Suggested Reading: Romans 14:1-23; 15:1-7; I Corinthians 6:12-13; 8:1-13; 9:19-23; 10:19-33; Galatians 2:11-16; 3:28; 4:8-11; Colossians 2:13-23; 3:11; I Timothy 1:3-7; 4:3-6; II Timothy 2:22-23; Titus 1:14-16; 3:9; Hebrews 9:9-10; 13:9; Leviticus 11:1-47; Deuteronomy 14:2-21; Acts 10:9-18; Acts 15:4-21; Psalm 120:6-7; 133:1-3; 144:1-15.

 

Introduction:

1. This study logically and chronologically follows verse-by-verse expository preaching of Rom 14:1 – 15:7.
   1. Diving into this study without the Bible background risks your understanding and dishonors the author.
   2. Expositional, verse-by-verse sermon outline, “Romans 14”.
   3. Expositional, verse-by-verse sermon outline, “Romans 15”.
   4. The Romans material was preached 10/20 – 11/03, 2013 and Christian liberty 11/10 – 12/08, 2013.
2. One sermon was preached May 28, 2006.
3. Christian liberty is taught in the Bible to promote peace in churches by members allowing each other liberty.
   1. Conversion of Gentiles caused angst among converted Jews by Judaizing heretics requiring Moses’ law.
   2. When Gentiles and Jews were combined in the same church, there was cause for frequent disagreement.
   3. God does not care whether a person practices a liberty or not by the very definition of liberty (I Co 8:8).
   4. Christian liberty is to unite churches in happy peace for God’s glory (Rom 15:5-7), God’s kingdom goals (Rom 14:17-18), and charitable protection of others for edification and salvation (Rom 14:19-23).
4. We have finished expository preaching of Romans 14:1 through 15:7 of Paul’s doctrine of Christian liberty.
   1. For the detailed expository notes for preaching Romans 14.
   2. For the detailed expository notes for preaching Romans 15.
   3. For the detailed expository notes for I Corinthians 8.
   4. For the detailed expository notes for I Corinthians 10.
5. Now we take the doctrine learned there from issues facing Paul and apply it to the issues facing us in 2013.
   1. Paul’s issues were unclean meats, Jewish ceremonial holidays, and meat or wine offered to pagan idols.
   2. While we do not have activities corresponding directly to meat offered to pagan idols or Jewish feast days, we can still learn the lessons of charity and apply liberty to the many controversial issues of today.
   3. But remember, the weak Jews and strong Gentiles had more Bible basis for their issues than any today, since Moses’ law had defined clean and unclean meats and holidays, and God had condemned all idols.
   4. It was scriptural, traditional, cultural, and powerful to side with Daniel against Gentile liberties (Da 1:8).
   5. Today’s issues range from alcohol to birth control to interracial marriages to homeschooling to tobacco to wives working outside jobs to vaccinations to activities on Sunday to tattoos to alternative medicine.
6. This topic should not have to be taught, but due to man’s pride, selfishness, and odiousness, it is a necessity.
   1. We do not have clean and unclean meats today, meats and wine offered to idols, and Jewish holidays.
   2. We ignore Ellen Harmon and Herbert Armstrong heretics, for their heresies go far beyond mere liberty.
   3. It is sad such things must be preached, for Paul’s doctrine based on issues facing him should be enough.
   4. If anyone truly learned of Jesus Christ and His kingdom, they should not have any problem with liberty.
   5. Three Christian graces are required for godly use of liberty to please God: humility, charity, discretion.
   6. There are subjects of greater value to know God and Jesus Christ, but stopping the mouths of the weak and requiring the strong to show them deference and mercy for their growth in grace demand an answer.
   7. Due to weak Christians, witch-hunting agendas, and those loving strife, liberty must be fully explained.
   8. It very much supports church unity, where differences are eliminated (Rom 15:5-7; Gal 3:28; Col 3:11).
7. Some think this subject is little more than a straw man and the preacher not any better than Don Quixote.
   1. They falsely assume no one really has a problem with these issues and no one’s conscience is involved.
   2. They forget that church members can despise other members for their stand on the list of issues above.
   3. They have not experienced church members demanding that those differing to be rebuked or excluded.
   4. They forget that church members have left a good church of Jesus Christ for one or few of these issues.
   5. Members have left churches they knew taught and practiced the truth due to Christian schools, life insurance, owning a hotel, playing cards, birth control, Zumba, women working outside the home, etc.
   6. An attempt was made to keep this author from ordination due to working in a U.S. commercial bank!
   7. There are real consciences involved, for these people will divide churches, cause discord, and leave churches due to their so-called convictions against these and countless other little manmade opinions.
   8. If you do not think consciences are involved, ask ten teetotalers to have a cold beer with you at Outback.
8. Some Christians are offended by this topic, for they presume others should see their viewpoint and follow it.
   1. The word liberty and the concept of Christian liberty to them are nothing but a pastor compromising.
   2. Every way of a man is clean or right in his own eyes, but God weighs the spirits of men (Pr 16:2; 21:2).
   3. Self-righteousness is not rare, as it is the natural propensity of all men (Pr 20:6; 31:12; Luke 18:11-12).
   4. Humility and meekness are rare, as it is not in man to allow others their liberty while enduring offence.
9. Few pastors preach in detail about Christian liberty or address these controversial subjects that cause strife.
   1. Most churches ignore strife just as they ignore attendance – 60% of membership absent every Sunday.
   2. Their pastors do not see that though Paul protected weak members, he constantly tried to convert them.
   3. Most churches, Joel Osteen for example, do not deal with any topic that does not have universal appeal.
   4. Most churches or pastors have little to no authority, so it is better just to leave such topics for ignorance.
   5. Large churches take in members of those generally thinking like them with little regard to church unity.
   6. Large churches today have so much variation of members in matters of sin that liberty is of no concern.
10. Other pastors think God has called them to witch hunts and Internet research about every little tidbit of evil.
    1. These are the weakest ministries by Paul’s definition, though boasting they are the most conservative.
    2. Paul’s doctrine is those who cannot do or use a thing are weak, not those who can or do use that thing.
    3. When it comes to the moderate use of alcohol, it is teetotalers that are weak, not those who like to drink.
    4. Abstinence proves weakness, not strength, for it was the vegetarians Paul said were weak (Rom 14:2).
    5. Instead of condemning meat offered to idols, these condemn meat that has a Zodiac sign on the label!
    6. Instead of condemning wine offered to idols, they condemn grocery stores and restaurants serving wine!
    7. After condemning pagan Roman Catholic holidays, they go on to condemn birthdays and anniversaries!
    8. The Netherlands Reformed Church, noble for their antithesis – send deacons annually for televisions!
    9. These kind will use money with the all-seeing eye of Horus on a pyramid and have potlucks on Sunday!
    10. These types will strain at a gnat (playing cards) and swallow a camel (righteousness, peace, and joy)!
    11. These define godliness this way: “We don’t drink, smoke, or chew, or hang around with those who do.”
11. Once a person is off the gospel track, he builds a new standard for religion and a new category of hypocrisy.
    1. The Pharisees were masters at creating ticky-tacky rules Jesus condemned (Matt 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23).
    2. These weak and carnal Christians make manmade rules that are merely a religious show (Col 2:20-23).
    3. God wants us to taste and see He is good and satisfy the flesh, not neglect it in a show of will worship.
    4. It was hilarious to see Christians in the 20th century call for short hair while adoring a longhaired Jesus.
    5. Where did breakfast cereal come from? The idea of bark in a bowl with milk over it? SDA vegetarians! What was the next religious goal of this intentionally bland diet for man’s eating? Cure masturbation!
12. What causes a person to go off on tangents God does not care about and raise divisive issues in a church?
    1. Partial or poor understanding of the Bible will lead to false interpretations and applications of the truth.
    2. A self-righteous attitude that they are special, thus their ideas and rules make them better than others.
    3. A misunderstanding of true Christianity, so that peace and joy are not important to them (Rom 14:17).
    4. A substitute for their lack of true spiritual religion and the importance of a relationship with Christ.
    5. Too much time in para-church organizations built primarily on external matters of liberty outside Christ.
    6. Too much Internet time, where they become weekend experts on issues they want to impose on others.
    7. The desire to be different and have what they consider an “edge” over other Christians that love Christ.
    8. The very false idea that the more conservative on any issue is the godlier position e.g. the Pharisees.
    9. Teaching and agendas from other churches and pastors where Christianity is or includes witch hunting.
    10. Personal experiences with excess or abuse of issues that work up their emotions e.g. a drunkard father.
    11. Family habits or traditions that are hard for them to think of as manmade due to familiarity and esteem.
    12. A superstitious approach to religion that puts sacred value on practical matters that the Bible does not.
    13. Ignorance about the danger, nature, safeguards, temptations, or other factors of some liberty practices.
    14. The wiles of the devil, who seeks to divide churches and distract saints like no other (I Pet 5:8; Ep 6:11).
13. Before we enter into the study itself, let us be well established in the goals and purposes of Christian liberty.
    1. Reason #1: Christian liberty is for church unity, peace, and happiness by rules how people having very different views of things that God does not care about can live and worship together (Rom 14:16-19).
    2. Reason #2: Christian liberty unites a church to be likeminded so their worship of God is acceptable to Him, for He seeks praise to come from one mind and one mouth of His local churches (Rom 15:5-7).
    3. Reason #3: Christian liberty is primarily a restraint of liberty by strong members to protect weaker ones by ignorance or superstition so they will not violate their consciences (Ro 14:13-15,19-23; I Co 8:4-13).
    4. Reason #4: Christian liberty is a restraint of liberty by strong members to avoid offence to those inside or outside the church for conscience of the living God for their conversion (I Cor 9:19-23; 10:23-33).
    5. Reason #5: Christian liberty is to protect the churches and saints of Christ from Pharisees and their obsession with manmade rules to deny believers their freedom in Christ (Matt 15:1-20; Col 2:13-20).
    6. Reason #6: Christian liberty is the knowledge and permission to enjoy good things God created but that monastic Pharisees have heretically sought to deny God’s people (Col 2:20-23; Deu 14:26; I Tim 4:1-6).
    7. Reason #7: Christian liberty is a great application of knowledge and wisdom for mercy and truth, by which a man can learn God’s mind and true religion (I Cor 6:12; 10:23-30; Col 2:6-23; I Tim 1:3-7).
14. Wine and strong drink, or alcoholic beverages, provide the single best illustration and application of liberty.
    1. Every believer should make a thorough study of this topic until they reach peace with the Bible position.
    2. False and loud claims by heretical teetotalers and emotional impact of drunkards make this a good test.
    3. God is clear: drink commended, drunk condemned (Deut 14:26; Ps 104:14-15; Pr 31:6-7; Luk 7:34-35).
    4. Every church member should have no problem with others drinking, though he is not required to drink.
    5. Any stigma in a conservative setting should be ignored like Jesus and Paul (Matt 15:1-20; Col 2:20-23).

What Is Christian Liberty?

1. What God commands, we do it exactly and nothing else; what God condemns, we stay far from it.
   1. There is no liberty in this rule; we are bound by love and duty to all He requires (Ps 119:128).
   2. Any part of private or public life God has addressed, we obey without question or compromise.
   3. We will earnestly contend for this rule, and we will sacrifice even our lives if pushed against it.
2. Christian liberty deals only with those aspects of life that God has not commanded or condemned.
   1. There are many things the Bible ignores, for God does not care about what Christians think!
   2. Some issues, even spiritual ones, God does not care about (Rom 14:1-8; I Cor 8:8; Nu 30:1-16).
   3. If a weak person argues God did not know about current issues, he can take his folly elsewhere.
   4. It helps to know the weak in the New Testament had more Bible support than any weak today.
3. Christian liberty is the freedom God gives individual Christians to do as they choose in matters that He has ignored in the Bible, with no fear of rejection or punishment by church, pastor, or members.
   1. This includes God allowing weak Jews to practice O.T. religion even when Jesus had ended it!
   2. But by far the greatest emphasis is on Christians altering their choices in public to edify others.
   3. It is you allowing freedom to every other saint, and not using your freedom to cause trouble.
4. However, liberty has limitations, which provide the basis and purpose of this study of God’s word.
   1. There are many rules in the Bible defining, explaining, and restraining the exercise of liberty.
   2. No pastor, church, or Christian has right to demand his preferences or condemn those of others.
   3. The benefit of every other member and the peace of the church trump any of your preferences.
5. The only things worth dividing over will be clearly and definitely specified in God’s scriptures.
   1. As we like to define it, only with a tsunami of Bible evidence will we change a liberty to a sin.
   2. We are not in the business of exalting Titus 2:5 over Proverbs 31:16,24 or vice versa. Hear it!
   3. It helps to know the weak in the New Testament had more Bible support than any weak today.
6. Christian liberty is the right or privilege to be stupid by choosing less than the best for your family.
   1. Stupidity here is not sin, but a use of liberty reducing God’s goodness or requiring more work.
   2. For example, a weak Jewish family reduced to vegetarianism loses some of God’s goodness.
   3. For example, a father sending his children to any school must put forth more effort to train.
   4. If you cannot stop at stupidity but abuse liberty into sin, you will be warned and punished.
7. Any issue of Christian liberty used too extensively or pushed too forcefully will become sinful.
   1. A television in your home is a matter of liberty, but watched too freely quickly becomes sinful.
   2. Making Sunday a day of rest is a matter of liberty, but requiring it of others makes it a sin.
8. Most or all matters of liberty have a range of acceptable use, where outside that range becomes sin.
   1. Alcohol, female attire, hair length, child discipline has limits on one or both ends to avoid sin.
   2. Moderation in all things is part of Christian liberty, for extremes on either end can become sin.
9. Pastors defend both sides, even if he knows one side is more correct than the other (Rom 14:1-9).
   1. Paul protected the weak in his teaching, but he often slipped in reminders that they were wrong.
   2. But neither would he allow weak members to subject the church to their doubtful disputations.
   3. It is his job only to teach the weak, and he does it gently and publicly while protecting them.
10. Christian liberty can be served by reviewing other studies: “Forgotten Sins” and “Christian Ethics.”
    1. For knowing sins mostly forgotten in this generation.
    2. Table of principles of Bible ethics.
    3. Definitions and applications of principles.
    4. Applications of ethics to real life cases.
11. Called Diaphora by some, “In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity”.

Rule #1: No doubtful disputations.

1. We reject doubtful disputations among church members about issues God has ignored (Rom 14:1).
   1. Weak converts may not discuss, debate, dispute, publish, or question their doubts in the church.
   2. This is applied to any public opportunity to speak to part or all of the church in any forum.
   3. This is applied to any private opportunity to speak to one or more church members informally.
   4. You may admit what you do or do not do, but condemnation or promotion cannot be tolerated.
   5. Why do you want to tell us what you learned as a weekend warrior on the Internet? Pride?
   6. Why criticize others who have a better relationship with God than you have (Romans 14:3-5)?
   7. Keep your restrictive ideas at home to turn your children off, but leave us alone (Rom 14:22).
   8. It is seditious in nature and stupid in content, because neither God nor men care what you think.
2. The kingdom of God exalts peace and unity above your scruples (Rom 14:17; 15:5-7; I Cor 1:10).
   1. God hates sowing of discord among brethren, especially in things indifferent (Prov 6:16-19).
   2. Grasp the fundamental principle others are more important than you (Rom 12:10; Phil 2:3-4).
   3. Can you grasp and accept this? Neither God nor men care what you think about your principles.
   4. Peace is far more important than principle, if principle is merely your idea of right or wrong.
   5. If there is a Bible basis for your superstition, but we do not hold it as doctrine, we do not care.
   6. If you want to humbly ask learned questions, the pastor will consider answering your questions.
   7. If you ask questions among the membership, you will be considered in violation of this text.
   8. Differences necessary in society are ignored due to unity in Jesus Christ (Gal 3:28; Col 3:11).
   9. This subject relates to church unity and communion, so Paul connected them (I Cor 10:15-31).
3. If you cannot do what we allow, then you are weak; we will receive you, but we will not hear you.
4. This rule about no debating applies to weak and strong (Rom 14:1,3-4,13,22; Tit 3:9; I Tim 1:3-7).
5. When, where, and how you enjoy a liberty or mention a liberty requires your prudent discretion.

