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Abstain From Every Appearance of Evil
#17148
03/22/06 12:58 AM
03/22/06 12:58 AM
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The Bible says to abstain from every or all appearance of evil. quote:
1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from every appearance of evil.
What does this mean?
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Re: Abstain From Every Appearance of Evil
#17149
03/22/06 01:33 AM
03/22/06 01:33 AM
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So many times it is impossible to avoid the appearance of evil because the appearance of evil is in the perceptions of the beholder. For instance if your child gets sick on the Sabbath, you have to buy medicines and you are seen at your local Wal-Mart filling the prescription. Can you avoid the appearance of evil? No.
Many times people judge you by what they see you eating or drinking in public and they judge you wrong because what they think you are consuming is not what you are.
In this day and age, with the intermingling of the sexes and so much done in public it is impossible to avoid the appearance of evil and still live a normal life. At the same time no one should go out of their way to make it look like they are doing evil. No more ginger ale in a beer stein eh?
There is also something to be said about us not judging others. Maybe yes we should try to avoid the appearance of evil when possible but at the same time we are admonished to not judge others anymore than we would wish to be judged.
Redfog
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Re: Abstain From Every Appearance of Evil
#17150
03/22/06 04:48 AM
03/22/06 04:48 AM
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SDA
Charter Member
Active Member 2019
20000+ Member
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
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Redfog, I suspect your examples were taken into consideration when Jesus inspired Paul to write what he did about avoiding the appearance of evil. Is it possible that it means avoiding things that appear to be evil?
That is, if you're not sure if something is right or wrong, you know, those grey areas of life, then it would be best to avoid it altogether. Better safe than sorry, right? We should learn to ask, What's right with it, rather than, What's wrong with it.
What do you think?
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Re: Abstain From Every Appearance of Evil
#17151
03/22/06 06:22 AM
03/22/06 06:22 AM
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Active Member 2011
3500+ Member
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,965
Sweden
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quote:
1 Thessalonians 5 12We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.
23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
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Re: Abstain From Every Appearance of Evil
#17152
05/19/06 10:08 PM
05/19/06 10:08 PM
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What are the gray areas that could be considered as appearances of evil?
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Re: Abstain From Every Appearance of Evil
#17153
05/20/06 02:58 AM
05/20/06 02:58 AM
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Active Member 2012
14500+ Member
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
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Lots of things Daryl. Eating ice cream. Swimming on the Sabbath. Going to a movie. Just about any activity you think of is going to be offensive to someone. Eating at a restaurant where food could be contaminated by meat.
The principle Paul seems to espouse is to deny oneself of something which one thinks is not a problem in order to not offend the conscience of another.
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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Re: Abstain From Every Appearance of Evil
#17154
05/20/06 07:31 AM
05/20/06 07:31 AM
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Active Member 2011
3500+ Member
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,965
Sweden
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Tom
You wouldnt be thinking about Romans 14 would you? living in such a way as to not cause anyone else to stumble. In this passage we find things like "15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil," "19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good." And the two last verses I quoted above, 23-24, 'may God sanctify compleately, keep blameless, He who has called is faithfull and will surely do it.
To start talking about icecream or water activities on Sabbath etc, IMO, would be like, hmm, hunting mosquitoes with elephant guns?
/Thomas
Galatians 2
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
It is so hazardous to take here a little and there a little. If you put the right little's together you can make the bible teach anything you wish. //Graham Maxwell
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Re: Abstain From Every Appearance of Evil
#17155
05/23/06 06:44 AM
05/23/06 06:44 AM
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Charter Member
Active Member 2012
Dedicated Member
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,157
Jakarta, Indonesia
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What are the gray areas that could be considered as appearances of evil?
Some of it are in the SDA’s doctrines, not Scriptural or bible based but EGW counsel and advice.
Hey, I like to watch movies at the 21 Cinema, full surround system, very good to watch new released movies. Many “hardcore” SDA’s got mad and beat their children who went to the movie, this is an act that is worse than watching the movie itself.
Drinking tea, coffee, beer, wine, that are the grey area I suppose.
How do we cooperate with these things in the wise way?
In His love
James S
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Re: Abstain From Every Appearance of Evil
#17156
05/23/06 03:06 PM
05/23/06 03:06 PM
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Active Member 2012
14500+ Member
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
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Yes, Thomas. I like what John B. wrote in a separate thread: Quote:
What we do is simply the result of our way of thinking, and what He does is but the result of His way of thinking. The contrast of the two is seen in the difference between the life of Christ and ours.
This is the real issue, IMO. We need to have the mind of Christ; to see things as He sees them; to think as He thinks.
We see Christ's attitude on these things when He said:
Quote:
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Luke 11:42)
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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Re: Abstain From Every Appearance of Evil
#17157
05/26/06 12:13 AM
05/26/06 12:13 AM
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What determines whether or not anything has the appearance of evil?
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