When Do You Have the Freedom to Do Something

The last several weeks in our Romans series we have been discussing how to navigate “gray spaces.” How do we deal with matters that are not clearly black and white, but are matters of personal conscience (like tattoos, alcohol, tobacco, music, movies, art, educational choices, parenting methods, politics, and more)? Paul tells us that each person must make up their mind in these matters and not quarrel with other Christians about it (Romans 14:1).  

A question this passage may have raised is “how do I know when I am free to do something?” The following questions based on Romans 14-15 are meant to help us navigate that question. This is not an exhaustive list (you might add several more questions), but this list is a good beginning for us as we try to navigate through the gray.   

1. Does this violate a biblical command or principle?

God word is our authority, and it stands in judgment over our conscience and actions. If this thing I am considering is contrary to God’s word, I am not free to do it. We can also say that if you are a minor living at home, you are commanded by God to obey your parents and you live under your parents’ law. If they forbid it, then you are not free to carry out that action. If the government forbids it, you are to obey God’s command to submit to the government (as long as they are not commanding or prohibiting something contrary to God’s word). If it doesn’t violate any command from God, I’m free to do it. I might need to calibrate my conscience over it. It is important to note that even though the bible doesn’t forbid it, I’m also free not to do it. There are Christians who are convinced from scripture that getting a tattoo is not a sin but choose not to get a tattoo. So just because the bible doesn’t prohibit it, it doesn’t mean that you must do it. You are free not to do it.  

2. Is there a latent danger to me in doing this?

I need to consider my family history, whether I have an addictive personality, whether I am inclined toward lustful imagination. All these factors might limit our freedoms. If I have alcoholism in my family history, it is wise for me to abstain from alcohol. If I’m extra vulnerable in my thought life and imagination, certain movies that might be acceptable to others might be off limits to me. I want to “put on the Lord Jesus and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Romans 13:14).

3. Am I fully persuaded this is OK for me to do?

Can I do this with a clear conscience, giving thanks to God (Romans 14:6). Do I feel I am honoring Christ while doing it. If not, it is sin. To go against my conscience is sin (Romans 14:22-23). I might need to calibrate my conscience on the issue, but at this point it is a sin for me.  

4. Will this be a barrier to the people I’m trying to reach.

Paul was willing to forgo certain actions because it served as a hindrance to reaching them.  

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 “19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”

All foods are clean, and I can eat bacon and ham and pulled pork. But, if I move to a neighborhood in Dallas to reach a Muslim community there, I need to forgo my freedom to eat pork so as to not create an obstacle to reaching my neighbors. I’m free to ingest caffeine, in large quantities 😊, but if it is going to keep me from reaching my Mormon friend, I can forgo that freedom. It is best for me not to partake of those things for the sake of my ministry to the people I’m trying to reach.

5. Will a weaker brother or sister that I am with in this moment be encouraged to follow my example and violate their conscience?

If so, then I must refrain from doing it. It is wrong for me to do it in the moment (Romans 14:20-21). The text doesn’t say you should refrain if they get mad at you or are bothered by it. You should not let them bind your conscience. That is their issue, their sin of judging. But if doing it will encourage them in behavior they believe to be wrong for them, you should abstain.

6. Does doing this in this moment introduce a barrier to Christian fellowship?

If you go to dinner with someone that you know has personal convictions about drinking alcohol and you order a drink knowing it might make things a little awkward, you are not bearing with the weakness of another, are introducing a barrier to fellowship with them, and not loving your brother or sister. It is best not to partake of your freedoms.  

7. Does this negatively impact my thought life?

Our thought life matters to God. The Apostle Paul told the church in Philippi,

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

If you watch a movie that has some racy stuff in it, is it going to negatively impact your thought life and incline you to lustful thoughts that grieve God’s heart (Matthew 5:27-30)? Then, you should abstain from it. If reading that romance book is going to create thoughts of discontent with your marriage, it is not wise or godly to read that book.

8. What is my motive for doing this?

Am I doing this just to please myself (Romans 15:1-3)? To fit in? To kick against my upbringing? To prove I’m not a Pharisee? Or am I doing this with gratitude to God, in a posture of praise and holiness? If I can’t do it with a Godward motive, I should abstain from doing it.

In all of this, we want to welcome one another as family in Jesus and not make agreement on these gray areas a prerequisite for fellowship with one another. Jesus welcomes us even when he disagrees with us, so let’s welcome one another even in our disagreements.