Rule #2: You cannot compromise your conscience.

1. If you compromise your conscience, even in a liberty, you damn yourself (Rom 14:23; I Cor 8:7).
   1. A thing of liberty, which Christians may freely do, becomes sin to you if you have doubts of it.
   2. It does not matter how many others may freely and boldly do it, your conscience is the guide.
   3. Your conscience is not sacred; but it is binding until educated to where things become of faith.
2. To avoid this horrible outcome, it is your duty to be fully persuaded in your own mind (Rom 14:5).
   1. A conscience can be educated by scripture to no longer have doubts by growth in knowledge.
   2. Paul made several appeals to scripture to educate consciences (Rom 14:14; I Cor 8:4-6; 10:26).
   3. Thus, a change in your conduct should not bother you or others as you increase in knowledge.
3. How do I know that I have educated my conscience rather than seared it by changing for my lusts?
   1. This question indicates a fearful person intimidated by their conscience or misunderstanding it.
   2. Thinking new thoughts or trying to think new thoughts is not a conscience, which is stronger.
   3. It is a sin to sear your conscience, as do the priests of Rome with their superstition (I Tim 4:2).
   4. A conscience is seared, not educated or trained, if it changes its convictions due to sin factors like fear (Pr 29:25; II Chron 19:7; Matt 21:23-27; Luke 23:13-25; Gal 2:11-14; Ex 23:2).
   5. A conscience is seared, not educated or trained, if it changes its convictions due to an evil source of influence other than scripture (I Tim 4:1-3; II Sam 13:1-5; Ps 19:7-10; 119:113,128).
4. For more about the human conscience.

Rule #3: You must practice liberty to the Lord.

1. Paul summarized it quite well as eating, drinking, or any other activity to the Lord (I Cor 10:31).
2. Paul specifically identified a rule of liberty as doing it unto the Lord with thanksgiving (Rom 14:6).
   1. All that we do, whether living or dying, is to be done to the Lord, for we are His (Rom 14:7-9).
   2. You shall give an account of your liberty to Jesus Christ, so use it carefully (Rom 14:10-13).
   3. In the rule of keeping your liberty in private, it still must be done before God (Rom 14:22).
   4. No matter what position we take on a thing of liberty, it is love of God that counts (I Cor 8:3).
   5. The issue at stake Paul identified for the Corinthians was God’s sovereignty (I Cor 10:26,28).
3. Therefore, any liberty that can tempt toward sin must be carefully avoided or strictly managed.

Rule #4: All consciences must be considered.

1. Your duty is to protect the consciences of weak brethren in your church (Romans 14:13-15,20-23).
   1. The example of meat offered to idols showed knowledge and ignorance of idols (I Cor 8:4-7).
   2. Avoid any public conduct that could cause a brother to stumble, be offended, or made weak.
   3. Avoid any public conduct that is not in love for edification (Ro 14:15,19; I Cor 8:1; 10:23-33).
   4. For these reasons we would not offer wine or drink wine in front of brothers weak about it.
   5. Do not ask them, “Will you be offended, if I drink wine?” for that is tempting them to lie.
2. Your duty is to respond to consciences of those that confront you due to theirs (I Cor 10:25-33).
   1. However, you are not responsible to worry about those that do not say anything in this case.
   2. Yet there are differences in cultures and audiences that should alter conduct to avoid offence.
   3. Remember the example of Jesus paying tribute that He did not legally owe (Matt 17:24-27).
   4. There will be few legitimate situations of this occurring in our culture without Paul’s issues.
3. However, you are not responsible for those with public errors of the Pharisees (Matthew 15:10-20).
   1. Hatred of wine by teetotaling Pharisees still loyal to Prohibition or the Temperance Movement is irrelevant, for there is no Bible basis for their position but their own foolish, manmade rules.
   2. There is no Bible basis for their superstition as for wine offered to pagan idols, which involved a very real religious and worship compromise in the minds of those still weak about idols.
   3. SBC teetotalers are so far off the Bible path they make their rules conditions of membership!
   4. Prohibition and the Temperance Movement compare to foolish Jewish washings (Mark 7:8,13).
   5. Jesus showed no mercy to such hypocrites but rebuked their false doctrine (Matthew 15:10-20).
   6. “We don’t drink, smoke, or chew, or hang around with those do,” directly contradicts Jesus.
   7. One Temperance song gloried positively in the mantra, “Touch not, taste not, and handle not,” which was condemned as heresy in Colossians 2:20-23. Note Paul’s rejection of their heresy.
   8. Why did Jesus heal on the Sabbath, when He knew it would cause much offence (Mark 3:1-6)?
   9. Why did His apostles eat on the Sabbath (Matt 12:1-7)? They could have prepared or waited.
   10. If you live in a city 50% Baptist (Greenville), many of which are teetotalers, you may order wine in a restaurant, since they should not even be eating in such an establishment (Hab 2:15).
   11. If you lived near the Amish, would you turn off your electricity and throw your toilets away?
   12. If a SDA moves in next door, will you stay inside your house and read the Bible on Saturday?
   13. If a Vision Forum / Full Quiver type works in your office, will you try to conceive annually?
   14. Yet, if you are trying to convert a Fundamentalist, you should forgo wine if he has you in view.
   15. And you should never be foolish or rowdy, or you fulfill their very superstition about wine.
   16. Holy and wise conduct at a table, including prayer, will present the godly picture it should.
4. Every son should consider his father’s conscience, but he is not bound to it once he is on his own.
   1. There may be some thoughts of doubts as he establishes this independence from his father.
   2. If he has a question, he should ask his father and clarify his own conscience about the matter.
   3. Yet he should only change from his father’s position carefully and slowly to honor his father.

Rule #5: Men may set the liberty for their families.

1. The general rule is that those in authority may impose their liberty on those under their authority.
   1. Any thorough study of authority will include required obedience in any ruling other than sin.
   2. Wives and children should submit to their husbands and fathers in these things of conscience.
   3. Eve’s desire would be to her husband, and he would rule over her, due to the fall (Gen 3:16).
   4. God made it clear fathers and husbands could disannul even vows of worship (Num 30:1-16).
   5. Jehonadab required a matter of liberty for his sons over several generations (Jer 35:1-19), but this is an exception; wise fathers are extremely cautious of denying liberty to grown children.
   6. Tattoos and tobacco are matters of Christian liberty, but a father can forbid his children both, and the father’s denial of the liberty makes these two example issues a sin for those children.
   7. Your conscience in matters God has ignored is only as helpful as father or husband allows it.
   8. If this were not the case, then those under authority could use conscience as a constant excuse.
   9. Instead of thinking this hard – educate your own conscience or learn the conscience over you.
   10. We only disobey authority over us when it contradicts God’s clear laws – not our consciences, though sometimes we may use the word conscience or appeal to it in matters of Bible doctrine.
   11. Wise rulers may consider consciences, even in the U.S. e.g. conscientious objectors, etc.
   12. A father may allow children liberty in some areas; a husband may consider a wife’s conscience.
2. Wise parents are cautious to impose their liberty on children, waiting for more important issues.
3. Wise parents do not impose their own liberty on married children out of their house (Gen 2:24).

Rule #6: Keep your liberty private.

1. If your conscience allows an activity or thing (not of sin!), then keep it to yourself before God!
   1. If you have faith in doing something, then you should keep the matter private (Rom 14:22).
   2. The apostolic rule was not to sacrifice all liberty for the sake of weak Christians, but hide it!
   3. Liberty used carelessly can destroy the weak (Rom 14:15,20-21) or cause damnation (14:23).
   4. Here is where discretion is added to humility and charity as important traits needed for liberty.
   5. When, where, and how you enjoy a liberty or mention a liberty requires prudent discretion.
2. Therefore, liberty must be kept private where you can enjoy God’s freedom without hurting others.
   1. Keep liberty out of sight of weak brethren, for they may see your liberty and be hurt (14:13).
   2. Keep them from seeing your liberty by doing it at home in privacy before God (I Cor 8:10).
   3. Therefore, by logical extension, there is no reason to talk about your liberty before the weak.
   4. There are plenty of things to talk about other than your liberty in many issues of controversy.
   5. The severe call for abstinence intends only situations with the weak present (14:21; I Cor 8:13), for if this were not the case, Paul would have condemned all liberty to have saved all the weak.
3. Parents must teach children to avoid talking or showing family liberty with those not holding it.
   1. Children have a tendency to overstate things when they discover they are different from others.
   2. Children can be cruel without knowing or with knowing it by teasing others for their liberty.
   3. Girls going to college need not question or criticize a girl that does not due to a higher calling.
4. The apostle Paul was a master at altering his behavior depending on audience and circumstances.
   1. Read his modus operandi that he presented to Corinth while teaching liberty (I Cor 9:19-23).
   2. His life was kind discretion and courtesy, as we say, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
   3. His goal at all times was to save, edify, and build up converts, and he would adjust accordingly.
   4. If circumcision could help, he circumcised (Acts 16:3). If it would hurt, he did not (Gal 2:3-5).
   5. Paul preached Christ over the law everywhere, but he took a vow to help Jews (Acts 21:18-26).
5. This is not hypocrisy, for true hypocrisy only pertains to moral issues of God’s commandments.
   1. Hypocrisy is the designed impression by actions or statement by words to advertise godliness.
   2. The Pharisees were hypocrites – wearing scripture but refusing to keep what scripture taught.
   3. The Pharisees were hypocrites – whitewashed sepulchers that were full of dead men’s bones.
   4. God does not care what you do in issues of liberty (I Cor 8:8), so discretion is not hypocrisy.
   5. Altering behavior or speech due to persons present or circumstances is charity and godliness.
   6. Graciousness always wants to be and do what the audience desires and/or expects of them.
   7. Hate feelings that you should be what you are at all times for some false notion of consistency.
6. Why did Paul rebuke Peter for altering his behavior regarding Gentiles at Antioch (Gal 2:11-14)?
   1. The church at Antioch was at peace with Jews and Gentiles eating together until Peter’s event.
   2. Peter, an apostle and influential person, caused church division at Antioch due simply to fear.
   3. His hypocrisy without conscience (for he ate with Gentiles) was contrary to Christian liberty.
   4. Peter by fear rather than charity or conscience caused others to violate charity and conscience.
   5. The Council at Jerusalem had ignored Jewish meats and drinks as being binding on Gentiles.
   6. Peter violated the Council of Jerusalem out of fear only and caused a church division by it.

Rule #7: Adapt to your audience.

1. It may be reduced to a popular idiom, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” This is graciousness.
2. The apostle Paul was a master at altering his behavior depending on audience and circumstances.
   1. Read his modus operandi that he presented to Corinth while teaching liberty (I Cor 9:19-23).
   2. His goal at all times was to save, edify, and build up converts, and he would adjust accordingly.
   3. If circumcision could help, he circumcised (Acts 16:3). If it would hurt, he did not (Gal 2:3-5).
   4. Paul preached Christ over the law everywhere, but he took a vow to help Jews (Acts 21:18-26).
3. This takes discretion and erring on the side of compromise, since no liberty should overpower us.
   1. Every Christian should generally know other church members to have a feel for their liberties.
   2. If you do not have a feel for another member’s liberties, then you should assume conservatism.
   3. Since no liberty is a necessity, it should be easy to compromise or sacrifice a liberty for others.

Rule #8: Manage your degree of liberty.

1. Just because a thing may be a thing of indifference and matter of liberty, use it only in moderation.
2. The moderate use of alcohol is a liberty, but you show folly by pressing the limits of moderation.
3. A television at home is a thing of liberty, but you are a fool and head into sin by watching sin on it.
4. Modesty is not a matter of liberty, though we allow some liberty within modesty, so be scrupulous.
5. Church attendance is not a matter of liberty, though we allow some mercy, so be very scrupulous.
6. If you do not manage liberty, you can turn liberty into sin and/or offend others by your extremism.
   1. Even if a thing is a liberty or lawful, its use must be expedient and edifying (I Cor 6:12; 10:23).
   2. You may even offend and be a stumblingblock to the strong if you use your liberty carelessly.
7. Temperance is also a liberty – how far to apply liberty – in light of self and others (I Cor 6:12).

Rule #9: No liberty can be controlling.

1. You cannot get so accustomed or dependent on a thing of liberty you cannot leave it for others.
2. All things were lawful for Paul – things of liberty – but he would not be servant to any (I Cor 6:12).
   1. Remember, Paul was ready and willing, and he actually did change drastically (I Cor 9:19-23).
   2. No issue of liberty, no matter what it is, should be so important to us we cannot put it down.
   3. If we find ourselves in a situation with weak brethren, we must be able to sacrifice our liberty.
3. We face matters of liberty that can be addicting e.g. alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, sugar, tea, etc.
   1. This is the strongest warning in the Bible about the use of tobacco – you had better rule it.
   2. This does not mean that you cannot have daily habits of things you enjoy like coffee or wine.
4. Temperance is also a liberty – how far to apply liberty – in light of self and others (I Cor 6:12).

Rule #10: Ignorance is bliss in liberty.

1. Ignorance is not helpful in many categories of godliness or knowledge, but it has a place in liberty.
   1. Ignorance is bad character or lack of teaching (Pr 19:2; 29:18; Ro 1:31; Ep 4:18; I Cor 14:38).
   2. There are things our Father told us to be ignorant about (Ro 16:19; Ep 5:12; Tit 3:9; Heb 13:9).
2. Paul twice instructed the Corinthians not to ask about the history or nature of meat (I Co 10:25,27).
   1. Take time to consider these verses and this point to appreciate God’s mercy to consciences.
   2. If they purchased meat at the grocery store, the shambles, they were not to ask (I Cor 10:25).
   3. If they were invited to a subdivision ox roast with pagans, they were not to ask (I Cor 10:27).
   4. They could easily have asked the butcher or host the dirty details of the meat, but it was foolish.
   5. Though it was a matter that would damn them if they knew, they were not to ask (Rom 14:23).
   6. Do you grasp God’s wisdom in matters of conscience? Stay ignorant for freedom and pleasure!
   7. This is an aspect of God’s priority of mercy and intent over sacrifice (Matt 12:7; Mark 2:27).
3. We apply this rule in things we know are liberties to avoid any conscience scruples from research.
   1. Prudent men do research and avoid evil, but there is a time to say, “Enough!” (Pr 22:3; 19:2).
   2. Never in the history of the world have statisticians and fearmongers been able to publish freely.
   3. God does not care about epidurals, so why would you read horror stories of the few exceptions?
   4. God does not care what toothpaste you use, why would you read evil about Procter & Gamble?
   5. God does not care about a deck of cards, why would you read fantasies of a gospel caricature?
4. It is wrong, that many weak will ask, and those that love witch hunts will research, against the rule.
5. This rule does not mean we reject due diligence in things likely evil e.g. Halloween, Christmas, etc.

Rule #11: Worldliness in liberty is irrelevant.

1. Christians hate the world for its hatred of God, Jesus, righteousness, truth, and wisdom (Jas 4:4).
2. In matters of liberty, they may do what the world does e.g. eat meat offered to idols (I Cor 10:27).
   1. This event described by Paul was a block party where a pagan had extra meat to get rid of.
   2. We do not join pagans religiously, but we may in social settings (I Cor 5:9-11; II Cor 6:14-18).
3. Customs, diets, clothes, transportation, national holidays, and many other things are acceptable.
4. We reject anything of the world that compromises or contradicts righteousness, truth, or wisdom.

