“Knowing When & Knowing When Not To…”

Testing A Doubtful Practice

Three Major Questions

1. What is the effect it has on me?

2. What is the effect it has on others?

3. What is the effect it has on the cause of Christ?

Part 1- The effect it has on me

1. Would it harm my body?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (HCSB) Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.

2. Would it cause me to think impure thoughts?

Matthew 5:27-30 (ESV) “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. … 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off … For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

3. Is this good for me, or could it cause me to form an unhealthy habit?

1 Corinthians 6:12-13 (NLT) You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. 13 You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” … But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies.

4. Does this deed feed my old or new nature?

Colossians 3:9-11 (NLT) Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 … Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

5. Would I want to be caught doing this deed when Christ returns?

Titus 2:12-14 (NLT) And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13

while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, … totally committed to doing good deeds.