Preference and Amorality - Churches Without Chests

Preference and Amorality - Churches Without Chests

David de Bruyn writes regarding "adiaphora":

"Second, 'indifferent' things do not remain morally neutral once used by a moral agent. Certainly, food by itself does not commend us to God one way or another (1 Cor. 8:8). The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Ro. 14:17). Yes, the heart is established by grace, not by foods (Heb.13:9). And yes, what goes into a man does not defile him, but what comes out of his heart (Mark 7:18-23). All of this establishes that certain substances, objects, sounds, periods of time, and places are neither intrinsically good or evil.

"Once used, however, these things become instruments of faith toward God, or unbelief (Ro. 14:23b). This is Paul's project in 1 Corinthians 8-10: to show the Corinthians that morally neutral food can be used to glorify God or to please self sinfully. It can glorify God in thankful participation, and it can be used to glorify God in deferential and considerate abstention. It can be used selfishly by eating wantonly in front of a believer whose conscience has not stabilised, and it can be used selfishly by eating in front of an unbeliever who associates the food with idolatry. It can be used selfishly by abstaining with a proud and haughty attitude, or by eating with a scornful, in-your-face attitude. The food itself is simply part of 'the Earth which is the Lord's and the fullness thereof'. It is what moral agents do with the morally neutral food that makes their action moral or immoral....

"Put simply, morally indifferent things almost never translate into morally neutral actions, or morally neutral agents. We are required to take those morally neutral objects and discern their nature, their associations, their use, their dangers, their possibilities. We may find that certain morally neutral things, such as the musical notes C, D, or G, or the chemical substance alcohol (C2H6O), are no longer morally neutral once combined into a musical language, or an inebriating drink. To rightly use adiaphora, we are to consider a number of questions, mentioned in an earlier post in this series."

de Bruyn then offers 10 clarifying questions, based on scripture, that Christians ought to ask themselves about adiaphora.

1. How is this thing typically used? What activities, actions and ends is it used for?
2. Does it make provision for the flesh (Ro 13:14)? Are you fleeing from sin and lust by doing this? (2 Tim 2:22)?
3. Does it open an area of temptation or possible accusation which Satan could exploit (Eph 4:27)? Are you taking the way of escape from temptation by doing this (1 Cor 10:13)?
4. Is there a chance of enslavement, or addiction (1 Cor 6:12)?
5. Does it spiritually numb you, and feed the flesh or worldliness within (Ro 6:12-13)?
6. Does it edify you (1 Cor 10:23)?
7. With what is this thing or activity associated? Does it have the appearance of evil (1 Thes 5:22)? Does it adorn the Gospel (Tis 2:10)?
8. Could an unbeliever or another believer easily misunderstand your action? Does it lend itself to misunderstandings (Ro 14:16)?
9. Could your action embolden a Christian with unsettled convictions to fall back into sin (1 Cor 8:7-13)?
10. Could your action cause an unbeliever confusion over the Gospel or Christian living (1 Cor 10:27-28)?