Rule #12: Agree to disagree.

1. It is human nature (sin nature, of course) to think you are right and want to convert others to agree.
2. Get over the wicked desire to convert everyone to think, talk, and act like you do on liberty issues.
3. Both sides of a matter of liberty can do it to God’s glory and give God thanks for it (Rom 14:6).
4. Agree on the important things God has specified, and grow up enough to allow liberty freedom.
5. Your church and you pleasing God depends on ignoring liberties to love one another for Christ.
   1. If you prefer others before yourself, you certainly will not despise them (Ro 12:10; Phil 2:3-4).
   2. This principle of love and forebearance goes so far as to even suffer defrauding (I Cor 6:7-8).

Rule #13: Grow thick skin.

1. Learn godly graciousness and patience to defer anger and pass over personal offences (Pr 19:11).
2. Much of the charity of the New Testament is forbearing, forgiving, and longsuffering. Learn it!
3. Parents must teach children to overlook a little teasing (though it is wrong) from other children.
4. Things will be said impinging on your liberty or impugning your liberty, but gladly pass over it.
5. Christian charity suffers long, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things (I Cor 13:4-7) – where is there room for offence?

Rule #14: Follow the pastor’s faith.

1. Paul taught that a pastor’s faith ought to be followed (Heb 13:7,17; I Thess 5:12-13; I Cor 11:1).
2. Ezekiel taught that priests should teach the difference between the holy and profane (Ezek 44:23).
3. A wise pastor will not force his liberty on a church, for then it would no longer be personal liberty.
4. However, a faithful pastor in matters of controversy will declare what can or cannot be allowed.
5. In gray areas that need defining, wise pastors will cautiously draw some lines to assist the faithful.

Rule #15: Abstain from all appearance of evil.

1. We are to avoid sin, and we are also to avoid anything that looks like sin (I Thes 5:22; Rom 12:17).
2. The subject at hand is Christian liberty, which includes others seeing your liberty (I Cor 8:10-11).
   1. The rule is simple – if you have liberty in a matter of offence, do it only in private (Ro 14:22).
   2. We should be willing to alter our conduct whenever we can to avoid offence (I Cor 10:31-33).
   3. For example, Jesus paid a tribute He did not legally owe to protect appearance (Matt 17:24-27).
3. Wedding rings are a matter of Christian liberty, but they end the impression of fornication to many.
4. We most want others to see are our good works, not our liberties (Matt 5:16; Luke 2:52; Pr 22:1).

Rule #16: Exalt Christian charity.

1. If you do not love others as the Bible defines it, serving them for Christ, you are likely not saved.
   1. Love for the saints is the greatest evidence of a work of grace in your life proving eternal life.
   2. Love is sacrificial service to others to prepare them to meet Jesus Christ confidently in holiness.
   3. Every time you open your mouth, do anything, or do not do something, it should be due to love.
2. Charity will always look out for others to avoid doing anything to harm them or hold them back.
   1. Paul specifically identified charity as the determining factor of proper use of liberty (Ro 14:15).
   2. While knowledge is good, and strong members have lots of it, love is superior to it (I Cor 8:1).
   3. The benefit or profit of others, which is true love, is a governing force in liberty (I Cor 10:24).
   4. Love is sacrificial; it will bear all things (I Cor 13:7), so Paul applied it to liberty (Rom 15:1-3).
3. Take the inspired definition of love in fifteen phrases and apply each one to liberty (I Cor 13:4-7).
4. For much more about Christian charity and love … www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/definition-of-love.pdf.
5. For much more about Christian charity and love … www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/love-is-the-greatest.pdf.

Rule #17: Exalt edification.

1. The purpose of the church and your relationships in it are for edification (Heb 3:12-13; 10:23-25).
   1. The church is not an auditorium to give a venue for a charismatic duded to deliver the gospel.
   2. The church is not a worship center for praise bands and others to rock you with lots of sound.
   3. Even with many spiritual gifts during the apostolic age, edification reigned (I Cor 14:5,12,26).
   4. Edified church members by work of the ministry are to then edify one another (Eph 4:12,16).
   5. For much more about the purpose of the church.
   6. More about the church (also see). 
2. Paul specifically identified edification as a criterion for using liberty (Rom 14:19; 15:2; I Cor 8:1).
   1. All things of liberty are lawful, but they may not be expedient or edifying (I Cor 6:12; 10:23).
   2. Paul compromised liberties and altered conduct if it would help others (I Cor 9:19-23; 10:33)

Rule #18: Weak liberty can be wise.

1. There are other issues beyond basic Christian liberty that impact how we make or measure choices.
   1. The issues facing Paul had a Bible basis: unclean meats, ceremonial days, or attached to idols.
   2. The “weak” held to Moses’ relics; the “strong” held the N.T. over him and had no fear of idols.
   3. The issues facing Paul involved no real sin, as they were innocent outside of weak consciences.
   4. We should not use “weak” or “strong” unless they are issues very comparable to Paul’s issues.
   5. Abstinence is good and “strong,” even if doing a “weak” thing, if for good reasons (I Co 8:13).
   6. Some liberties tend to sin, so avoiding temptations for yourself is wise (Rom 13:14; Mat 26:41; I Cor 6:12; 9:27; II Cor 2:11; Matt 5:29-30; Rom 1:32; Ps 101:3; Prov 5:8; Phil 4:8; Eph 4:27).
   7. Making Sunday almost a Sabbath is “weak”; not having a television is more wise than “weak.”
2. Abstinence or prohibition of something God allows is ordinarily a weak position without a reason.
   1. It was “weak” Jews that turned vegetarian to avoid unclean meats or offered to idols (Ro 14:2).
   2. Trying to be more conservative than the Bible is Pharisee tradition without justifying reasons.
   3. But avoiding alcohol due to past weakness or to guarantee no offence can be wise and strong.
   4. Not having a television to make no provision for the flesh for you and your children is strong!
   5. An effort to rightly divide terms is scriptural and necessary lest we abuse “weak” or “strong.”
   6. We should not use “weak” or “strong” unless they are issues very comparable to Paul’s issues.

Rule #19: Your liberty choices have consequences.

1. Solomon taught the rule that without sharpening an axe more strength must be used (Eccl 10:10).
2. Your choices in liberty will either make your life easier serving God or make His service harder.
3. Consider a few liberties where you can easily see that you are helped or hindered in serving Christ.
   1. If you choose the public schools to educate your children, you must work harder to save them.
   2. If you choose to have a television in your home, you must work harder to manage its viewing.
   3. If you or your children choose interracial marriage, there will be cultural, racial, social trials.
   4. If you choose to never drink, then you will never have to fear or worry about getting drunk.
4. Remember these three guidelines or suggestions to keep you from abusing liberty to your hurt.
   1. If you tend to unconvention, it will hurt your progress socially and your success professionally.
   2. If you tend to independence, you must tone it back to avoid offence in word or deed to others.
   3. If you tend to extremes, then you must avoid those liberties where you could get out of line.

Rule #20: Make no provision for your own flesh.

1. Paul’s warning immediately before addressing liberty is to avoid tempting situations (Rom 13:14).
2. Most of Paul’s writing is about protecting other church members and saints from your liberties.
3. But you must also protect yourself by avoiding liberties where you are weak or easily tempted.
   1. If you have had a problem with alcohol in the past, then you should limit or prohibit drinking.
   2. If you have had a problem with overspending in the past, then you should forego credit cards.
   3. If you have an outgoing child that has abused cell phones, then they are no longer a real liberty.
   4. If music has got you into trouble in the past, then the last thing you need is a new, big stereo.

Objection #1: But what about principle!

1. Before you get too haughty, remember that most “principles” are merely disguised human pride.
2. Your “principles” are your own liberty, and neither God nor anyone else really cares about them.
3. Unless you can prove your “principles” clearly from the Bible, your “principles” are only opinions.
4. Every way of a man is right in his eyes and can be far from right (Pr 12:15; 14:12; 16:25; 21:2).

Objection #2: But what about important things!

1. You think your ideas are important, for every man thinks his way is the best and right (Prov 21:2).
   1. Every man foolishly assumes his ideas are likely God’s (Pr 16:25; 20:6; 30:12; Ps 36:2; 50:21).
   2. Every man foolishly assumes his neighbor is stupid, until confronted (Prov 18:17,13; 28:11)!
2. If God has not specifically addressed an issue by precept or principle, then it is not very important.
   1. The Bible is a closed system, so if your crusade is missing, God must not care (II Tim 3:16-17).
   2. The only way a thing can be a law is to prove God clearly addressed it by precept or principle.
   3. Precepts are direct commandments that are clearly understood and easily applied (Ps 119:128).
   4. Any application of principle must (1) have at least two witnesses, (2) consistently handle various liberties, and (3) be approved by the pastor, who is responsible for such changes.
   5. For your help, the pastor will not be moved by any suggestion to make a liberty a law without a tsunami of Bible evidence for the new law and a tsunami of answers for the previous liberty.

Objection #3: But what about dangerous things!

1. Here we go again! What you assume as dangerous may not be so to a person with smarts or stones.
   1. Danger is most often in the eye of the beholder, which proves nothing but their narrow vision.
   2. Danger is often a function of a person’s ability or experience, so stop your sheltered thinking.
   3. Danger is often a result of a timid or weak personality; bold and strong people see it differently.
   4. Danger is often the result of spending too much time, thoughts, or “research” to criticize others.
   5. Danger progressively becomes a function of your age, so let the young have their pleasures.
   6. Danger is falsely assumed by news only reporting danger and death, never safety or success!
   7. Danger is learned only by the information explosion publishing anyone and everyone for free!
2. God does not care, or He would warn about travel (II Cor 11:25-26; Acts 27:14-44; Ps 107:23-31).
   1. To avoid tempting God, do not jump 70 stories without a chute or bungee cord (Luke 4:9-12)!
   2. Was Jesse a bad father for 15-year-old David keeping sheep in the wild with lions and bears?
   3. Was Jacob a bad father for sending 17-year-old Joseph 80 miles to check on hateful brothers?
   4. If God cared, as a thing of law, the Bible’s 67th book would be statistical tables or list of don’ts.
   5. A prudent man foresees danger and hides, but it is real danger, and it varies by unique situation.
3. What are you thinking about? Will a few examples help you get over a lockdown of the church?
   1. Do you think motorcycles are not a liberty? They are! You should drive a reinforced Hummer!
   2. Do you think skydiving is foolishly dangerous? You probably dislike stepladders also, right?
   3. Do you think buying organic food at Whole Foods prolongs life? Let others die happy at 70!
   4. What parents wait until children are 25 to drive, though insurance proves they are safer drivers?
   5. Are you scared that some mothers have their babies at home? Where was your granny born?
   6. Did you despise the family whose son broke his collarbone scoring a touchdown? Go, Joshua!
   7. Do you think adding a blower (turbocharger) to a car is a danger or a waste? You missed life!
   8. Should we stop eating red meat, drinking coffee, scuba diving, working on an oilrig, or chewing gum while playing basketball? If you can stay in bed and do all God expects, go for it!

Objection #4: But what about deadly things!

1. See the preceding argument about dangerous things before advancing to a consideration of death.
2. Some argue that if a thing can or does cause death once in a while, it tempts the Lord and is sin.
   1. If the argument is right, we need to prohibit a million things e.g. general anesthesia, electricity, cars, fire starters, hunting, natural gas, dogs, childbirth, roller coasters, buses, hotdogs, swimming, guns, small objects around children, etc.
   2. Jumping off a 700’ pinnacle of the temple is truly deadly, but riding a motorcycle is not nearly.
   3. Reports declare daily new causes of cancer and heart disease, cars with weak fuel tanks, airlines with bad records, flash mobs in malls, tornadoes, and other deadly risks ad nauseum.
   4. The nature of news reporting is sensationalism, so you only hear about accidents and fatalities, when the real facts would show that certain activities are safer than eating chicken or salmon!
   5. Without considering mercy, intent, or comparable dangers, we would need a table of statistical probabilities for all activities … and then have pastor or church decide where to draw the line!
   6. You may draw the line where you choose for yourself and family, but do not despise or impose.
3. For example, the slight risk of abortion by BCP’s is no more intended or certain than that of teen drivers, sugar, anesthesia, hunting, vaccinations, trans fats, etc., for all have studies pro and con.
   1. Those who crusade loud and long against BCP’s are hypocrites by ignoring other fatal risks; if you pick any “deadly” liberty and condemn it, consistency requires condemning others also.
   2. The use of BCP’s, involving the liberty of birth control in general, also involves the liberty of trusting their intended purpose by God’s providence as we do every other “deadly” liberty.
   3. The principle of intent accepts the intent of BCP’s to hinder or eliminate ovulation/conception.
   4. The principle of mercy looks to the easiest solution even if contradictory or questionable.
   5. Your unlearned research to find percentages or probabilities yourself or selective research of articles supporting you is something we are told to avoid for our consciences (I Cor 10:25,27).
   6. If you are moved by your research, we will defend your liberty, but not despising or imposing.
   7. If you are convicted by the research, we will allow your hypocrisy in your many other choices.
   8. If you try to divide between God’s providence and our tempting in one matter of “deadly” liberty, be careful for we rely on God’s providence to protect us in other similar liberties.
   9. If you view these little pills differently, you are welcome to it, but not to doubtful disputations.
4. Children driving at 16 may be the most dangerous thing we do, for their lives and for every other traveler. Should we wait until 21? Until 30? Require them to use Amish buggies? Grandpa’s mule?

Objection #5: But what about blessed things!

1. Some argue that if a thing is good or blessed by God then it must be an absolute commandment.
   1. A popular application of this confusion condemns birth control, since children are a blessing.
   2. If the fruit of the womb is His reward, we should seek as many rewards as possible (Ps 127:3)!
   3. We should get our quivers as full as possible to be happy, in spite of John, Anna, Jesus, Paul!
2. A simple rule of reasoning is to apply an argument consistently to other matters to test its validity.
3. What happens if we take this little absurdity and apply it consistently to other blessings of God?
   1. Wine is definitely a blessing from God (Judges 9:13; Ps 104:14-15), but we force it on no one.
   2. Rain is God’s blessing (Ps 65:9-10), but we use umbrellas, eaves, gutters, wipers, levees, etc.
   3. Sunshine is a blessing (Matt 5:44-45), but we use shade trees, tinting, sunscreen, blinds, etc.
   4. Marriage is a great blessing (Gen 2:18; Ecc 9:9), but wise men forgo it for a greater blessing, and we should never imply or require it of all (Matt 19:12; I Cor 7:7-8,25-27,32-34,37-40; etc.).
4. Childbirth can surely be a blessing, but it is Rome that condemns birth control, which is a liberty.
   1. Conception is not strictly an act of God, for He has told us how it happens and about ovulation.
   2. There is no obligation to have children, for John, Anna, Jesus, and Paul rejected the blessing!
   3. Too many children is not a blessing, just ask the woman with her insides falling out after 8!
   4. Too many children is not a blessing, just ask the father who cannot feed and clothe them all!
   5. For much more about birth control in general … www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/birth-control-2.pdf

Objection #6: But what about dangers of liberties!

1. As has been shown, most or all liberties can become sin if they are used or pressed to an extreme.
   1. If the moderate use of something is a liberty does not mean at all that an extreme use is liberty.
   2. See the rule above, Manage Your Degree of Liberty, for arguments already presented for you.
   3. Personal experiences are statistically insignificant to an absurd degree, and you mistrust God.
   4. The holy God has seen everything by infinite wisdom, and you should fully trust His judgment.
2. This argument fits wine and strong drink best, for some have seen the great evil of drunkenness.
   1. If your parent was a drunkard, it was not the fault of wine, but of a wicked heart (Matt 15:11).
   2. If wine is condemned to avoid drunkenness, then food should be condemned to avoid gluttony.
   3. If you can stay alive after those two laws, then outlaw guns to end all murder like the commies.
3. If the danger of immoderate use frightens you, deny yourself the liberty, and we will receive you.
4. The abuse of a thing does not condemn the proper use of that thing except to a very confused mind.

