Questioning the Questionable
INTRO. I’ve been thinking about bringing a message on this subject for some time, so now is the time. My title is “QUESTIONING THE QUESTIONABLE.” Over the years I have been asked many times by some who are sincere in their desire to know the answers and by some who had their minds made up before they asked the question. My purpose in this message is not to give the answers to these hundreds of “QUESTIONABLE THINGS,” but to give you the questions to ask yourself about those things. Then, you can decide what is right and what is wrong; what you should do or what you should not do. Many things are not mentioned in the Bible…and for a good purpose. For instance, “Thou shalt not watch TV.” If it were mentioned, then the O.T. priests would have had a hard time deciding what “TV” meant. How about, “Thou shalt not smoke pot or Camels.” They would have said, “What pot?,” “what camel.” What about, “Thou shalt not watch porn on your PC?” How about, “Don’t drink and drive”? There are a lot of things in the Bible that are not clearly spelt out. That’s why we have the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Another thing about the Bible is that it is a condensed book. John 21:12 tells us "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." The Bible is not a revelation of all that God knows, but what God wants man to know. I’ve always said, “Did it ever occur to you that nothing has ever occurred to God”? God never intended that everything He knew should be written in a book.
Have you ever heard someone say, “Let your conscience be your guide”? That’s poor advice! Your conscience is guided by what you believe and what you believe may be wrong. The Bible never says to let your conscience guide you. So, if we can’t be guided by our conscience, and you question the questionable things, then what should we do?
I’m going to give you some questions to question those questionable things and then you can allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.
I. THE FIRST QUESTION TO QUESTION THE QUESTIONABLE …..ARE YOU WILLING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT ONCE YOU KNOW GOD’S WILL? If you are not willing to do that, then the rest of what I say is useless.
- We are servants, He is the master. Once we know His will, we ought to do it, even if we don’t like it.
- If a person says he wants to know God’s will on a certain subject, but then he will decide whether or not to obey… that person won’t benefit from the rest of this message.
- If a person says he wants to know God’s will on a certain subject and is willing to do whatever God says, then that person will benefit from the rest of this message.
- The question about the questionable is, am I willing to do God’s will no matter what?
II. THE SECOND QUESTION TO QUESTION THE QUESTIONABLE …..DOES IT AGREE WITH ALL THE SCRIPTURES HAS TO SAY ON THE SUBJECT?
- Look at 2 Pet. 1:20 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." This means that we should not isolate one verse and build our opinion on just that. It should be understood in light of what the rest of the Bible says.
- For instance, some say that Heb. 6:4-6 teaches that we can be lost again. (I personally think it is quite clear) However by studying the entire Word of God on this subject, it becomes clear that we cannot lose our salvation. John 3:16; 3:14 etc. John 5:14 is extremely clear on this. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
- The rule of the thumb is, “Never use an obscure passage to contradict several clear passages.
III. THE THIRD QUESTION TO QUESTION THE QUESTIONABLE …..HAVE YOU PRAYED ABOUT IT?
- Most people who have preconceived notions about a certain questionable thing they have not sincerely prayed about. They just think or feel it is okay to do.
- (Phil 4:6) "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Mark 11:24) "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."
- James 4:2 gives the biggest reason for not knowing God’s will on questionable things. "Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not." You need to pray when you QUESTION THE QUESTIONABLE! Don’t give up…keep praying until you get the answer. The Holy Spirit will reveal it to you…if you are willing to obey His leading even if it goes against your wishes.
IV. THE FOURTH QUESTION TO QUESTION THE QUESTIONABLE…..DO YOU HAVE THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
- When things are not spelled out clearly in the Bible, we can expect the Holy Spirit to lead us. Rom 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
- Acts 13:1-2 is another place where we see the Holy Sprit leading. "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."
- Here’s a case where the Holy Spirit said not to do something. (Acts 16:6-8) "Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, {7} After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. {8} And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas."
- The STOPS as well as the STEPS of a good man are ordered by the Lord.
- Most dedicated long-time Christians have experienced when they were directly lead of the Holy Spirit. Such was the case when God called me to Japan. It was as clear as a bell!
- The Holy Spirit does not talk to us with an audible voice. The Holy Spirit will never lead you to do something contrary to Biblical principles. For instance, Heb. 10:25 makes it clear that we should assemble together with other believers (in church). Some say I can worship God just as well at the river bank…..that may be so, but would the Holy Spirit tell you this when it is against God’s Word?
- I have never entered a bar or liquor store in all my life, except once. I felt the strong leading of the Holy Spirit to enter a liquor store in Wichita…as a result an attendant got saved and quit his job.
V. THE FIFTH QUESTION TO QUESTION THE QUESTIONABLE …..DOES IT PLEASE GOD?
- Here’s what the Bible says about this. (1 John 3:22) "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."
- We know the Bible says point blank, “Thou shalt not kill,” “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” “Thou shalt not bear false witness,” etc. But since there is not point blank “Thou shalt not listen to rock music,” “Thou shalt not dance,” then what should the believer do? Then we must ask, “Does it please God?” Then we should do “those things that are pleasing in his sight.” They teach you in school to do whatever makes you feel good. That’s bad advice!!!
