Scriptural Tests for Modern Dilemmas
Every Christian is faced with situations about which he must make decisions, but about which there seems to be no clear Scriptural statement. Many of the issues we face are not addressed or identified in the Bible by name. How, then, can I know what to do when faced with such questions?
I must first ask whether or not there is a principle taught in Scripture that I can apply to my situation. For those sincerely interested in knowing the will of God, the following tests should be applied. Failing any of the tests, the matter in question should be considered unacceptable.
These Scriptural principles are timeless. However, their application may change as the immediate context or circumstances change.
1. The Identity Test
A. Will it affect my identity as a child of God?
“Child”= born one, one sharing the nature of the parent.
Romans 8:29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed [inwardly and outwardly] to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Deuteronomy 14:1, 2: Ye are the children of the Lord your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
B. Is it identified in the minds of others with that which is evil or wrong—does it communicate a wrong message about me to others?
Romans 12:1, 2: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to [poured into the mold of] this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2. The Stumbling Test
A. Will it offend the conscience of a sincere Christian brother?
Romans 14:13, 15: Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. . . . But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat [that which I may rightfully choose to do], now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat [exercise of my personal rights], for whom Christ died.
Romans 14:20, 21: For meat [exercise of personal rights] destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
1 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 11, 12: Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled [stained, made dirty]. . . . But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. . . . And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
B. Will it cause someone whether saved or unsaved to stumble?
1 Corinthians 10:25–29: Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
3. The Testimony Test
A. Can it easily be construed to be evil or wrong?
1 Thessalonians 5:22: Abstain from all appearance of evil.
B. Will it cast a negative shadow on the good I am doing?
Romans 14:16: Let not then your good be evil spoken of.
4. The Edifying Test
A. Does it contribute positively to my own spiritual upbuilding and strength?
1 Corinthians 10:23: All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient [advantageous, profitable, useful]: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify [build up, help, strengthen] not.
Hebrews 12:1: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
B. Does it contribute positively to the upbuilding and strengthening of others?
Romans 15:2: Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
Romans 14:19, 20: Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
5. The Clear Conscience Test
A. Is it doubtful?
Romans 14:23: And he that doubteth is damned [selfcondemned of his own conscience] if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
B. Can I do it without reservation of conscience?
Romans 14:23: And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Acts 24:16: And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
6. The “Others First” Test
A. Is it pleasing (helpful, unoffensive, acceptable) to others?
Romans 15:1–3: We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
B. Does it consider the feelings and welfare of others first?
1 Corinthians 10:24, 33: Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth [benefit, welfare]. . . . Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
7. The Enslavement Test
A. Is it addictive?
1 Corinthians 6:12: All things are lawful [allowed, permitted] unto me, but all things are not expedient [advantageous, profitable, useful]: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power [mastery] of any.
B. Will it bring me into bondage?
2 Peter 2:19: While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom [or what] a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
8. The Glory of God Test
A. Can I do it to God’s glory?
1 Corinthians 10:31: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
B. Can I do it in the name of Christ—with His endorsement and approval?
Colossians 3:17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
9. The Heart Motive Test
A. Does it come out of a pure (unmixed) heart?
Matthew 15:19: For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
B. Does it come out of pure motives?
Titus 1:15: Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
10. The Love Test
A. Does genuine concern for others prevail over rationalization (intellectual justification)?
1 Corinthians 8:1: Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up [makes arrogant], but charity edifieth.
B. Will love prevail?
1 John 3:16: Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
11. The Total Commitment Test
A. Does our love for God ultimately determine and settle every issue?
1 Corinthians 8:3: But if any man love God, the same is known [known, recognized or approved] of him.
B. Is God’s approval more important than anything else to us?
Matthew 25:21: His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
12. The Fruit Test
A. What is the product of the proposed course of conduct?
Galatians 5:19–23: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
B. Are we willing to put aside the immediate for the sake of the permanent?
Hebrews 11:24–26: By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
13. The Defrauding Test
A. Am I taking for my own pleasure that which really belongs to another?
1 Thessalonians 4:3–6: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication [sexual sin]: That every one of you should know how to posses his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence [passion of lust], even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond [overstep or overreach] and defraud [take more than one’s due] his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
B. Am I taking for my own pleasure at the personal expense of another?
(1) His purity or the sanctity of his physical body?
(2) His life, without a reciprocal commitment of my own life?
14. The “Garbage In” Test
A. Am I willingly participating in my own temptation or the corrupting of my own mind?
Psalm 101:2, 3: I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
B. Am I protecting my own heart and mind in a responsible manner?
Proverbs 4:23: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
15. The “Temple” Test
“Temple” in the following verses is the word used to describe the Old Testament Holy of Holies, the most sacred place of God’s dwelling on earth!
A. Does it result in harm to my physical body?
1 Corinthians 3:16, 17: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
B. Does it give due reverence for this “dwelling place” of the Holy Spirit?
2 Corinthians 6:16: And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
1 Corinthians 6:19, 20: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
16. The Intrinsic Value Test
A. Is it good, worthful, of significant or of permanent value?
2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad [worthless].
B. Is it a waste of time and effort in the light of real needs and eternal values?
1 Corinthians 3:15: If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
17. The Definite Command Test
A. Is there a command or statement of Scripture that clearly and definitively addresses the issue in question? If so, the issue is settled once and for all.
B. Where there is no direct reference to the issue in question, the issue must be put under the scrutiny of the tests listed above.
Dr. David C. Innes has served as senior pastor of Hamilton Square Baptist Church,
San Francisco, California, since January of 1977.
© Copyright by Hamilton Square Baptist Church Used with permission.
(Originally published in FrontLine • July/August 2013. Click here to subscribe to the magazine.)