Objection #7: But my liberty is more conservative!

1. It is wrong to think that the more conservative position is the more correct application of liberty.
   1. What did Paul call a church member that to avoid idols sacrificed all meat to be a vegetarian?
   2. Jews fussing about compromised meats became vegetarians – teetotalers, but weak (Ro 14:2)!
   3. Gentiles, enjoying unclean meats and meat offered to idols, looking very liberal, were strong!
   4. Jews keeping Moses’ holy days were weak; Gentiles ignoring those days to work were strong.
2. The Pharisees were the most conservative and the most dangerous of the Jewish sects (Acts 26:5).
   1. Jesus had far more to say against those self-righteous pretenders than He did liberal Sadducees.
   2. They exalted all sorts of ticky-tacky rules over God’s law like many do today (Matt 15:1-20).
   3. Pretending religion by emphasizing, requiring manmade rules makes God angry (Col 2:20-23).
   4. If your position is more conservative than others, you may be merely unmerciful (Matt 12:7).
   5. Being conservative to the right of God’s laws is as evil as being liberal to the left (Deut 5:32)!
3. The Temperance Movement corrupted the word and exalted weakness by Prohibition’s abstinence.
   1. It is not strength that chooses total abstinence but rather weakness that misses the Bible liberty.
   2. If God Almighty in infinite wisdom allows and commends wine, then who are you to forbid it?
   3. Not having a television is very conservative, but Paul in a context of liberty would call it weak.
   4. Not drinking to avoid drunkenness is not wiser than allowing moderate drinking. Think Jesus!
   5. If you want to miss God’s best by not drinking wine, it is your choice, and we will protect you.
4. The strong, not limited by conscience due to knowledge, may compromise to help the weak; the weak, bound by their conscience to their ignorance, cannot compromise to join the strong.
   1. The weakness of the Jews in Paul’s day caused him to mostly call on the strong to compromise.
   2. Only the strong have flexibility to adjust, for they are not bound by an ignorant conscience.
5. However, there are other issues beyond Christian liberty that impact how we measure our choices.
   1. The issues facing Paul had a Bible basis: unclean meats, ceremonial days, or attached to idols.
   2. The “weak” held to Moses’ relics; the “strong” held the N.T. over him and had no fear of idols.
   3. The issues facing Paul involved no real sin, as they were innocent outside of weak consciences.
   4. We should not use “weak” or “strong” unless they are issues very comparable to Paul’s issues.
   5. Abstinence is good and “strong,” even if doing a “weak” thing, if for good reasons (I Co 8:13).
   6. Some liberties tend to sin, so avoiding temptations for yourself is wise (Rom 13:14; Mat 26:41; I Cor 6:12; 9:27; II Cor 2:11; Matt 5:29-30; Rom 1:32; Ps 101:3; Prov 5:8; Phil 4:8; Eph 4:27).
   7. Making Sunday almost a Sabbath is “weak”; not having a television is more wise than “weak.”

Objection #8: But liberties can lead to sin!

1. It is true Adam and Eve and men since them have corrupted God’s way by inventions (Eccl 7:29).
2. God’s blessings and every creation can lead to sin unless it is used as God as prescribed its use.
3. Should we have a law against drinking to end drunkenness? Food for gluttony? Guns for murder?
4. A television itself is a matter of liberty, but how you use that television is not a matter of liberty.
5. A “weak” choice of not having a television is a wise decision to reduce temptations (Rom 13:14).
6. Temperance is also a liberty – how far to apply liberty – in light of self and others (I Cor 6:12).
7. Rather than Pharisaism to deny liberty to keep from sinning, Christians use liberty without sinning.

Objection #9: But I seek truth on all subjects!

1. What do you mean by truth? The only truth that really matters is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
   1. Or are you concerned that some matter of liberty is done better your way than other ways?
   2. Or are you concerned that JFK was not really shot by Lee Harvey Oswald but by his wife?
   3. Or are you concerned that vaccinations may cause death in one or ten cases out of 100,000?
2. It is this obsession with so-called “truth” that leads people astray about liberty, for they will make it their crusade to study things God does not care about while sacrificing what He has commanded.
3. We live in a full-blown information explosion, but it is nearly impossible to prove “truth” in any matter of liberty, for what you call truth is merely your biased view of contradictory information.
4. Life is short; a diligent man works longs hours; a faithful man invests in his wife and children; a godly man serves the church; frankly, there is no time left to research what God has ignored!
5. You that think you have things figured out – you need to do a couple things to help yourselves.
   1. Take a master’s course or two in statistical analysis and real research methods and protocol.
   2. Take a master’s course in business and political science to find out how things actually work.
   3. Take a week off work and study websites dedicated to delusions, frauds, hoaxes, and scams.

Objection #10: But you are weakening our position on Christmas!

1. The only days Paul justified under Christian liberty were O.T. Jewish days from Moses to the N.T.
   1. Christian liberty allowed certain days to be observed to the Lord or not observed (Rom 14:6).
   2. New Testament days e.g. first day of week or Lord’s Supper were fully required (Heb 10:25).
   3. Pagan days were not kept to the Lord, but Jewish days, as Paul proved (Acts 20:16; 21:18-26).
   4. Days that cannot be judged any longer and were nailed to the cross were Moses’ (Col 2:14-17).
   5. What days tempted the Galatians? Days, months, times, and years of Moses’ law (Gal 4:9-10)!
2. Pagan holidays are wrong under both testaments (De 12:29-32; Je 10:1-4; II Cor 6:14-18; Re 18:4).
   1. For much more about pagan holy days.
   2. For Christmas as spiritual adultery.
   3. For more about spiritual adultery in general.

Objection #11: But it seems like everything is a liberty now!

1. Do you really think so? Try drunkenness, lying, murder, idolatry, sodomy, witchcraft, stealing, disobedience to parents, fornication, covetousness, envy, whisperers, pride, boasters, anger, covenant breaking, fornicators, effeminate, hatred, wrath, adultery, sedition, heresy, and so forth.
2. There is freedom and liberty in the gospel only for irrelevant things that do not matter before God.
3. And even those irrelevant things that do not matter before God must be practiced very carefully.
4. We still value every precept of God on every subject as right, and we hate false ways (Ps 119:128).

Objection #12: But it seems an awful lot like hypocrisy!

1. This argument fusses about doing something in private that is not allowed in public before others.
   1. There is private sinning and public religiosity, but liberty is not related to that hypocrisy at all.
   2. Some falsely believe that honesty is doing or saying the same thing no matter what setting.
2. This is not hypocrisy, for true hypocrisy only pertains to moral issues of God’s commandments.
   1. Hypocrisy is the designed impression by actions or statement by words to advertise godliness.
   2. The Pharisees were hypocrites – wearing scripture but refusing to keep what scripture taught.
   3. The Pharisees were hypocrites – whitewashed sepulchers that were full of dead men’s bones.
   4. The Pharisees were hypocrites – requiring hand washing but circumventing honor to parents.
   5. God does not care what you do in issues of liberty (I Cor 8:8), so discretion is not hypocrisy.
   6. Altering behavior or speech due to persons present or circumstances is charity and godliness!
   7. Graciousness always wants to be and do whatever the audience desires and/or expects of them.
   8. Hate feelings that you should be what you are at all times for some false notion of consistency.
   9. It is only odious people that display and demand an inflexible form of conduct at all times.
   10. Will you call the apostle Paul hypocritical for being a spiritual chameleon (I Cor 9:19-23)?

Objection #13: But what about public conduct in religious settings!

1. Greenville, SC may be the buckle of the Bible Belt, with many of its citizens Baptist teetotalers.
   1. Since teetotalers have no Bible basis for prohibition, they argue long and loud about offence.
   2. For this cause, godly Christians wanting to buy wine at groceries or restaurants have questions.
2. However, you are not responsible for those with public errors of the Pharisees (Matthew 15:10-20).
   1. Hatred of wine by teetotaling Pharisees still loyal to Prohibition or the Temperance Movement is irrelevant, for there is no Bible basis for their position but their own foolish, manmade rules.
   2. There is no Bible basis for their superstition as for wine offered to pagan idols, which involved a very real religious and worship compromise in the minds of those still weak about idols.
   3. SBC teetotalers are so far off the Bible path they make their rules conditions of membership!
   4. Prohibition and the Temperance Movement compare to foolish Jewish washings (Mark 7:8,13).
   5. Jesus showed no mercy to such hypocrites but rebuked their false doctrine (Matthew 15:10-20).
   6. “We don’t drink, smoke, or chew, or hang around with those do,” directly contradicts Jesus.
   7. One Temperance song gloried positively in the mantra, “Touch not, taste not, and handle not,” which was condemned as heresy in Colossians 2:20-23. Note Paul’s rejection of their heresy.
   8. Why did Jesus heal on the Sabbath, when He knew it would cause much offence (Mark 3:1-6)?
   9. Why did His apostles eat on the Sabbath (Matt 12:1-7)? They could have prepared or waited.
   10. If you live in a city 50% Baptist (Greenville), many of which are teetotalers, you may order wine in a restaurant, since they should not even be eating in such an establishment (Hab 2:15).
   11. If you lived near the Amish, would you turn off your electricity and throw your toilets away?
   12. If a SDA moves in next door, will you stay inside your house and read the Bible on Saturday?
   13.  If a Vision Forum / Full Quiver type works in your office, will you try to conceive annually?
   14. Yet, if you are trying to convert a Fundamentalist, you should forgo wine if he has you in view.
   15. And you should never be foolish or rowdy, or you fulfill their very superstition about wine.
   16. Holy and wise conduct at a table, including prayer, will present the godly picture it should.

Objection #14: But now I cannot say anything about anything!

1. This extreme and very ignorant response is someone complaining due to their own lack of wisdom.
   1. If you speak about things most surely believed among and the ancient landmarks, you are fine.
   2. Talk about the word of God and the things of the gospel, and you will avoid Christian liberty.
   3. Wise Christians know to whom they are speaking and what subjects and attitudes are allowed.
   4. As a person, or a group, or the whole church gains in conscience, much more liberty is allowed.
2. In conversation or observation, Christian liberty will be innocently exposed, but there is no issue.
   1. If in a conversation you mention you have a television, so what! But do not list shows watched.
   2. If you accidentally mention your child lacks vaccinations, so what! But do not try to justify it.
   3. In these and many such differences, stating facts is very different from crusading for or against.
3. It was disputing by the weak or cruelty by the strong Paul taught against (Ro 14:1-23; I Co 8:1-13).

Objection #15: But I read something in the Internet about it!

1. The information explosion in which we live allows each person on earth to freely publish anything.
   1. There is no requirement for truth in publishing or evidence and proof for anything published.
   2. There is no cost, as in the past to publish a book was a major undertaking requiring capital.
   3. Weekend warriors think they learn truth by finding Internet articles or blogs to support them.
   4. The unemployed, underemployed, retired, and others with too much time are often the guilty.
   5. Large amounts of information can be amassed for most any side of any issue from the Internet.
2. Prudent men do research to avoid evil, but there is a time to say, “Enough!” (Pr 22:3; 19:2; 14:15).
   1. Paul’s instruction to Corinth was to not ask questions for conscience sake (I Cor 10:25,27).
   2. Never in the history of the world have statisticians and fearmongers been able to publish freely.
   3. Your unlearned research to find percentages or probabilities yourself or to do selective research of articles supporting your opinions is very dangerous and leads to arrogant over-confidence.
3. It is an obsession with so-called “truth” that leads people astray about liberty, for they will make it their crusade to study things God does not care about while sacrificing what He has commanded.
4. We live in a full-blown information explosion, but it is nearly impossible to prove “truth” in any matter of liberty, for what you call truth is merely your biased view of contradictory information.
5. Life is short; a diligent man works longs hours; a faithful man invests in his wife and children; a godly man serves the church; frankly, there is no time left to research what God has ignored!
6. You that think you have things figured out – you need to do a couple things to help yourselves.
   1. Take a master’s course or two in statistical analysis and real research methods and protocol.
   2. Take a master’s course in business and political science to find out how things actually work.
   3. Take a week off work and study websites dedicated to delusions, frauds, hoaxes, and scams.
7. Research DHMO in this order (also see).

Response #1: Are you inspired or a human expert on this subject?

1. What should a Christian or church member do when a member wants to discuss or debate liberty?
   1. Paul condemned doubtful disputations and called for joy and peace, not debate (Rom 14:1,17).
   2. Church members are to warn the unruly, so divisive souls should be shut down (I Thess 5:14).
   3. God hates those that sow discord among brethren, and you should hate them as well (Pr 6:19).
2. Kindly but firmly ask them whether they have divine inspiration or human expertise on the matter.
   1. Ask them if they have ever been called to testify as an expert witness for the topic they raised.
   2. Ask them if they have ever been published with their findings on the matter they are pushing.
3. The truth is they know next to nothing or nothing about their superstition in the matter of liberty.
   1. They heard some preacher say sometime in their ancient past that the thing was of the devil.
   2. They had a few spare minutes on a weekend and found some blogs that gave them the idea.
4. Pharisees may start with questions, but they intend for the debate to escalate to give their opinion.
   1. It is your job to recognize what is occurring and shut them down lest they divide the church.
   2. We could not care less what they and all of their kind think about anything … without Bible.

Response #2: But what about the similar liberties you allow?

1. What should a Christian or church member do when a member wants to discuss or debate liberty?
   1. Paul condemned doubtful disputations and called for joy and peace, not debate (Rom 14:1,17).
   2. Church members are to warn the unruly, so divisive souls should be shut down (I Thess 5:14).
   3. God hates those that sow discord among brethren, and you should hate them as well (Pr 6:19).
2. Most Pharisees are superstitious about a few things, so you counter by showing their inconsistency.
   1. This is a very valuable point of wisdom, if you will take the time to see the method of Jesus.
   2. They confronted Jesus about washing hands – He ignored it; He brought up parental honor.
   3. When they confronted Him about His authority, He redirected them about John’s authority.
3. Sabbatarians connect Sunday services to sun worship; we respond like Jesus about Saturn’s Day!
   1. These SDA Pharisees have never thought deeper than the little sound bite given them to use.
   2. If they were as serious about devil worship as they pretend, they would use “seventh day” only.
4. Some have complained to me about ridiculous symbols they say pertain to the occult or witchcraft.
   1. Respond by asking them why they carry a truncated pyramid with the all-seeing eye of Horus.
   2. If they were as serious about devil worship as they want you to believe, they would use coins.
5. There are many indirect and inconsequential attachments we have to the devil or the world by the names of the days of our week, the word “potluck,” (I Cor 5:9-11).

Response #3: Are you willing to apply the acid test?

1. What should a Christian or church member do when a member wants to discuss or debate liberty?
   1. Paul condemned doubtful disputations and called for joy and peace, not debate (Rom 14:1,17).
   2. Church members are to warn the unruly, so divisive souls should be shut down (I Thess 5:14).
   3. God hates those that sow discord among brethren, and you should hate them as well (Pr 6:19).
2. It is one thing to complain and criticize a person for their liberty but another to take serious action.
3. When you find a doubtful disputer, ask if he is willing to have the strong Christian excluded.
   1. If he hangs his head and mumbles, “No,” then tell him it must be a liberty, for sin is excluded.
   2. Most will not dare call for exclusion, for they know the persons are at least as righteous as they.
   3. If he lifts his haughty head and says, “Yes,” ask him if he has followed Matt 18:15-17 for it.
   4. If he lifts his haughty head and says, “Yes,” ask him if he is willing to go on trial for Rom 14:1.
4. When you find a doubtful disputer, ask if he is willing to leave the church over his liberty views.
   1. If he hangs his head and mumbles, “No,” tell him it must be a liberty, for sin is to be avoided.
   2. If he lifts a haughty head and says, “Yes,” show him the door with gas money to the next state.
   3. If he is not sure but has a bad attitude, show him II Thess 3:6 and encourage him to withdraw.

