Making Choices
Making Choices
Introduction
How do we make choices on things when the scripture isn’t clear?
It is important as mature believers we learn how to respond to things when they fall in the “grey” zone as well as learn how to respond appropriately in Christ to the decisions that others make. The Covid vaccine has again proved how important it is that for to understand these things.
The great question regarding Covid-19 is should we or should we not be vaccinated? Is it safe? What are the long term benefits or dangers with the vaccination? Is it just a big con by the pharmacies or is it an attempt by the government to have greater control over our lives? Is being vaccinated critical to our futures? This is the great debate inside and outside of Christian circles.
The hope is that we can really can start to understand what the bible means and leads us towards in regards to issues like this.
Jurisdictions
Though the bible doesn’t use the words jurisdictions specifically it does give a really clear separation of 4 different jurisdictions with clear boundaries where its authority does not extend to.
If we don’t understand this we are not going to get the wrong answer regarding the vaccine questions.
- Self Government – each person must govern their own lives according to the will and the way of the Lord and their own conviction that has been bought to them by the Holy Spirit.
- Family Government – God grants parental authority over the children to the parents, at least until they reach a certain age. The family is responsible for making many of it’s own decisions.
- Church Government – over the biblical community the church is given certain jurisdiction or authority over it’s members within limits.
- Civil Government (State) – has also been given a certain level or jurisdiction and authority but with limits. (Romans 13)
We have to ask ourselves “In what jurisdiction is this decision meant to be made in?”
For example; no church can tell a family what to do because the family jurisdiction has its own authority. They can advise and bring biblical teachings, but they cannot command it or make a mandate on it.
As individuals the ultimate decision comes down to a decision between us and the Lord. Others can advise us and we would be foolish not to seek out advice and guidance from those we are in community with. But ultimately, the decision comes down to the individual and is between them and their Father.
1 Corinthians 10:23 – “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.”
Our first consideration when making any decision is “Is what I am about to do profitable for me? Will it be of benefit to me now and in the future? Will it adequately express the Kingdom of God in my life.
Our second consideration when making a decision is “What impact will this have on the people around me?” It is important that we do not place our freedom to chose solely on other peoples views or choices. We are cautioned not to use our liberty or our freedom of choice to the detriment of others.
However, another persons conscience about a certain behaviour is not a measure for our conscience or conduct. Romans 14:16 – “Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil.” What someone may think is unlawful to them does not mean that it is unlawful to me. I may consider their view, but I cannot be manipulated by them based on their choice as I am accountable to God for my own decisions.
Our third consideration is of personal Godliness. It is the role of the Holy Spirit to direct us when particular or express rules are absent. Nothing must be done that goes against God or his expression of His Kingdom. We must ask “Will this bring glory to God and is it an expression of His Kingdom?
The Kingdom of God is not founded on a list of does and don’ts. We have considerable freedom in our choices in all matters of life. Obviously we are not given unlimited freedoms with no boundaries opposed upon us.
Romans 14:14 says – “I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him, it is unclean.” Following on in Romans 14:22-23 – ” the faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself and what he approves. But he doubts is condemned if he eats. Because his eating is not from faith and whatever is not from faith, is sin.”
So, am I to get vaccinated?
The answer is this – each believer, each person is charged with the personal responsibility of making his or her own choices in this regard and setting their own boundaries. Scripture tells us we must only do what we believe is approved for us by God. Whatever we do, we must do it from faith.
Do not do anything you cannot ask the Father to bless.
A word from the Lord to an individual is exactly that, a word to the individual. It does not mean it is a word for all those who are in that persons community.
Paul is teaching us in Romans 14 that there are many things in life that are not unclean in themselves but they may be harmful to us personally. We are charged with the responsibility of making that decision and that comes from our biblical Self Government.
God will definitely hold us to account for what we let ourselves do, see and participate in, but ultimately it is our decision.
If we find with the Covid vaccination that we have to make a decision, by a certain time, then we have to go by what we believe and what we have faith for and James 3:16 talks about the peace in our heart as a good referee. What do we have peace for?
Judging others
Romans 14:16 – “Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil.” Not only are we forbidden for making any judgement on others for their decisions in this regard, we are told, to tell them to be quiet if they try and impose their views or convictions on others.
Having the vaccine is not a right or a wrong decision before God. He may advise me in a different way than he will advise you and we are not entitled to tell those around us that their decision on this matter is wrong. Doing so means we have violated the Holy Spirit by speaking where we have no jurisdiction to speak.
It is not a right or wrong thing – it is a personal choice thing. Only God has access to all of the information in our lives and other people outside are not free to comment on it.
There are no rules, no regulations, no dos or don’ts in many areas of our lives. This provides and requires a mandate for us to seek God and then act in a responsible manner.
Phillipians 4:8 – “What ever is true, what ever is honourable, what ever is right, what ever is pure, whatever is lovely, what ever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise dwell on these things.”
The bible sets out many things that are true, honourable, pure and right. But a lot of other things fall into what might be pure for me is not pure for you. What is right for you is not right for me. And we have to work these things out for ourselves in our own journies.
A final word that comes with a warning
The supreme rule for the Kingdom of God is love. Love and concern for God, for other people, the planet, the animals. Romans 14:13-15 – “Therefore let us not judge one another any more, but rather determine this – not to put an obstacle or stumbling block in a brother’s day. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who things anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.”
We don’t live for ourselves. We are called to consider one another more important than ourselves. Our whole Christian life needs to be lived in a sensitivity to those around us. It is this principle, not our own personal freedom that should govern what we may or may not participate in at any given time.
When we are in the company of others we must never go past their point of level of freedom. Our own freedom must never cause our brother or sister to stumble. Our actions must always glorify God and edify those we are in community we.
To help us in this we have the inner witness and conviction of the Holy Spirit and may we become more sensitive to His voice in our life style choices as each day goes by.
Linda says “Covid has already separated physically, let us not let it divide us relationally.”
God bless you.
Bruce Billington