Black & White

The term black and white thinking and gray areas has really been on my mind a lot lately. I have been reading up on it and wondering which is Biblical. So here are my thoughts.

 

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God's truth is truth. It is not based on circumstance. If God tells you that He is going to do something, He is going to do it. God will tell us to just trust Him and have faith and He will move in our current situation. We have peace and we chose to trust Him, but then things seem to be getting worse rather than better and so we start to doubt that God will do what He said, or that He really even said He would do something in the first place. God's timing is different than ours. When He speaks to us, He sees far ahead to things we cannot see. This is what got me thinking about all of this. God is not surprised by the things that happen. When He spoke to us, encouraging us that it would all be ok, He wasn't unaware of the events that would follow. God was well aware of everything that would happen following His promise. The truth of His Word will not change based on current circumstance. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His Word is the same. His truth is the same. There are no gray areas in God's truth. It simply is just God's truth, and we either believe it or we don't. Accepting a gray area is the same as accepting doubt in what God said, and doubt is not of God.

 

This has really challenged me to grow in my faith and trust towards God. I don't want to allow the gray area of doubt to take root in me. I want to believe what God said and accept it wholeheartedly. It has also challenged me to dig deeper into God's word and learn what other areas I may be living in that are gray areas. Some would say that black and white thinking is more legalism than anything. But, then again, some would say that Biblical living is legalistic as well, but I still choose to live my life that way.

 

 

I have heard that there are some things that are definitely black and white and some areas where they aren't necessarily mentioned in the Bible, so therefore they are gray. What I have found though, is that all of those "gray areas" are areas where it is simply about yourself. There are no gray areas on how we should treat other people, or our relationship with Christ. All of those gray areas are self-seeking. And, they don't necessarily benefit you in anyway.

 

[1 Corinthians 10:23-33]

"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience sake; for "the earth is the Lord's and all its fullness." If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the Lord's and all it's fullness." "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ."

 

Something that may not be wrong to you (your gray area), could be offensive to someone else. And, Biblically speaking, Christ has called us to not give offense. I am my brother's keeper. I don't want to offend in any way. I want to share truth. I want to imitate Christ. That doesn't mean that I condone sin in anyway. It means that instead of holding onto what I think are my "rights" and my "gray areas" because they don't necessarily apply to me, I put others before me. It means that I don't seek my own profit, I don't fight for my own profit. I want to be holy in every aspect of my life. Christ has said to be holy in all my conduct, and that's what I want to strive for.

 

 

[1 Peter 1:15-16]

"but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

 

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This is just where my thoughts have been. I would love to hear your thoughts on this, as I am still wanting to learn more on this topic.

With much love,

Adele.