Response #4: Do you know the real way to give place to the devil?

1. What should a church member do when another says they are associating with the devil or occult?
   1. These people have the idea the devil enters your house or your life by some particular thing.
   2. They think spiritual warfare occurs if they drive by a bar playing loud rock and roll … inside!
   3. They see the devil behind every item they have decided is contrary to Fundamentalist thinking.
   4. The Temperance Movement called it “devil rum,” for they thought the devil lived in a bottle.
   5. What do you do when they say having a deck of cards in the house gives place to the devil?
   6. What do you do when they say having surgery in a Catholic hospital gives place to the devil?
2. We know there are things associated with the devil, because the Bible tells us so … and what to do.
   1. Converts in Ephesus brought many books about witchcraft and burned them (Eph 19:18-19), for books of séances and other instructions for devil worship are manifestly evil and wrong.
   2. Idols are part of devil worship, but Paul said to eat offered meat anyway (I Cor 10:25,27), but those on witch hunts never allow you such close association to devil worship; they would ask.
   3. Saints know meat offered to an idol, though associated, is still meat! The earth is the Lord’s!
   4. What do we do if our duty involves some association with idols? Go in peace (II Kgs 5:18-19)!
   5. How do we stand against the devil? Hating fortune cookies? Or spiritual armor (Eph 6:10-18)?
3. Knowledgeable Christians know that real spiritual warfare is more than close proximity of a thing.
   1. Our warfare is not with flesh and blood, but rather with spirits by spiritual armor (Eph 6:10-18).
   2. They know that anger or wrath not handled correctly gives place to the devil (Eph 4:26-27).
   3. They know that lack of forgiveness gives Satan an advantage and is his device (II Cor 2:11).
   4. Roman Catholicism’s doctrines, practices, and popes are of the devil (II Thess 2:9; I Tim 4:3).
   5. There is another Jesus, gospel, and spirit by “ministers of righteousness” (II Cor 11:3-4,13-15).
   6. Christians do not get religiously yoked or touch things religiously of pagans (II Cor 6:14-17), while freely eating meat offered to idols and working with idolaters (I Cor 10:25,27; 5:9-11).
4. Close your argument by showing their inconsistency and identifying their disposition to division.
   1. Ask why they use a Mormon mechanic to fix their car, thus leaving the devil under the hood!
   2. Ask why they visit Chinese restaurants, though there are Buddha statues and fortune cookies!
   3. Explain to them that sowing division for their imagination against scripture is the devil at work!

See Lists Below for Many Detailed Illustrations

 

Lists of Liberties for the 21st Century

Notes for Lists:

1. This list is for examples and illustrations more than any other use, so resist using it as a manual.
2. There is little profit naming either a weak or strong side, for the examples vary from Paul’s issues.
3. Some of the examples are not as conscience-tempting as others, so do not compare them equally.
4. Most issues are of conscience: some think God requires it or prefers it; others are merely divisive.
5. For issues you think do not cause liberty problems, you are ignorant of what occurs in churches.
6. For any of these that make you feel uneasy, remember that ministers deal with most or all of them.
7. Pastors and churches must defend both sides, as long as the Bible’s rules for liberty are followed.
8. If a church does not agree to disagree, then it either has division or must make a manual of liberty.
9. Pastors exercise liberty leading a church as long as apostolic content and tradition are upheld.
10. Paul criticized weak members for their superstition even while saying he would not eat meat again!
11. Those who think outside the box and make it to the truth often think outside the box in many areas.
12. Every man must be fully persuaded in his own mind; every man must be persuaded not to debate.
13. Mercy trumps sacrifice, even regarding important commandments, let alone mere Christian liberty!
14. Are you willing to modify anything below to avoid offending a brother or causing him to be weak?
15. Are you willing to tolerate anything below and embrace those doing it for unity in Jesus Christ?
16. There is no way the examples can be exhaustive, for human uniqueness and pride are not satisfied.
17. The solution for each example cannot be exhaustive either, or this study would exceed its bounds.
18. Due to the information available today, massive arguments can be made for any side of any issue.
19. The information explosion with Internet access creates a device and temptation for foolish debate.
20. Would to God Christians could laugh about most or all of these examples of modern liberty issues.
21. Remember … you can take any position or side on these issues, but you cannot crusade or impose.
22. You can justify any side of any issue on the Internet. Wise men discount such junk (Prov 14:15).
23. This list will not try to prove much of anything … for either side of these issues is acceptable.
24. A key point at each example: do I fully love and appreciate those that hold the opposite position?
25. Another key point to answer: do I have sufficient Bible evidence to exclude the opposite position?

501(c)(3)

1. This is a church’s request to the IRS to rule that they are truly tax-exempt for deductions.
2. It is entirely a matter of church liberty, for there is no sin at all if they sought such a ruling.
3. The only ones that fuss are so-called patriots that do not know the Bible about such things.
4. See our website FAQ for more about this.

Alcohol

1. Whether beer (5%) or wine (13%), the Bible commends both (Ps 104:14-15; Deut 14:26).
2. Jesus drank wine regularly unlike John (Luke 7:33-34), and He made it for others (Jn 2:11).
3. This issue is emotional by personal experience and religious sensationalism for 150 years.
4. This is a great subject for Christian liberty and for learning honest Bible interpretation.
5. This is a great illustration of Jesus’ argument that what goes in a man cannot defile him.
6. See the seminar about Christians and wine and the refutation of “75 Bible Reasons …”

Alternative medicine

1. Christian liberty gives you the right to be intelligent or stupid – like driving a Yugo.
2. If your mother puts a mustard plaster on your father for a cold, will you still embrace her?
3. God does not care what you do, if you are reasonably prudent, and you do not crusade.
4. David was pretty alternative – using the nation’s most beautiful maiden for a bed warmer!
5. Are there loose connections of alternative medicine to the occult? Probably (I Cor 5:9-11).
6. Medical liberties under this heading include acupuncture, homeopathy, iridology, etc., etc.
7. Spiritual treatments that are not liberties here include hypnosis, meditation, yoga, etc.

Attendance

1. Church attendance is one of those issues that is not a matter of liberty and yet has liberty.
2. Apostolic precept/practice require attendance (Heb 10:25; I Cor 11:17-18,20,33; 14:23,26).
3. We will not allow doubtful disputations about Wednesdays or other rebellious fussing.
4. God understands necessity, so we allow persons to miss for jobs (II Kgs 5:18-19; Lu 14:5).
5. God puts mercy over sacrifice, so we allow absences for vacations (Matt 12:7; Prov 11:17).
6. Every member should do it to the Lord with full grasp of consequences (Romans 14:5-12).
7. Every member should allow others a measure of liberty (Rom 14:1-3; I Thes 5:14; Ga 6:1).
8. The pastor will first warn, then publicly rebuke, then lead exclusion (Heb 13:7; Eze 44:23).
9. The pastor loves mercy, so if you think someone misses too much, trust his pastoral liberty!

Bank (jobs)

1. The author faced group opposition to his ordination based on his job in a commercial bank.
2. These political/financial fanatics hate commercial banks for the Federal Reserve system.
3. They conclude that fractional reserve banking is wrong and thus anyone working in a bank.
4. Once we start down this road, then KFC is wrong for building stores in God-hating China!

Beach vacations

1. The Bible is plain about looking on women (Job 31:1; Prov 6:25; Matt 5:28; Rom 13:14).
2. There are a great variety in beaches, those using them, and months of the year off season.
3. As in many matters of liberty, you can press a liberty far enough that it becomes your sin.
4. As in many matters of liberty, the pastor will start to worry and remind you, if obvious.

Bible quizzing

1. It is a church liberty whether one participates in Bible quizzing or not, as long as it is KJV.
2. It is personal liberty whether any child participates or does not participate in such quizzing.
3. Those that quiz should not badger those that do not; those that do not should not mock it.
4. There are often ability or character deficiencies that cause some to dislike such quizzing.

Birth, at home

1. Conservative Christians that go against trends will often think of ways back to nature.
2. Wanting to get back to natural remedies as much as possible, they disdain hospital births.
3. Other mothers, loving doctors/hospitals after a terrifying birth, question such risk-taking.
4. Who cares how a child arrives, as long as healthy, sought wisely, and trained diligently.

Birth, water

1. A minor fad has developed with some women choosing natural childbirth under water.
2. Choosing to ignore the birthing stools in the Bible, they have the liberty to be this strange.
3. The only limitations to it are the safety of baby and mother and obedience to authority.
4. Women can tend toward the Mariolater of Luke 11:27-28 when they talk about childbirth.

Books with non-KJV quotes

1. Some can read a book or hear a lesson from a book and get nothing but a non-KJV quote.
2. They can do this in spite of the church and pastor holding to the KJV more than any others.
3. Ignorance of conservative commentators keeps them from knowing alterations they make.
4. They overlook the Trinity Hymnal that has NIV quotations and wrong ones at that (#699)!
5. Paul quoted pagan poets twice to make points to unsaved and saved (Acts 17:28; Tit 1:12).

Breastfeeding

1. Women can tend toward the Mariolater of Luke 11:27-28 when they talk about childbirth.
2. Nearly all women are capable of breastfeeding their babies, but there is no necessity for it.
3. No matter how warm and fuzzy a mother feels doing it, she cannot impose it on all others.
4. Some women may nurse for three months and others for three years. Both are a liberty.
5. Some so-called scientific studies show material benefits to breastfeeding and others do not.
6. Would to God there was as much fuss about teaching Johnny to pray as to his formula!

Birth Control (in general)

1. Planning the number or timing of children is a matter of liberty left up to each couple.
2. Children are not an act of God any more than getting wet by taking a house’s shingles off.
3. The Bible’s greatest men practiced the strictest birth control – Elijah, John, Anna, Paul.
4. Religious factors are sufficient for family planning (Matt 19:10-12; I Cor 7:6-9,29-35).
5. Societal factors are sufficient to change the number of children (I Cor 7:26; Matt 24:19).
6. Financial factors are sufficient and could lead to sin by imprudence (I Tim 5:8; Prov 22:3).
7. A couple not wanting any children ever have done nothing worse than Anna or Paul did.
8. If you think marriage is for reproduction, you are a Catholic and overlook companionship.
9. For much more about birth control.

Birth Control (the pill)

1. Some have started a modern Temperance Movement against BCPs as an abortifacient.
2. This is one of those issues where weekend warriors assume brilliance in their own research.
3. But there are weighty arguments against this Prohibition bandwagon by other experts.
4. The rule of ignorance is valuable here not to worry yourself unnecessarily by opinions.
5. What else kills? Red meat, sugar, tobacco, alcohol, fluoridated water, trans fats, etc.
6. The rule of intent knows the goal of BCP’s to hinder or eliminate ovulation or conception.
7. The principle of mercy looks to the easiest solution even if contradictory or questionable.
8. If we choose this road of research for tiny percentages, consistency requires many more.
9. See the arguments above under Objective #4 for a fuller view of how to approach this topic.

Bungee jumping

1. Some Christians would strongly think this activity tempts God, but it is safer than driving!
2. Teenagers allowed to drive cars or trucks is more dangerous than any bungee-jumping!
3. Why does a person want to bungee jump? Why do some hunt, scuba dive, or drive cycles?
4. Does this mean a Christian should design his own bungee jump (Pr 19:2; 22:3)? Not really!

Cards (playing)

1. Some say playing cards are a caricature of the gospel invented by the devil to blaspheme.
2. Others say since playing cards are used to gamble that they are condemned by association.
3. Others say that playing cards are a wonderful device for presenting the gospel to others.
4. What are cards really? Nothing but cardboard value notes for games involving probability.
5. There is nothing religious about them, and they do not have to be used in dens of gambling.
6. Should we worry about the marbles and jacks that boys used to play with a generation ago?
7. Hypocritical places like BJU allow poker played with rook cards, but not playing cards!

Cards with non-KJV quotes

1. Some get a card and only see the non-KJV quote, not the loving intent or personal words.
2. It is hard to find cards these days with KJV quotes, and accidents easily occur with cards.
3. They can do this in spite of the church and pastor holding to the KJV more than any others.
4. Ignorance of conservative commentators keeps them from knowing alterations they make.
5. They overlook the Trinity Hymnal that has NIV quotations and wrong ones at that (#699)!
6. Paul quoted pagan poets twice to make points to unsaved and saved (Acts 17:28; Tit 1:12).

Catholic hospitals

1. Since Catholics are bad (indeed), some say it is religious compromise to use their hospitals.
2. Elisha gave an example of association with false religion allowed by need (II Kgs 5:18-19).
3. Paul gave a precept and illustration of acceptable association (I Cor 5:9-11; 10:27). Amen!
4. Can you imagine the “compromise” Joseph and Daniel excelled at in pagan governments!
5. Using their chapel to pray with a priest or accepting extreme unction is obviously wrong.
6. Christians I know have a field day mocking the crucifixes, habits, and other superstitions.
7. I have crucifixes and rosaries in storage for illustration purposes. Is Satan leaking out?

Cell phones

1. They may wisely be called sin phones for the increased temptation they provide youth.
2. How can they be a “necessity,” when men functioned fine without them for 6000 years?
3. Consistency requires those fearing or hating television to carefully examine these phones.
4. For more about technological temptations to sin.

Children in sports

1. If you want your children to grow up as nerds without athletic competition, that is liberty.
2. God does not care if your child plays tee ball, pee wee football, or soccer. Freely choose.
3. God commands His nurture and admonition, so there is great latitude for other activities.
4. Be consistent if you condemn organized sports, playing ball in the yard might be wrong.
5. Be consistent if you condemn organized sports, other organized hobbies might be wrong.

Child discipline

1. Some use of reproof and the rod is required, but the degree of both is liberty (Pr 29:15).
2. Fathers will range from hard and harsh to permissive and soft, yet they have not sinned.
3. Christian parents must learn to allow wide latitude in how children are raised and trained.
4. It may be those who have not trained children or who failed at it that are the most vocal.
5. But those who are strict with their children are also tempted to despise permissive parents.
6. Godly parents will require children in public closer to the average to help other parents.

Chiropractic

1. This alternative form of medicine with limited scientific evidence of validity is popular.
2. Some claim that it derives from Eastern religions and has an occult/witchcraft connection.
3. To make it simple to condemn this or similar alternative medicine, they label it New Age.
4. In order to continue enjoying your perceived benefits, do not research about its origins.

Circumcision

1. God does not care at all if you are circumcised or not after the end of the Old Testament.
2. Paul chose to circumcise Timothy, but he did not circumcise Titus (Acts 16:3; Gal 2:3).
3. There is scientific evidence of blood-clotting being highest on the eighth day after birth.
4. There is medical evidence of fewer incidents of cervical cancer due to circumcised men.
5. There is Biblical evidence since God required it for 2000 yrs for possible unknown reasons.
6. To these three arguments may be added hygienic, social, cosmetic, and sexual advantages.
7. Now think of the case just built for circumcision, even involving death, but it is a liberty!

Christian schools

1. We have had people furious with you good families that sent children to Christian schools.
2. Their logic was so twisted it is hard to fully grasp in order to restate it without ridiculing it.
3. Since most Christian schools are Arminian, they thought such schooling was compromise.
4. If you ask them about their children in pagan colleges, they say that they are old enough.
5. If you ask about their children working with Arminians, they conveniently end the debate.
6. The parents considered thus far believe that only homeschooling is allowed before God.
7. Other parents, because they had fun in public schools, think they are downright terrific.
8. Their tendency is to ridicule Christian schools for cost and lacking many public benefits.
9. School options are a matter of liberty that requires more or less out of fathers (Ps 34:11).
10. We will allow and defend any choice of schooling by parents, but training is not an option.

