Discerning between good and evil, continued

Questions that help us test, continued:

Does the action bother my conscience?

• The conscience is a person’s inner awareness of conforming to the will of God or departing from it, resulting in either a sense of approval or condemnation.


• Scripture talks about having a “good conscience”
  
  
  
  • I Timothy 1:5
  
  
  • I Timothy 1:19
  
  
  • Acts 23:1
  
  
  • Acts 24:16
  
  
  
  


• Conscience can be tainted:
  
  
  
  • I Timothy 4:1-2 – seared with a hot iron
  
  
  • Ephesians 4:19 – being past feeling
  
  
  
  


• Limited or incorrect knowledge is no excuse!


• Romans 14:5 – let each be fully convinced in his own mind


• Romans 14:23 – one who doubts is condemned

Does this action hinder my influence?

• Matthew 5:13-16 – you are the light of the world


• Philippians 2:14-15 – shine as lights in the world


• Does my language hinder my influence?
  
  
  
  • Ephesians 5:1-11 – obscenity, foolish talk, crude talking
  
  
  • Ephesians 4:29 – no corrupt word
  
  
  • Ephesians 4:31 – put away evil speaking
  
  
  • If people are not ashamed of obscenity around you, maybe you aren’t having the influence you should.
  
  
  
  

Does the action dominate my life?

• I Corinthians 6:12 – I will not be mastered by anything.

Could this action cause others to stumble?

• I Corinthians 8:13 – if food makes my brother stumble, then I will never eat meat again

Can I carry out this action to the glory of God?

• I Corinthians 10:31


• Can I do this action and at the same time glorify God?