{"id":4518,"date":"2013-03-01T16:55:50","date_gmt":"2013-03-01T22:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cottrillcompass.com\/blog\/?p=4518"},"modified":"2013-02-26T17:58:16","modified_gmt":"2013-02-26T23:58:16","slug":"controversial-issues-in-the-christian-life-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cottrillcompass.com\/blog\/2013\/controversial-issues-in-the-christian-life-part-1.html","title":{"rendered":"Controversial Issues in the Christian life (part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently I was talking with a friend about our study on questionable issues (grey areas) in the Christian life.  I did a quick translation into English so he could see what the study said.<\/p>\n\n\n
\"What<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

So I thought I would share it with you here too.<\/p>\n

Two things to remember, though.  First, remember this is a part of a larger series of studies that included topics such as Who is the Holy Spirit<\/i> and How does God work in my life?<\/i> and How can I understand the Scripture?<\/i>.  So it really isn’t stand alone.<\/p>\n

Also, this was written for the context we’re in here in Mexico City, and was translated almost directly.  Obviously wherever you are you’ll have your own issues and your own emphasis.<\/p>\n

That being said, here’s part one (I’ll post the rest tomorrow):<\/p>\n

What about “grey areas”?<\/h2>\n

Why are there so many disagreements among Christians about how to live the Christian life? For example:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Should a Christian go to the casino, or play the lottery?<\/li>\n
  • Should a Christian smoke? Drink? Do drugs?<\/li>\n
  • Are video games bad?<\/li>\n
  • Is it a sin to listen to certain types of music?<\/li>\n
  • Is it ok for a woman to wear pants?<\/li>\n
  • Is it good for a Christian to go to the movies?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    There are some things that the Bible doesn’t talk about directly<\/i>.  For example, the Bible doesn’t talk directly about video games.  Sometimes the Bible does<\/i> talk about something, but we don’t agree about how to apply<\/i> it to our lives today.  For example, the question of alcohol.

    <\/p>\n\n\n
    But why don’t Christians agree?<\/p>\n
      \n
    1. The authority of Scripture<\/b>:  Some people simply don’t accept what the Bible says.  Or, they have another authority beside or above the Bible.<\/li>\n
    2. A lack of understanding<\/b>:  Some people have a better understanding of the Bible than others.  Perhaps someone simply doesn’t know what the Bible has to say about a certain topic.<\/li>\n
    3. Questions about what the Bible means<\/b>:  Two people that have studied the Bible still may disagree, because they simply don’t agree about what a passage means.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

      <\/center><\/p>\n

      We disagree about something \u00e2\u20ac\u201c now what?!<\/h3>\n

      Our goal is to study the Scripture together, and to come to an agreement wherever possible.<\/b>  But there will always be certain things we don’t agree about.  What should we do when that happens?<\/p>\n

      Romans 14:1-8<\/b>
      “Welcome\/receive\/accept<\/u> the one who is weak in faith, but do not quarrel over opinions\/quarrel over disputable matters<\/u>.”<\/p>\n

      Every person must obey God in their own hearts.  “It is before his own master<\/u> that he stands or falls.”<\/p>\n

      We have the responsibility to study these things for ourselves, so that we can be “fully convinced in our own mind<\/u>.”<\/p>\n

      According to these verses, how should we treat people who disagree with us when it comes to “grey areas”?<\/p>\n

      (what do you<\/i> think?)<\/p>\n

      …more tomorrow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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