Clothing

1. There is much liberty in clothing, as God does not think like the Amish or Mennonites.
2. Liberty allows you to be stupid and wear unconventional clothing, if it satisfies modesty.
3. Dresses are usually more modest than pants, but there is no Bible rule to require either.
4. Fathers can make their rules for wives and daughters, and all others should respect them.
5. Wisdom knows there are conventions for various events, settings, or audiences for clothes.

Coffee and tea

1. Some, like Seventh Day Adventists and Mormons, will not touch either of these beverages.
2. Once you condemn Bible wine, inconsistency keeps you from condemning other drinks.
3. What is wrong with a stimulant? Jonathan sure took advantage of one (I Sam 14:27-29).
4. Can you imagine the consternation of these will-worshippers if they saw our energy drinks!

College education

1. There is nothing in the Bible that says either sex must get a college degree to please God.
2. It is wrong and cruel when teenagers question or push another youth taking another route.
3. A father has every right to direct his children of either sex to college or away from college.
4. For those lacking understanding, a wife contributing the most income may have a GED!

Cosmetic surgery

1. If you condemn one form of it, you must condemn all forms, for scripture cannot help you.
2. Braces, pierced ears, mole removal, tanning beds, varicose veins are presumed forms of it.
3. Need more examples allowed? Hair removal, colored contacts, hair color, manicures, etc.
4. Breast implants have the most scriptural support (Song 8:8-10; Proverbs 5:19; Ezek 16:7).
5. If a woman can afford liposuction after several childbirths, how will you condemn her?
6. Stomach reduction surgery might be useful as forced discipline to curb appetite options.
7. Can you allow another member the liberty to alter their body to please a spouse or self?

Credit cards

1. They are a convenience of the modern society to avoid carrying cash with you for buying.
2. Hal Lindsey might say they are for the antichrist, but he has not been right even once yet.
3. If you are not disciplined financially, then you may want to get rid of them to help yourself.

Dating / Courting

1. Some have read a blog or book or two and come to the conclusion that God wants courting.
2. Courting may have a nice romantic ring for patriarchs, but is no more Biblical than dating.
3. There is no courting in the Bible, as all kinds of means were used (Jdgs 21:21; I Sa 18:27).
4. How much courting was involved in Isaac and Rebekah’s marriage (Gen 24:1-4,61-67)?
5. Who cares how boys and girls meet, as long as they marry in the Lord without fornication?
6. Who cares how boys and girls meet, as long as they treat each other in life as God ordered?

Dating (online)

1. In several respects, this is the safest and most objective way to find a spouse for marriage.
2. It is a liberty as long as it is used within the bounds of Christian modesty, purity, honesty.
3. Careful profiles and spiritual exchanges will weed out dogs, pretenders, carnal Christians.

Daycares

1. Many women had handmaidens, so do not worship childcare (Gen 24:59,61; Ruth 4:16).
2. On the other hand, the bond between mother and infant and child supervision can be good.
3. The Bible is silent about all diapers and nursing to be done by a mother, so it is a liberty.
4. Exercise of this liberty should include basic due diligence and precautions for a good one.

Diapers

1. Let’s be fair, I do not know of a church that has split over this ridiculous topic of liberty.
2. However, I have seen and heard such zeal that you could think it belongs in Romans 14:17!
3. The issue is not whether you diaper infants or not, but whether they are cloth or disposable!
4. As in all matters of liberty, a person can construct a nearly infinite argument for their view.
5. Can you, the mother that loves handling cloth diapers, love the sister that uses throwaways?
6. Can you respect her, without despising her, for using a modern, convenient alternative?
7. Can you stop Internet research to find other women like you holding your extreme view?
8. Rather than fuss about catching waste, pray with your little children every day to the Lord.
9. Would to God there was as much fuss about teaching Johnny to pray as to diaper material!

Doctors

1. Some couples are convicted that each spouse should only visit doctors of the same sex.
2. This may seem obvious to some, but there is nothing in the Bible requiring such strictness.
3. In all likelihood, situations will arise where both spouses will have unavoidable situations.
4. If this liberty is denied, to be consistent you must deny any working in the medical field.

Emails, texts, tweets

1. It is liberty to use these recent inventions for communication among those not needing it.
2. Of course, there are professionals and mature adults that know how to use all three forms.
3. How consistent is it to despise television but allow children access to secret messaging?
4. Wise fathers want their children to mature beyond peers and avoid evil communications.

Endorsements

1. It is a liberty to endorse a “pagan” company by being in the world (I Cor 5:9-11; 7:29-31).
2. Every time you use a Catholic hospital you indirectly subsidize the pope’s charities.
3. Ellen Degenerate is spokesperson for J.C. Penney, but buying there is indirect association.
4. Some family organizations push boycotts to “hurt” bad companies, but where in the Bible?
5. The world rightly considers such efforts with negligible impact to be the work of fanatics.

Epidurals 

1. Some say it violates natural childbirth; others it complicates birth; others say it hurts baby.
2. Should those women opposing epidurals forego dental anesthesia to be consistently holy?
3. God has plenty to say about children – their training – but nothing about how they arrive!
4. As in many or all cases of liberty, significant lists of arguments can be made for both sides.
5. Would to God there was as much fuss about teaching Johnny to pray as to how he is born!

Facebook

1. It is your liberty to be stupid and teach your children narcissism and expose them to fools.
2. Can Facebook be used for a good purpose? With great difficulty and mainly professionals.
3. Can a person grow in maturity while using Facebook? With great difficulty and likely not.
4. Social media have great risks, especially for children you are trying to help grow up well.
5. Parents must consider the dangers of techno sins.

Facial hair

1. It is a liberty in spite of the fuss Amish, Mennonites, or others may make about beards.
2. The warning against hair or beard styling is in a context of pagan religion (Lev 19:27-28).
3. If this interpretation of the Leviticus passage is not made, how do you justify any haircut?
4. You may like or dislike goatees on men, but it is a liberty; a goatee on a woman is not!

Finance companies

1. Oh yes, here is a hot one. How can a Christian work for a bank company charging usury?
2. These ignorant souls hardly understand usury let alone the Bible protection of its own poor.
3. God loved usury for Israel, as long as they collected it of pagan nations (Deut 15:6; 23:20)!
4. If not for finance companies, the poor could not get any loans for the goodies they crave.
5. Furthermore, clerks or accountants are not responsible for corporate goals or procedures.
6. If you do not like finance companies, then you do not have to borrow from one of them!

Financial idiocy

1. Every church member has a measure of liberty in his personal finances short of sin itself.
2. But consider, savings is not an option, but a commandment of the Bible. Dost thou save?
3. But consider, insurance is not an option, but a command of the Bible. Dost thou insure?
4. Those who are slothful, wasteful, or imprudent forfeit charity (Pr 20:4; 18:9; 19:2; 21:20).

Firearms

1. Quakers, Mennonites, Amish and others will not own firearms by connection to violence.
2. Some can only think of the risk to children; others can only think of means of protection.
3. Some say it shows a lack of faith in God; others say it shows faith by using God’s means.
4. God blesses watchmen, and David taught archery to Judah (Psalm 127:1; II Samuel 1:18).

Fortune cookies

1. Those horrible-tasting cookies of Chinese restaurants with a message are a mere gimmick.
2. But if you despise them like an Ouija board in a pastry, then by all means do not read them.
3. But if you know they are a stupid tradition and tell your children so, then mock the notes!
4. Do not go too far, because to get to the fortune cookies you likely passed a fat Buddha.

Gym membership

1. No one else may think this questionable, but wise men know great temptation can abound.
2. This issue of Christian liberty is similar to the beach vacations dealt with briefly above.
3. There are single-sex gyms, sweat shops, and other variations that make each one unique.
4. There are also different schedules, clientele, dress codes, music, atmosphere, emphasis, etc.
5. Like so many issues, there are dangers associated with these choices, but they are liberties.

Hair length

1. Can a woman cut her hair? Can a man have hair over his ears? What is long or short hair?
2. Some, like the Pentecostal Holiness churches, forbid a woman from ever cutting her hair.
3. A woman must have long hair, a man must have short hair, by scripture (I Cor 11:14-16).
4. The definition of what is unacceptable will be left up to the pastor (Heb 13:7; Ezek 44:23).
5. Why would either sex want to get close to the line or be contentious about this subject?
6. Will you still love a woman that cuts a beautiful head of long hair in half for her husband?
7. Long hair is a woman’s glory, and cutting it is like a man choosing atrophy (Prov 20:29).
8. A woman should not cut her hair without her husband’s approval without coercion.

Hair styles

1. Liberty allows you to be stupid and wear unconventional hair styles within modesty limits.
2. Men’s hair must not cover and be masculine; a woman’s hair must cover and be feminine.
3. You may have strong opinions about style, but they are worthless opinions. Love others!
4. Yes, some styles are ridiculous and unconventional and cost people their love by others.

Hair color

1. Is it okay for a Christian, either man or woman, to deceive others by coloring their hair?
2. If you condemn hair coloring, you must oppose makeup, braces, tanning, manicures, etc.
3. Will you love those at 70 with great color? Will you love those at 30 with premature gray?
4. Gray hair is only a crown of glory on old men; it is unsightly and foolish on everyone else.
5. Hair coloring may violate modesty, appearance, offence, or association by foolish extreme.
6. God has not called us to see how ugly we can be for Him, but rather to avoid ungodliness.
7. Since hair must be taken with you into public, it is not part of wifely immodesty at home.

Health foods

1. Some are intensely serious in their desire for organic food items over inorganic foods.
2. If pressed, some of them would fall back on the body being the temple of the Holy Ghost,
3. They have strong opinions against junk food and other modern convenience foods.
4. The funny thing is that God is nearly entirely silent about what constitutes healthy eating.
5. If they argue from actuary science, it must be applied consistently to other things as well.
6. Sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and many other dangers are a liberty.

Hobbies

1. Any hobby must be considered on its own merits and other factors for acceptability to God.
2. A man does not need hobbies, and a man may have several hobbies. This is your liberty.
3. Redeeming the time is not a liberty (Eph 5:16), but neither is showing mercy (Pr 11:17).
4. Recall a mighty man’s life to rightly fit hobbies.

Hotel ownership

1. Some have separated from churches that allowed church members to own/operate hotels.
2. Hotels are used for adultery and fornication, but they are also used for overnight lodging.
3. It is only indirect association with sin by providing a legitimate business abused by sinners.
4. For more about ethical dilemmas.

Hours at work

1. Some men must push themselves to work 40 hours a week for various weak factors.
2. If one man wants to work 40 on the job and another 72, they both should do so to God.
3. Not enough work results in sin of slothfulness; too much work is covetousness or greed.
4. There is more to a man’s life than his profession, and godly men see the whole picture.
5. A wise man manages all his life includes.

Hunting/Fishing

1. Does it bother you that some in the church love to get away from it all with gun or reel?
2. Do you realize that God intentionally did not tell us what N.T. Christians did in spare time?
3. Will you commune with a man, if you see pictures of him rejoicing after killing Bambi?
4. Will you love a man that works 40 hours and fishes 10 hours a week and keeps up duties?

Insurance

1. Some will argue that insurance is an admission you are fearful without proper faith in God.
2. Yet Nehemiah built walls for Jerusalem, and David taught Judah the use of the bow!
3. How much and from whom may be a matter of liberty, but you must protect against loss.
4. The principle of insurance is well taught in Proverbs (Pr 11:16; 19:14; 22:3,26-27; 30:26).
5. The church is not a general insurance fund for those neglectful themselves (Pr 20:4; 18:9).

Internet

1. It is a liberty, but wise men will use it wisely, for there is infinite filth at your finger tips.
2. Much worse than television and movies, the invention is not sin, but its abuse is easily sin.
3. Consistency requires you hate corrupt communication on the Internet and the television.
4. The Internet creates temptations at many different levels and many different ways. Beware!
5. Technology can lead to new sins and temptations.

Interracial marriage

1. What if a white man named Moses married an Ethiopian woman? Could you receive them?
2. If you believe that God has made some divisions, He still allows crossovers like polygamy.
3. You do not mind white-oriental marriages, but white-black bother you? What Bible verses?
4. If you were a member at Paul’s church, could your daughter marry Simeon (Acts 13:1)?
5. Will interracial marriages have more difficulty than those not? Most likely, so be cautious.
6. Pretty hard to keep this matter of liberty private, so you better think through any offence.
7. Regardless of what is politically correct, a sincere pastor will fully defend both positions.

Junk food

1. Most opinions of eating and drinking (“meat and drink”) have no Bible to support them.
2. If diet affects a person’s life, God sure ignored the matter throughout the New Testament.
3. It is disturbing how many Christians will sit in judgment on others even without any sin.
4. Do vegetarians outlive meat-eaters? Maybe, but so what! The meat-eaters have more fun!

Language (coarse)

1. God condemns swearing, filthy speech, foolish talking, and jesting (Eph 5:3-5; Jas 5:12).
2. But coarse words as nouns, not expletives, are scriptural (I Kgs 14:10; 21:21; Ezek 23:20).
3. Intense men usually have an intense vocabulary due to their temperamental disposition.
4. Pharisees want you to wash your hands and sterilize your speech until it is quite worthless.
5. For many examples, especially by ministers.

Lawyer career

1. Can a Christian be a lawyer, since they make deals and do their best to protect criminals?
2. There are many different career options in the legal field, so a blanket rejection is foolish.
3. In criminal cases defending a criminal, the foundation of our system assumes innocence.
4. Therefore, defending criminals is part of our system, and it may save you in the future!

Makeup

1. Some think makeup violates modesty; others think basic makeup helps paint the barn.
2. Makeup can be used in a way to not draw attention foolishly or wickedly to a woman.
3. Earth tones and modest application can protect a woman from looking like a strumpet.
4. Makeup must be modest e.g. not suggestive, seductive, ostentatious, obvious, or showy.
5. Remember that it was Jezebel who painted her face when you are applying it (II Kgs 9:30).
6. Godly women will consider Isaiah 3:16-24 carefully as to God’s opinion of their beauty.

Marijuana

1. It is presently a crime to have, use, or sell marijuana, so it is not now a Christian liberty.
2. If it were legalized, there is nothing in the Bible to condemn moderate usage (Pr 31:6-7).
3. For those that have never thought deeper than words and sound bites, this is lasciviousness!
4. God does allow mood-altering chemicals and instructs men (Pr 31:6-7; 8:12; Is 28:23-29).
5. For more explanation of this position.
6. The test of marijuana cannot apply to drugs that by one dose create drunkenness or worse.

Marriage

1. The Bible does not compel anyone to marry, but it has compelling reasons not to marry!
2. Elijah, John, Anna, Jesus, and Paul among others chose not to marry, for it is a liberty.
3. Some make themselves eunuchs for Christ’s sake, and they have the freedom to do so.
4. If an eligible man or woman chose to live a single life, would you love him/her anyway?
5. Marriage is a liberty, but marrying in the Lord is not a liberty at all (I Cor 7:39; 11:11).

Messiah, The

1. Some of us having been raised on George Handel’s oratorio music think it heavenly music.
2. John Newton for one considered it a distraction to the word of God, which has some truth.
3. To have heard the Messiah in the past, a Christian had to visit places forbidden by most.

