The Liberty of the Christian, 1

There is an excellent post over at Girl Talk on the difference between opinion and suggestion. That post plus recent conversations have reminded me that the issue of Christian liberty is always present.  If one reads the statements at the time of the Reformation, one finds some very thoughtful reflections on the liberty of the conscience.  What does that mean? 

It has been an issue for centuries -- where do we draw certain moral lines when the Scriptures do not speak to the specifics of our day?

I am also reminded that the swinging pendulum continues always. What do I mean by that?  People raised in legalistic contexts switch to libertine patterns, and vica versa.   People mistake their liberty as a reason for indifference or carelessness.  Years of ministry have shown me this is one very hard to get right but I wanted to BLOG on it anyhow.

Christian liberty, by my defintion, is very simple -- I may not add to the Word of God and create rules for life or behavior or doctrine that are not clearly taught in the Bible.  I may not "bind the conscience" of others with my derived principles or applications. That definition is a combined set of ideas from many sources, including the Westminster Confession.

Here is the problem. No one thinks their convictions are "adding to."  Every sincere Christian bases their plan for the details of obedience on the text.  I have seen amazing argumentation for all kinds of points -- showing them to be the only reasonable conclusion -- home-schooling, no birth control, abstention from alcoholic beverages, and the list over at Girl Talk too.  Some of these are the "Super Lawyer" types cited over there.  Wow, when you hear their arguments all you can say is, "I don't agree and I don't know why."

What does it mean to add to the word of God?  To go beyond the text?  Here is the guidance I give on this.  If I need to turn to more than two texts to assert my position, I am probably in danger of adding to the Bible.  And, if I have to read into the text my "issue" -- or there is a text that I ignore or seem to force into my system, then I am probably adding to the Word of God.

For example.  My first exposure to this was the issue of total abstention from alcohol.  The simple fact is that I can find no command to do so.  However, many treat this as an absolute equal to Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery.  How?  They combine texts and add ideas into texts and explain away texts.   I may argue the case of this being an absolute rule by referring to passages which warn about wine, add in the stumbling brother passages in Romans 14, and finish it off by noting that while Jesus turned water into wine we know that wine in that day was just grape juice.

The conclusion is announced, "The Bible teaches total abstention from alcoholic beverages."    We also announce, "The Bible is against all forms of birth control."  "The Bible teaches it is wrong to send your kids to a public school."  "The Bible teaches it is wrong to vote for a candidate who is pro-abortion."  "The Bible says rock music or rap is evil."  The list is endless.  And someone can always find a verse in Leviticus that says something about it!

Here is the issue -- the Bible says nothing or next to nothing about many issues.  Our questions are not their questions.  Should I send my children to pre-school?  The Bible does not say because they had no pre-schools!  It gives broader principles to be weighed out in making that decision.  Should I listen to secular music?  The Bible does say say anything about the modern music industry.  People in the Kingdom of David did not have iPods.  Should a wife ever work outside the home?  Should a husband manage the checkbook?  The Biblical culture had no such thing as "working outside the home" that is part of our industrial culture -- and they did not have checkbooks.

But we want the Bible to be a detailed moral guidebook.  It is not.  We want every question we have to be addressed clearly in the Bible.  They are not.  But there is sufficient clarity to lead you to a personal conviction.  In the wisdom of God we have been given all that is needed for life and godliness.  The Holy Spirit within us guides us in paths of righteousness.  The question is not "what does the Bible say about whether Christians should be musicians?"  The question is "What does the Bible give as wisdom and truth for making that decision?"

But it is a PERSONAL CONVICTION that binds YOUR CONSCIENCE by which you are to live.  We add to the Word of God when we insist others follow our personal convictions or we hold them in suspicion when they do not.

My first experience with this was very simple -- I took a call to a church that required its members to abstain from acholic beverages.  Before I accepted the call I discussed this issue with the leadership -- that they were adding to the word of God -- that they had no authority to bind the conscience of others by going beyond the Word of God.  I said I would come if they were committed to change that.  They were.  I came.  We had a wonderful time. 

After a year I preached on this and led people to see that this was not an absolute teaching of the Bible nor could we require what God does not command.  We developed a position that encouraged people to take a careful look at their own convictions, to develop their own conviction, to be aware that there were people in the church for whom this was an issue, but we also gave them freedom to partake without thinking it is sin. 

Here was the surprising fruit -- the number of people who came to me afterwards and said, "Now I will abstain, but I would not as long as your required me to do so." 

Comments

[Sam Shin]

Mark, I can't tell you how important a topic this is to me personally and to so many Asian-Americans who grow up in a culture of do's and don'ts. It is very hard sometimes to discern rights and wrongs. Adn it is so easy to deem something that is obviously beneficial as a right and therefore if others lack that quality or action, then they are wrong.

Finding the balance so as not to err to the point where liberty becomes licentiousness is quite a challenge both in ministry and in life.

[Christian]

ok, so now I'm reading a more updated post and want to ask you a total outsider a question.

I am liscened by the CM&A. They require all their pastors to abstain from alcohol. Have I given them the authority over me to require this since I signed up for this or should I be free to excersize my conscience under the authority of the Bible?

[Andre Yee]

Mark,

Thanks for the post. In his wisdom, God chose not to give us a detailed moral guidebook outlining the appropriate code of behavior for every issue. Rather, in navigating through disputable matters, I find it helpful to keep the gospel in view - it helps govern my thoughts, attitudes and behavior. It keeps my identity and joy in Christ rather than in the issue at hand.

[carl]

Excellent post.