Gray Areas

In several of my bible study groups we have been talking about "gray areas."  The issues in the bible that are not clearly stated.  They are left up to our personal conviction.  i.e. drinking, being vegitarian, not watching R rated movies, etc.  

Be we tend to judge brothers and sisters if their conviction on a matter is different from ours thus driving walls of division between us.  

We read Romans 14 the other day.  Wow, does that clear it up.  Paul says if I believe that X is wrong, through Holy Spirit conviction, then I am not to do it.  But if you do X and you believe, through Holy Spirit conviction, that is it right, then you are to do it.  I cannot judge you and you cannot judge me.  

I like how the New Living Translation puts it...

Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.  But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning. (Romans 14:22b-23)

These gray issues are ones we must wrestle with personally.  If you have to justify it, or if you are not sure, DON'T DO IT.

Wow, thanks God for making it so simple.  Ha ha.  The more simple it is, the harder it is for me to follow.  All God asks of us is to "Love God.  Love People."   Easy peasy...right?