Modesty

1. Due to our degenerate society and carnal Christianity, we need constant reminders here.
2. As a Bible commandment, it is not a liberty at all (I Tim 2:9-10; I Pet 3:3-4; Titus 2:3-5).
3. In application of it, there is some liberty, which we have tried to teach without a manual.
4. A manual detailing what is acceptable and what is not is not needed with good hearts.
5. Like television or alcohol, it is a liberty that must be carefully managed or it becomes sin.
6. Television or alcohol is sin by your conscience; modesty is sin by consciences of others.
7. Immodest attire wounds consciences at least as much as meat (Rom 14:13; I Cor 8:9-12)!
8. Purity of motive or ignorance does not clear or cancel the effect of your attire or manners.
9. Men must guard eyes and thoughts, but women must help (Job 31:1; Pr 30:20; Is 3:16-24).
10. For haughty scornful women, it is not just our lust but also our godly disgust at immodesty.
11. Women must recall Paul’s teaching about consciences and realize the pain they cause men.
12. Whose conscience counts? The woman’s? No! Her husband’s? No! Every other person!
13. A woman’s modesty is primarily in the eyes of male beholders until those men are fools.
14. We stress obedience to I Tim 2 doctrine about civil rulers, how about your appearance?
15. We rightly contend for the apostolic faith against perilous times, but here it is your clothes.
16. We hear about martyrs every Lord’s Day, but can you sacrifice your immodest appearance!
17. Modesty condemns suggestive, seductive, ostentatious, showy attire, accessories, and hair.
18. If you love peace and joy, you will allow men’s eyes to defraud you of fashion (I Cor 6:7)!
19. Instead of fuss about new and creative outfits, wear the same thing repeatedly, if modest.
20. Repent, cultivate a sensitive conscience, hate this world’s trends, take a stand for godliness!
21. Let the wife humble herself before God, her pastor, her husband, and be a virtuous woman.
22. Fathers and husbands, you are effeminate if you cannot teach, warn, and enforce modesty.
23. The ten eye magnets of Al Martin: slits in skirts, butt-hugging skirts long or short, breast-hugging blouses or shirts, unbuttoned blouses or low neckline to expose chest or cleavage, sleeveless blouses with large armholes, low-rise skirts or pants, see-through clothing of any kind, skirts too short, pants hugging thighs, buttocks, or crotch, and a bare midriff or back.
24. The combination of a woman’s favor, age, personality, and history make one package.
25. The combination of a woman’s clothes, hair, makeup, accessories, and shoes are another.
26. Conservative corporate dress codes have been comparable to what we have suggested here.
27. Think about your backside, bending over from front and the rear, side profiles, and so on.
28. It is hard for men or women to criticize another man’s wife due to fear of lust or jealousy.
29. Each girl and woman should be submissive to exhortations of husbands and older women.
30. Girls and women should be slow to criticize others, let husband and older women do it.
31. It is the heart, not the hemline, that is the real problem, but we must enforce the hemline.
32. Whose attention do you desire? Whose approval do you crave? You will answer for it.
33. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, though immodest, altered her attire. What of your king?
34. What statement are you making against this blasphemous culture by your appearance?
35. Recall the sermon by Al Martin.

Modesty (at home)

1. As Paul wrote, “Hast thou liberty, have it thyself before God” … at home (Rom 14:22)!
2. A wife cannot be immodest at home, if no one else is present to be tempted (Heb 13:4).
3. A wife should be eye candy to her husband only at home, not eye candy for him outside it.
4. A wife sins, if she wears immodest clothing of any sort in front of guests, especially men.
5. Women should not define modesty as church clothes – this misses 90% of true modesty!
6. A wife does not need to dress as scrupulously before family as others due to familiarity, but a wife can sin in clothing at home if she is foolish in front of her teenage boys or girls.
7. Amish clothing is just as unscriptural, for no Bible text requires such unnecessary extreme.
8. When a wife leaves her house, she should represent God against this immodest generation.
9. A woman seeking to follow the world, even if a step behind, is befriending it (James 4:4).

Motorcycles

1. Some Christians think that motorcycles are so dangerous that they cannot be a true liberty.
2. Some statistics indicate that they may be 27.5 times more dangerous than driving a car.
3. But allowing your teenager to drive brings the probabilities of death much closer to cycles.
4. Cycle riders should be very careful and defensive, and car drivers should look out for them.
5. Tempting God, as in Jesus jumping from the temple pinnacle, is not comparable to cycles.

Mother’s Day

1. It is typical for many Christians to overreact on many issues, and holidays is one of them.
2. The pitiful logic runs like this – since Christmas is wrong, so are birthdays and other days.
3. Those too tight to spend any money or neglectful of parents will blow out Mother’s day.
4. Jehovah Witnesses and others like them are the ones that condemn every day they can.
5. There is nothing religious or inherently pagan about Mother’s Day any more than July 4.

Movies

1. This is one of five inputs very dangerous for youth – a powerful medium for the devil.
2. The invention of the projection and picture screen is not sin, but the content is easily sin.
3. Periodically there is one that you might be able to justify, but they are very rare indeed.
4. It is public, so consider appearance; also consider building a habit and the many previews.
5. Allowing unmarried youth to use movies for dating is absurd on many different levels.
6. Technology can lead to new sins and temptations.

Music

1. Music is powerful; people have strong opinions; its associated effects are quite consistent.
2. Everything a believer does must be to God’s glory in Jesus’ name (I Cor 10:31; Col 3:17).
3. Music has never been more pervasive in society than our own, so guidelines are necessary.
4. The percentage of God-hating intellectual liberals that love classic match lovers of rock.
5. Lyrics, musical origin and nature, performers, audience, effect, and popularity say much.
6. A person walking close to God and supping with Christ will usually seek His praise music.
7. Rather than a manual of what kinds are approved or not, make it serve your love of Christ!
8. God reasons by your body as His temple, so only let godly music in the temple’s ear holes!
9. Why would you want to listen to any music but Christian music? And for what purpose?
10. Yet we do not condemn the mood-altering effect of wine, even with the Spirit (Eph 5:18).

New Age

1. Can it be defined to have any value, since it is mainly used as a slur of Funnymentalists?
2. Rather than use New Age to discredit or condemn a thing, prove it wrong by Bible verses.
3. The use of the phrase has no more condemning validity than calling Bible Christians a cult.
4. If you gave some people enough time with an Internet connection, everything is New Age.

Pants on females

1. There are two factors – misunderstanding of Deut 22:5 and bad BJU/Pentecostal influence.
2. Deuteronomy 22:5 condemns cross-dressers, transvestites, and other sexual abominations.
3. Effeminacy is a sin (men acting feminine), so sexual roles must be maintained (I Cor 6:9).
4. A woman in female pants is not wearing a man’s garment more than a man in a blue shirt!
5. A wife wearing only her husband’s shirt around the house is not abominable, but glorious!
6. A man trying on a bra, no matter what the reason might be, is sinful and sick by the text.
7. Pants on women must be closely inspected for modesty and avoid offending consciences.
8. Pants are one of the most immodest garments for women e.g. thighs, buttocks, and crotch.
9. What your granny wore is not God’s standard. Should we resume powdered wigs on men?

Pets in house

1. Few have any conscience issue with those that like to live with animals, especially dogs.
2. God ridicules dogs and compares them to pigs, but you have liberty to cuddle with either.
3. However, a Christian should soberly avoid extremes that some worldlings go to with pets.

Pharmaceuticals

1. Some argue witchcraft in Gal 5:20 of the KJB is from Greek pharmakeia, damning drugs.
2. Until you meet these nuts or hear or read their material, you cannot believe such nonsense.
3. Are drugs used for sin? Sure, like alcohol! Do drugs give place to Satan? Sure, like music!
4. If you need evidence of such extreme views.
5. Illegal drugs should not be used, because the powers that be have made them crimes.
6. Legal drugs can be abused just like alcohol, but the sin still comes from the heart of man.
7. God gives witty inventions, and God approves mood-altering chemicals (Pr 8:12; 31:6-7).
8. Many drugs come from herbal remedies similar to a fig plaster (Isaiah 38:21; 28:23-29)!

Piercings

1. Some think piercings ugly, pagan, native, and seek Bible against them (Le 19:28; De 14:1).
2. But these condemned cuttings are religious rituals of pagans for the dead, if you can read.
3. Once you say that a woman cannot have a second hole in her ear, what about the first?
4. Once you say that an ear is to be only pierced in the lobe, what will you say of manicures?
5. Piercings of nose or tongue are a liberty but can be offensive to Christians by association, though small ones in the nose might possibly be done discreetly even for Christians.
6. Offence and appearance of evil do count (Matt 17:24-27; I Cor 10:31-33; I Thess 5:22).
7. A father can make piercings a sin for his children by imposing his lack of liberty on them.
8. There are other piercings a woman can have, and you cannot condemn them with a Bible, such as a husband wanting part of his savings in a one-carat diamond stud in her navel.

Pledge to the flag

1. Some Christians falsely assume that Americanism and Christianity are second cousins.
2. Other Christians see their only real loyalty to the kingdom of Jesus Christ, not nations.
3. Since the pledge to the flag is a limited commitment of loyalty and service, it is a liberty.
4. If the government required certain posture for the flag, we would require it as well.
5. Disregarding the standard treatment for flags or anthems should consider any offence.

Premarital counseling

1. It is a pastoral liberty and personal liberty whether you have premarital instruction or not.
2. Most good pastors will not marry a couple unless there is evidence of some instruction.
3. The content, number of visits, setting, and follow-up are a few of many aspects of liberty.
4. This author has found that post-marital instruction might find more receptive listeners.

Premarital exams

1. A premarital exam is to check for cervical cancer, which involves a vaginal speculum.
2. Some may take the position that they do not want the hymen touched prior to marriage.
3. Some know it can be done without damaging the hymen … or see much ado about nothing.
4. Wisdom may even indicate that such a physical before marriage can help in some cases.
5. Taking this example further, some Christians prohibit tampons prior to daughters marrying.

Psalters

1. Singing psalms is not a liberty, but how we sing them is a liberty (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16).
2. This pastoral liberty is the easiest means to sing all psalms in English by known melodies.
3. If we knew Hebrew and had David’s music for his Hebrew psalms, we would follow him.
4. The altered words are not inspired or authoritative, but they still trump any other songbook.

Rent or buy

1. It has been an axiom of simple Americans for fifty years that buying is superior to renting.
2. The remarks go like this: “You are just throwing your money away with rent payments.”
3. Such financial experts are not wise enough to know 95% of house payments are interest!
4. There are many factors e.g. tax advantages, utilities, maintenance, care, insurance, etc.
5. Without governmental inflation, the value of houses would always decline by depreciation.

Restaurant bars

1. Only teetotaling and consistent Pharisees would make this a matter of conscience for them.
2. As anyone with dining experience knows, restaurants without alcohol have pitiful menus.
3. An Outback Steakhouse bar is not a den of iniquity, but an intimate place to drink and eat.

Restaurants (Sunday)

1. Some with Sabbatarian leanings think it a sin for them to eat at a restaurant on Sundays.
2. Others with desires to keep the Lord’s Day sober do not mind at all if pagans serve them.
3. Then those with much greater liberty for Sunday activities do not even consider the issue.
4. Godly souls will consider intent, venue, temptations, distractions, irreverence, and so forth.

School options

1. There are many options: public, private, military, vocational, Christian, or home school.
2. It is a shame Vision Forum and others require home school as an acid test of Christianity.
3. Within these many categories, there are even more options allowing significant differences.
4. If from all the options you choose to home school, then there is the liberty of curriculum.
5. A father’s choice in schooling can reduce his parental workload or significantly increase it.
6. The Bible has not a word requiring academic education to occur under mommy at home.
7. The Bible has many commands for fathers to be responsible for religious instruction, and it does assume that fathers may well assign academic instruction to tutors (Gal 4:2).
8. The Bible includes mothers teaching children godliness (Pr 1:8; 6:20; II Tim 3:15), but there is no mention in her job description for teaching science or arc welding (Pr 31:10-31).
9. To go beyond mommy’s ability, children are sent off to college; the age is another liberty.
10. A father’s choice to homeschool adds to a wife’s duties and requires sacrifice somewhere.
11. A wife cannot do everything, so be wise … www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/managing-your-wife.pdf.
12. Will you despise a family that apprentices a 12-year-old son like in former generations?
13. Some of the greatest men in the Bible studied in state schools e.g. Moses, Joseph, Daniel.
14. Would to God there was as much fuss about teaching Johnny to pray as to read! Amen!

Singing in parts

1. Four-part harmony is not necessary to keep the scriptural command to sing; it is a liberty.
2. It is a church liberty to allow it, and it is an individual liberty for any to use or reject it.
3. Those that sing parts, or that love songs with rounds, should remember an uncertain sound!
4. While singing does require tonal modulation of the voice, the words are the key (Ep 5:19).

Spectator sports

1. Those who grew up keeping a family garden likely despise the inherent waste of time.
2. Those who grew up fishing and hunting likely despise the inherent waste of time to them.
3. Others like the relatively neutral form of entertainment that easily relaxes body and mind.
4. Wise men will consider the time, the carnality, the advertisements, cheerleaders, etc., etc.

Sports

1. Should a parent allow his children to participate in the carnal and vain activities of sports?
2. It is a liberty, so some parents may forbid such games, and other parents may use them all.
3. If you condemn sports, you should also condemn hide-and-seek and tag to be consistent.

Sunday activities

1. Some seek to honor Sunday as the Lord’s Day from minor protection to a N.T. Sabbath.
2. Since the New Testament is silent, then Christians cannot impose a law about activities.
3. The first day of the week is not a new covenant Sabbath; there are no inspired N.T. rules.
4. Yet a Christian should consider how his Sunday activities affect his soul after preaching.

Symbols

1. Some go through their Christian life looking for any symbols they can say are of the devil.
2. They gladly pervert corporate trademarks like Procter & Gamble’s and other businesses.
3. They would have every Christian throw away Nike shoes and shirts if they were consistent.
4. But they carry an Egyptian pyramid and the all-seeing eye of Horus everywhere they go.
5. Can you imagine the letterhead that Joseph and Daniel used in serving their pagan nations?

Tattoos

1. Tattoos are a liberty, if they are not religious in nature and are acceptable in content.
2. The Bible condemns religious cuttings and markings for the dead (Lev 19:28; Deut 14:1).
3. If we condemn tattoos, consistency would condemn pierced ears, manicures, and braces.
4. Offence and appearance of evil should be considered for visible tattoos (Matt 17:24-27).
5. A father can make tattoos a sin for his children by imposing his lack of liberty on them.

Television

1. Having a television in your house can be a liberty, for it is basically electronic furniture.
2. Your liberty can easily become a sin, if you watch things displeasing God or tempting you.
3. The Bible condemns sinful programming: (Job 31:1; Ps 101:3; Pr 6:25; Ro 1:32; Phil 4:8).
4. Movies like Braveheart that are well received promote faithless living and many sins.
5. You can cause a brother to stumble, if he hears about programs you allow that he cannot.
6. Be honest in your assessment and management of television before a holy God and angels.
7. As Romans 14:10-12 teaches, you will give an account of your use of this so-called liberty.
8. Each father must be the holy man of his household and limit television very carefully.
9. Television is one of the most destructive devices and means of ruining children and family.
10. Foregoing a television may be “weak” liberty, but wise in avoiding evils and temptations.
11. Cable offers many acceptable viewing options e.g. Cold Case Files, Learning Channel, Discovery Channel, History Channel, Travel Channel, MSNBC, various news outlets, etc.
12. However, though you may find acceptable programming, you must then redeem the time!
13. Technology can lead to new sins and temptations.

Thanksgiving Day

1. Thanksgiving is a Bible command, but observing the fourth Thursday of November is not.
2. If a church member chooses another day or way or days or ways for thanks, it is a liberty.
3. The pastor encourages the Day as an opportunity to practice the Bible (Deut 14:26; etc.).
4. National holidays with a good purpose were justified by Jesus with Hanukah (John 10:22).

Tithing

1. It is difficult or impossible to equate O.T. tithes to N.T. giving with the many adjustments.
2. The Old Testament required 23 and 1/3%, but this included welfare, and we pay by taxes.
3. For much more about tithing in the N.T. 
4. Lacking a full study, a tithe is basically the minimum a person should give of gross.
5. There are tax effects, 401k payments, fringe benefits like insurance, and other factors.

