Subject: How about common sense? |
Bible Note: I have answered as well as I can on trying to apply biblical principles to the general subject. I could only speak hypothetically concerning the specific situations you have mentioned. I could tell you that in situation X an exception can be made, whereas in situation Y there does not seem to be an excuse for not applying the general rule. And I would hope I could be objective enough to live out my convictions were I in a similar situation. Of course, sometimes it is getting into a different situation which causes one to change his convictions -- not alwasy just because "now it's happening to ME!" but because in light of the new situation, the whole principle looks different and your perspective is broadened. Anyway, I do not think I could really lay out my ideas in any more concrete way than I have already. If I did, I do not believe there would be any benefit of it to anyone. You said you were "simply making a case for us to be moderate in our dictation of ethics, especially where the Bible is silent or unclear." I agree in spirit, but to be more precise, I would say it like this: "Let us be firm in our dicatation of ethics where the Bible is firm; and let us be moderate in our dictation of ethics where the Bible is silent or unclear." The issue we have been discussing is not something which Scripture pronounces a firm ethic about. I would agree with you that we should be wise, and would add that we take great pains to think it out carefully. I finally say that we must be cautious in the "rules" we lay out in regard to this issue, because the Bible simply does not address the mattter. I think you and I, discussing this, have done a pretty good job of it. Blessings to you. |