- Then there is 2 Cor 5:9 "Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him."
VI. THE SIXTH QUESTION TO QUESTION THE QUESTIONABLE …..CAN YOU DO IT IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS?
1. The Scripture for this is (Col 3:17) "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." I think “in word or deed” covers just about everything.
- So let’s put this question to some of the questionable things I have been asked about during my 50 years of preaching. I won’t answer the questions. The Holy Spirit will answer such questions if a person want to know and is willing to obey.
- “Can you honestly dance in the name of the Lord Jesus?” “Can you smoke in the name of the Lord Jesus?” “Can you curse in the name of the Lord Jesus?” “Can you listen to music with suggestive lyrics in the name of the Lord Jesus?” If the answer to these questions is not “yes,” then it is wrong!
VII. THE SEVENTH QUESTION TO QUESTION THE QUESTIONABLE…..CAN YOU GIVE GOD THANKS FOR IT?
- Again, we will use the same scripture…(Col 3:17) "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
- So, whatever it is that you are questioning, can you thank God for it?
- Let’s put a couple of those questionable things to the test. “Can I thank God for going to the movies?” “Can I thank God for dancing?” “Can I thank God for reading questionable literature?” etc. As I mentioned, I am not giving you the answers to these questions. I don’t know what your hang-ups may be. You put your questions to the test…and the Holy Spirit will lead you.
VIII. THE EIGHTH QUESTION TO QUESTION THE QUESTIONABLE…..DOES IT BRING GLORY TO GOD?
- You will notice I am using only the Word of God to help you today…not what I think. Here is the scripture for this. (1 Cor 10:31) "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
- You may wonder what it means to do everything TO THE GLORY of God. It merely means to do it to HONOR Him. The question is “Does it bring glory to God?” or “Does it honor Him?” “Does it give God a good name?”
- Psalm 23:3 states, "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." We are Christians. We bear His name. Our lifestyle, language, attitudes, manner of dress, where we go, everything we do reflect on His name. Are we bringing joy to Him in what we do and what do others think of us who bear His name? If it brings Him joy and gives credit to His name, then do it! Otherwise, don’t do it!
IX. THE NINETH QUESTION TO QUESTION THE QUESTIONABLE…..DOES IT OFFEND OTHER CHRISTIANS?
- How many times have I heard someone say, “It doesn’t matter what others think…..I’m going to do my own thing.” Well, what does the scriptures say? (1 Cor 8:13) "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."
- There is nothing unscriptural about eating meat, but Paul would not do so if it offended another brother. Look at (1 Tim 4:3-5) "Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. {4} For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: {5} For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."
- You say that there would always be one person who would be offended by whatever you do. I believe the teaching is that if that questionable thing has come up time and again by different spiritual people, then I would pay attention. I would have second thoughts about what I am about to do… and if I have second thoughts, then the best course would be not to do it.
- There are things I have never done because I think they are wrong (some things I see are not wrong), but I don’t do them because it would offend another believer.
- ILLUS. (Humor) A lady approached a visiting evangelist years ago and told him she was offended by his necktie. He gave her a pair of scissors and told her to cut it off, which she did and handed the scissors back to him. He then handed the scissors back to her and told her he was offended by her tongue.
- Offending a Christian brother is a serious thing. Listen to what Jesus said. (Luke 17:2) "It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."
- With position comes responsibility. The position of pastor, S.S. teacher, deacon, trustee, youth leader, etc. has responsibility. You are not your own. You were bought with a price. I don’t do certain things because of my position.
X. THE TENTH QUESTION TO QUESTION THE QUESTIONABLE ….. AM I FULLY PERSUADED THAT IT IS RIGHT?
- (Rom 14:5) "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." “Persuaded” simply means “convinced.”
- Here’s another verse that goes with that one. (Rom 14:23) "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
- If it’s something you’ve questioned over the years… something that constantly comes up in conversation as to if it is right or wrong…something you have DOUBTS about, then you ought not to do it!
- The worse decisions I ever made was when I didn’t have peace about them. Have you ever bought a car (or something else) when you didn’t have peace about it, and afterwards wished you hadn’t done it? If there is nothing wrong with it, then God will give you complete peace.
XI. THE FINAL QUESTION TO QUESTION THE QUESTIONABLE…..DO THE BEST CHRISTIANS I KNOW AGREE THAT IT IS RIGHT?
- Solomon gave good advice in (Prov 24:6) "For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety."
- There have been times in my life that even after considering all of the ten questions, I still needed help. Then I resorted to asking those who I considered more spiritual than I. When I pastored a church, I often called men whom I considered spiritual giants for advice. I heeded their advice and things turned out right.
- Don’t be afraid to ask your pastor or some spiritual person about your doubts.
CONCLUSION: Perhaps there are some here today who have faced decisions concerning right and wrong. Perhaps this message is what you needed. Why not come to the altar today and tell the Lord that you are willing to ask these questions and to follow His leading…even if it means you must give up certain practices. INVITATION!