Tobacco

1. The Bible does not condemn it, so to think clearly you must flush all your presuppositions.
2. Jesus taught it is not what goes into a man that condemns/defiles a man (Matt 15:10-20).
3. The misquoted I Corinthians 6:19-20 has nothing to do with tobacco, but rather fornication.
4. Tobacco does not have the same Bible support as wine, so use it with more discretion.
5. Any addiction that you cannot put down when needed is too much addiction (I Cor 6:12).
6. The strong feelings that some have against it make it a great subject for studying liberty.

Unions

1. Labor unions are rebellious servants conspiring to use extortion to force masters to yield.
2. Agreement with the nature or purpose of labor unions is manifestly employment sedition.
3. However, if management tells you to join after they hear your case, join (II Kgs 5:18-19).
4. See the Christian ethics documents attached at the end for further study of such things.

United Way

1. Christian charity rules are not liberty.
2. If for charitable or professional reasons you contribute, it is liberty within charity’s rules.
3. If for other reasons you do not contribute, make sure you still comply with God’s charity.

Vaccinations

1. Some think that vaccinations are one of the banes in the world that contribute to disease.
2. Others see how they have contributed to the eradication of certain once-prevalent diseases.
3. God does not care, or He would have clearly identified them as an abomination to Him.
4. Religious exemptions cannot be based on dislike of the AMA. Read carefully; be honest.
5. If your child dies from a disease you could have prevented, you will hardly live it down.
6. If your child dies from a vaccination for a disease, the risk is understood in all medications.

Vegetarianism

1. If you want to deny yourself the pleasure of meat, you may choose to be a vegetarian.
2. If you reject meat for religious reasons, you are wrong, for all meat is good (I Tim 4:1-5).
3. God gave Noah every moving creature to eat after the Flood (Genesis 1:29-30; 9:1-4).
4. Remember that it was weak Jews that rejected meats and RCC’s doctrine of devils.

Voting

1. If you have a conscience against voting, then do not vote, but never complain about rulers.
2. In a two-party system quite even like America, a nonvoter is a vote for the opposing party.
3. Wisdom teaches you to vote practically, not for a fantasy of impossible-to-elect principle.
4. Involvement in the political process is a liberty but limited by doctrine and time required.
5. Those who do not vote should wisely consider what other God-given means they will skip.

Wedding rings

1. A wedding ring might seem almost sacred to you, but there is nothing in the Bible about it.
2. We choose to wear them as a public indication that we are married and to avoid offence.
3. If a couple chose to use only wedding bands, no diamond, could you commune with them?
4. If a couple rejected even the bands but keep all aspects of marriage, will you love them?

Welfare

1. Just because the government provides it does not automatically mean that you deserve it.
2. Most Americans have the mentality to seek handouts, and total disability is easy to obtain.
3. The government allows divorce for most causes and abortion as well, but we reject both.
4. As in the case of religious exemption for vaccinations, you must answer to God for appeal.
5. You will give an account to God, and He will not care much about your disability hearing.
6. We do use government when we can, like Joseph and Paul, but only in true righteousness.
7. As a church, it is our liberty to accept or reject welfare recipients seeking membership.
8. It can cause great resentment by those who work hard to support those not working at all.

Wedding dress

1. What if a bride wore a regular dress for her wedding? Could you still commune with her?
2. What if a bride wore a wedding dress in other than white, explaining her virginal choice?
3. As long as some measure of appearance and offence are covered, no one should care at all.
4. There is no Bible verse requiring a white dress, but there are standards of society to weigh.

Wives with jobs

1. Some emphasize “keepers at home” in Titus 2:5 like the SDA’s adore O.T. Sabbath verses.
2. While there are many verses for the Sabbath, they are out of N.T. context and misapplied.
3. While much could be written here, the three-word phrase is more action and less location.
4. If stay-at-home types are not careful interpreting and applying Titus 2:5, they will preclude wives from visiting friends, running, shopping, traveling, and even going to church!
5. The virtuous woman described in detail was clearly active outside her home (Pr 31:16,24).
6. Titus 2:5 is explained by Paul’s warning of female idleness and its vices (I Tim 5:11-15).
7. A wife at home will need supervision or great initiative to be productive enough for God.
8. If a wife is not at home to love and supervise children and house, their character is at risk.
9. If you cannot justify calling for exclusion or to withdraw, it is a Christian liberty for wives.
10. A husband should weigh his wife’s heart, for he could harm her by forcing one or the other.
11. For a commentary on Prov 31:16.
12. For a commentary on Prov 31:24.

Youth groups

1. Some people, influenced by Vision Forum and/or family integrated worship, reject them.
2. Our church doctrine, youth group, and activities are designed to help fathers, not replace.
3. It is true most youth groups are detrimental to a church and youth like many other things.
4. We live in the perilous times of the last days, but we do not throw out babies in bathwater.
5. A youth group is a church liberty, for a church may choose to have one or choose to not.
6. Our youth group is guided by a written but informal agreement with parents in beginning.
7. It is a social tool for building relationships more than an integral part of church ministry.

Zumba

1. What? A Latin form of dance and exercise done by women for fitness in a private setting.
2. If a woman dislikes Zumba, she may stay at home and show she is “weak” by her cellulite.
3. If you condemn Zumba, what is next? Aerobics? Dancing? Exercise? Running? Walking?

 

Table of Non-Liberties for the 21st Century

Abortion

1. Clear and obvious harm to an unborn child either directly or indirectly is sin (Ex 21:22-25).
2. Any pregnancy prevention device like the IUD qualifies as a non-liberty for Christians.
3. Christians must arrive at sane and sober definitions of contraceptives against abortifacients.

Attendance

1. Regular church attendance is a commandment of the apostle Paul (Heb 10:23-25; 3:12-13).
2. Paul assumed the church came together for church ordinances (I Cor 11:18,20; 14:23).
3. Exceptions are allowed for sickness, employment emergencies or needs, vacations, etc.

Church clothes (casual)

1. Proper worship is by reverence and godly fear, so casual attire is rejected (Heb 12:28-29).
2. Old Testament examples of this honor to God are recorded (Gen 35:1-3; Exodus 19:9-15).
3. Visitors are exempted from this prohibition, as their conversion is assumed and desired.
4. As the nation, culture, and religious worship degenerate, this will become hard to believe.

Child training

1. Children are to be trained and taught under both testaments (Deu 6:7; Ps 34:11; Pr 22:6,15; Pr 23:13-14; 29:15; I Sam 3:13; I Kings 1:6; Eph 6:4).
2. The details of their training are a liberty based on circumstances and individuals involved.
3. While bishops and deacons are held to a higher standard, all members’ children must obey.

Debts

1. While borrowing for things like homes and cars is a liberty, being late on payments is not.
2. Using the grace period is not truly a liberty, for you are paying late and stealing by grace.
3. The amount of debt a person incurs can be a subjective sin like effeminacy and attendance.

Drunkenness

1. While drinking alcohol is fully commended by the Bible, getting drunk is expressly a sin.
2. The Bible allows a considerable degree of consumption before being drunk by examples.
3. Due to the public nature of DUI’s when published, this is a public offence against Christ.
4. However, in situations other than public driving, DMV blood alcohol levels are worthless.

Filthy speech

1. Filthy speech is condemned by Eph 5:3-5, where it must be profane or sexual vulgarities.
2. Using words comparable to dung or piss as nouns, used by men in scripture, is a liberty.
3. For Bible examples of coarse language.

Friends

1. You may not choose any friends you wish – they are not a liberty in God’s sight. Beware.
2. You may not have foolish or worldly friends (Ps 101:4-8; Pr 9:6; 14:7; I Cor 15:33; Ja 4:4).
3. You must choose your friends from those that fear God (Ps 119:63,79; 101:6; Pr 13:20).

Gambling

1. Gambling or intentional assumption of confiscation or risk is a sin (Prov 6:1-5; 18:9; etc.).
2. This does not apply to penny poker or other immaterial or insignificant games of risk.
3. For much more about gambling, see this study.

Gluttony

1. Gluttony is condemned in the Bible comparably to drunkenness (Deut 21:20; Pr 23:21).
2. A nation with unlimited quantities of excellent food for little expense creates temptations.
3. Gluttony is not as simple as life insurance tables any more than DMV blood alcohol levels.
4. For much more about gluttony, see the study.

Hair length

1. While it is listed as a liberty above, there are limits for both men and women to avoid sin.
2. A woman’s hair must cover, and a man’s hair must not, and the pastor decides if it is sin.
3. A guide seeks significant difference in length, style, covering between men and women.
4. A guide is based on infants’ hair at birth … men cover no more; women must cover more.
5. If a wig, or a hat/veil, or hair extensions are desired or needed, the choice is your liberty.
6. A verse-by-verse commentary on I Cor 11.

Holidays (Catholic)

1. Pagan holidays are too closely associated with pagan religion to be allowed by Christians.
2. Paul allowed meat and wine offered to idols, because meat and wine are ordinary things.
3. For many Bible and other reasons.
4. Paul’s allowance of days were Jewish days, not pagan days (Rom 14:6; Gal 4:9; Col 2:16).
5. Jewish days like Passover and Pentecost were liberties, but Halloween is not whatsoever.

Marijuana (U.S.)

1. It is presently illegal, which precludes its use and makes it a non-liberty, but could change.
2. If it were not illegal, it is just like alcohol or tobacco, a thing of personal preference.
3. God does allow mood-altering chemicals and instructs men (Pr 31:6-7; 8:12; Is 28:23-29).
4. For more explanation of this position.
5. The test of marijuana cannot apply to drugs that by one dose create drunkenness or worse.

Marriage (in the Lord)

1. You may not marry whomever you love. You must marry in the Lord (I Cor 7:39; 11:11).
2. God judged the world for sons of God marrying daughters of men (Gen 6:1-4; 27:46; 28:1).
3. We do not define a Christian spouse by the almanac, but by pure doctrine of Jesus Christ.
4. For much more about marriage in the Lord.
5. For much more about the Flood.
6. For much more about marrying right, see study.

Modesty

1. While modesty was listed as a liberty, there is a minimum level that is not liberty at all.
2. Women need to remember that adding 5 lbs can make a significant change to tightness.
3. Women should remember that showing off a cauliflower navel during pregnancy is sick.
4. Women should remember that it is the overall package that must be reduced to modesty.
5. Women should remember this liberty/non-liberty is unique in that it is the beholder’s view.

Movies

1. The movie projector and screen themselves are merely inventions that are a clear liberty.
2. However, the content of what you watch on the device can easily lead to or become sin.
3. The Bible condemns sinful programming: (Job 31:1; Ps 101:3; Pr 6:25; Ro 1:32; Phil 4:8).
4. Movies like Braveheart that are well received will promote faithless living and many sins.
5. Because theaters are public, consider issues of offense, other temptations, previews, etc.

Organ (church)

1. You may love organs, but it does not belong in the church any more than an altar of Baal.
2. It does not matter who or how many disagree, God has already ruled on singing for church.
3. For more about instruments.

Parental control

1. Similar to child training and teaching, your control of your children is a liberty and is not.
2. When you are in the house of God, you cannot be a one-track parent like so many are.
3. Your liberty at home to allow loud and wild children is not allowed in public with others.
4. When your children run around the church parking lot in the dark, you are violating liberty.
5. You must consider church visitors and what they think of your wild child showing liberty!

Poaching

1. You are God’s son, and He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, but “No Hunting” means it!
2. It does not matter what you think about the laws or the neighbor farmer. Stay off his land.
3. It does not matter what you think about the laws, you must comply with all hunting laws.

Polygamy (in U.S.)

1. It is presently illegal, which precludes its use and makes it a non-liberty, but could change.
2. If it were not illegal, it would be tolerated as a liberty in the same way as interracial dating.
3. If it were not illegal, bishops and deacons could not have more one wife (I Tim 3:2,12).

Schooling (away)

1. Church attendance is a command, so moving where there is no true church is not a liberty.
2. If committed to law or medical school, then find one within striking distance of assemblies.
3. Church and individual liberty can be applied in modest degrees to allow some absences.

Seatbelts

1. Seatbelts or shoulder harnesses required by U.S. motor vehicle laws are not your liberties.
2. You may think you have the right to put your face in your windshield, but it is not a liberty.
3. The Bible commands you to submit to every ordinance of man for God’s sake (I Pet 2:13).

Sedition (rulers)

1. God commands not to curse rulers but rather to pray for them (Eccl 10:20; I Tim 2:1-2).
2. Criticizing rulers or meddling with revolution is profanely evil (Pr 24:21-22; Jude 1:8-10).
3. The Bible is quite plain about obedience and reverence to rulers (Ro 13:1-7; I Pet 2:13-17).

Single (burning)

1. Staying single is not a liberty, if you are severely tempted with sexual desire (I Cor 7:9,36).
2. God said it is not good for the man to be alone, regardless of any contemporary opinions.
3. If a person can contain sexual desire, they may stay single for kingdom or personal reasons.

Speeding (flagrant)

1. We do allow modest violation of the speed limit for reasons of materiality and acceptance.
2. While 40 in a 35 zone or 75 in a 65 zone may be liberty, 55 in a 35 is most definitely not.
3. How do we make this distinction? By ruler’s enforcement of traffic laws and basic wisdom.
4. For more about the reasoning here.

Strike (unions)

1. If you need to join a union for a job and management does not mind, then go in peace!
2. If the union strikes against management, you should side with management against them.
3. Let management direct you as to the kind or degree of response they recommend for you.
4. Anarchy, rebellion, sedition, and stealing are not Christian liberties, which strikes involve.

Television (evil)

1. Television itself is an electronic device that is a liberty, but you can sin by what you watch.
2. The Bible condemns sinful programming: (Job 31:1; Ps 101:3; Pr 6:25; Ro 1:32; Phil 4:8).
3. Movies like Braveheart that are well received promote faithless living and many sins.

Thanksgiving

1. This is not Thanksgiving Day but the Christian virtue of giving thanks to God for things.
2. Thanksgiving Day is a Christian liberty, as it is not required in the Bible or by the Bible.
3. Christians must be thankful in both testaments or be judged (Deut 28:47; I Thess 5:18).

Yoga

1. Due to the religious and/or spiritual nature and use of yoga, it is not a Christian liberty.
2. Yoga is a meditational method to contact oneself or any other spirit that shows up. No way!
3. Is it liberty for a Christian to attend RCC confession or mass for therapeutic benefits? No!

For Further Study:

1. The one sermon of 5/28/2006, “Christian Liberty”.
2. The sermon series, “Forgotten Sins,” note the extensive table of sins.
3. The Bible study, “Christian Ethics,” a study of the principles.
4. The Bible study, “Christian Ethics,” applied by case studies.
5. The Bible study, “Christian Ethics,” list of principles.
6. Expositional, verse-by-verse sermon outline, “Romans 14”.
7. Expositional, verse-by-verse sermon outline, “Romans 15”.
8. Expositional, verse-by-verse sermon outline, “I Corinthians 8”.
9. Expositional, verse-by-verse sermon outline, “I Corinthians 10”.
10. The one sermon of 9/28/2003, “Birth Control to Skydiving”
11. An extensive PowerPoint presentation, “Family Planning,”.
12. The sermon outline, “They Promise Them Liberty”.
13. A PowerPoint presentation of dangers of technological advances.

Variety of Others’ Opinions about Liberty

1. An introduction to Christian Liberty by “Stand to Reason”.
2. John MacArthur on Christian Liberty from June 16, 1974.
3. John MacArthur on Christian Liberty from August 9, 2011.
4. From Bible.org.
5. From Ligonier Ministries.
6. John Calvin on Christian Liberty.
7. From GotQuestions.org.
8. Reformed summary.