Lesson 23: A Careful Christian Lifestyle

“My daily life shows that I am serious about pleasing God.”

To learn nine principles that guide us in specific lifestyle decisions.

► Have you ever noticed differences among Christians, especially in practical questions of what they do and what they don’t do? Why are there these differences, when they use the same Bible? Since there are so many differences among Christians, does it really matter what we do? Why?

Not all Christians agree on the details of how to live out biblical principles and values. Yet a Christian must be serious about living consistent with what he believes.

Behavior, choices of entertainment, and clothing all show something about the inclinations of the heart.

Here are some principles that every believer should remember as he tries to discern what is best in specific lifestyle issues.

(1) We must obey all of the Bible’s commands to Christians.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:19,

Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

We cannot simply choose the points that we think are most important. No scriptural command is unimportant enough to ignore.

(2) God’s commands are for our benefit.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13,

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?

God does not keep from us something that is good, nor command something that is harmful for us. We would not be better off without his restrictions. To reject his directions is to doubt his wisdom and love. We prove that we truly have faith in God’s goodness and wisdom when we obey the instructions of his Word instead of following human ideas.

(3) Christian freedom is not freedom from obeying God.

Paul wrote this to Christians in 1 Corinthians 9:21:

To those outside the law [of Moses] I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

We are delivered from the law—both the Mosaic system and God’s moral requirements—as a means of justification, because we are saved by grace and not by fulfilling God’s commands. We are also delivered from the condemnation of the law, because the sins we committed are forgiven.

However, we are not freed from the requirement of obeying God. As the verse above shows, we are under God’s authority. His will for us is revealed in the Bible.

And, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18).

(4) If we love God we want to know his will, not avoid it.

1 John 5:2-3 says

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

A person who loves God will not first ask, “Will God condemn me for doing this?” but, “What would God be most pleased with?” (Colossians 1:10).

(5) Scripture gives a basis for establishing specific rules for our lives.

The Bible does not give only general principles. Some passages are listed in the study assignment that provide a basis for careful Christian living. Some of them give specific directions for the Christian lifestyle.

(6) Rules about details of life are not our most important beliefs.

The Pharisees made the mistake of putting the most emphasis on minor things. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus said to them

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

This verse does not say that there is any truth that doesn’t matter, but it says that some things matter more than others. We should talk most about the most important things.

(7) Keeping rules is not enough to prove our obedience or love for God.

In the same discussion with the Pharisees Jesus said (Matthew 23:25),

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

A person may live a very strict lifestyle yet not love God or even be obeying him completely. On the other hand, a person may love God with his whole heart and yet not see the reason for some standards. Therefore, the stricter person is not necessarily more spiritual.

(8) Our confidence in the testimony of others does not depend on the small details of their lifestyle.

In Romans 14:10 Paul asked Christians

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

This verse comes in a passage discussing the different views Christians have on practical issues. There are sincere disagreements about what a Christian should and shouldn’t do.

Another believer may not agree with our interpretation of a particular scripture passage, or he may not see the harmfulness of something we have rejected. It may be that God is working on different aspects of his life, or that God has placed him in a different cultural context. That doesn’t mean that the person is not a true Christian.

(9) Tolerance of diverse opinions does not excuse personal carelessness.

Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind (Romans 14:5b).

But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

There are disastrous results when one violates his conscience. If a person decides to do something that he thinks is wrong, he is guilty of sin. There are blessings when one walks in the light God has given him (1 John 1:7).

There will be no difficulty in starting discussion on this topic. Some students may emphasize the need for churches to require rules of behavior. Others may emphasize tolerance of differences.

Try to get fair consideration for each of the nine principles listed above. Ask the group:

► Which of these principles do you think many people forget?

► Which of these principles are you most likely to forget?

Heavenly Father,

Help me to live consistently by the commands of your Word. I know that everything you command is important.

Help me to be faithful to my conscience, whatever others do. Help me to have a Christian attitude toward those who disagree with me.

I want my faith to show in all that I do. Help me in every area of life to make the choices that will make my life a good example of your grace.

Amen

Study the following scriptures that provide a basis for careful Christian behavior:

• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

• 1 Corinthians 10:31

• 1 Corinthians 11:14-15

• 1 Timothy 2:9-10

• 1 Peter 3:3-4

• Deuteronomy 22:5

• Psalm 19:14

• Psalm 101:3

What personal standards should you base on those scriptures?