible. Therefore, if the thing you are questioning is found to be something that is or could potentially be sinful, then it is something you should avoid.

                Look to trusted Christian friends. The Apostle Paul made an interesting comment in 1 Corinthians 11:1. “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”^[3] Paul told the Corinthian church to look to him and follow his example. When faced with a decision over whether or not something is right or wrong, one fundamental question to ask is simply: “Would the best Christian I know do this?” Think about. Would the best Christian you know watch that movie? Would the best Christian you know partake of that substance? Would the best Christian you know go to that place? Think about someone you highly respect. If they knew what you were doing or considering doing, how would they respond? What kind of counsel would they give you? God places certain people in our lives for a reason. There are people that have dealt with the same issues, questions, and struggles that you are facing right now. Look to them. Seek their counsel. Follow their example.

                Look to your conscience. As a believer in Christ, you have the Holy Spirit living within you. John 16:13 says, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”^[4] One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to guide us and teach us the truth. He reminds us of the scriptures that we have read and convicts us of sin. The Holy Spirit speaks to your conscience. Therefore, after looking to the Bible and trusted Christian friends, what does your heart tell you? There is an old principle to consider: “When in doubt, don’t.” If you are questioning whether something is right or wrong, it’s probably wrong. Just the fact that you are questioning the action should give pause and cause you to look to the Holy Spirit for guidance.

                Determining whether something is right or wrong is not that complicated. When you look to the Bible, look to trusted Christian friends, and look to your conscience; you will find an answer.

^[1] The New King James Version (Ps 119:105). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

^[2] The New King James Version (Heb 10:25). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

^[3] The New King James Version (1 Co 11:1). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

^[4] The New King James Version (Jn 16:13). (1982). Thomas Nelson.