The Bible says to abstain from every or all appearance of evil.

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1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from every appearance of evil.

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What does this mean?

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

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?

What are the gray areas that could be considered as appearances of evil?

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.

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

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

Yes, Thomas.

I like what John B. wrote in a separate thread:

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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.

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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:

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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)

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What determines whether or not anything has the appearance of evil?

Something which someone could take as being evil, or appearing to be evil, has an appearance of evil. Like beauty, the appearance of evil is in the eye of the beholder.

In that case it is a nonsence expression... Obviously people have different opinions of what evil is and if all are considered youd get quite Politically Correct soon.

Paul said he sought to be all things to all men. Jesus met people where they were.

Both Jesus and Paul where persecuted by people who accused them of evil or the appearance of evil (falsely ofcourse).

Paul says that the lot of anyone who is Christ's. Jesus taught the same thing.

I'm not following your train of thought here, Thomas.

Daryl asked what the determining factor of the appearance of evil is, you replied "Like beauty, the appearance of evil is in the eye of the beholder."

If the way to determine wether or not something has the apparence of evil is to make a public referendum on it you could aswell try to get the answere by throwing dice. For instance, pirating music and movies from the net, is that evil or an apparence of evil? The majority would (most likely also in US) say no, while the industry and a minority would say yes. Whos eyes should we trust in this case? The average beholder thus would make wrong right. Another example, you are living on a healthy diet when you meet someone who convinces you that parts of it are abominable to God and will be a sure ticket to hell and then gives you advice to eat an unhealthy diet depriving you of several esential nutrients. The false friend thus took something good and declared it evil, making right into wrong. Am I being clearer now?

Would you sell your car to reach the environmentalist? Would you let your dog/cat loose in the wild to reach the animal rights activist? Would you logg into P2P programs to reach the mediapirate community even tough youd have to share some 3-5 GB of material yourself to get it at all?

I wasn't addressing what one should do. I was answering the question as to what constitutes an appearance of evil. An appearance of evil is something which varies from person to person, don't you agree? Do you think there is a universal standard as to what constitutes an appearance of evil? If so, what would that be?

Stealing (pirating) music and movies from the net is evil. (Thou shall not steal) However it might not be the appearance of evil if no one were to know about it.

Drinking a ginger ale in a restaurant could look like you were drinking a beer, therefore the appearance of evil, though no real evil is taking place.

The appearance of evil is always in the eye of the beholder and there are limits as to how far we can and should go in avoiding it. Last Sabbath I went shopping for some much needed headache pain medication in our little town where many people know me. I'm sure I presented the appearance of evil. Should I have put up with pain to avoid the appearance? I think not, obviously.

Situation ethics, don't you just love em?

Redfog

Look at what is evil first and foremost. It is not possible to not have the appearance of evilon the outside and be evil on the inside, that would equate you with a worker of iniquity.
Worldliness is the appearance of evil.
God Bless,
Will

A person could give every evidence of piety to those that know him or her but in their hearts be consumed by evil. They would be avoiding the appearance of evil but still be evil. At the same time another person could truly be a pious person but still appear, especially to the casual observer, to be evil. I think of the person who is seen in a bad part of town where the drug dealers and prostitutes are. If seen there some might think they are part of that mess when in reality they were there to help those people.

While to a certain extent we do have a obligation to avoid the appearance of evil there is also much to be said for not judging others. For instance I know a person who rarely comes to church though she is quite physically able to do so, many I'm sure judge her to be a backslider when in reality she has phobia's related to being in groups of people. She cannot avoid the appearance of evil, but neither should we judge her.

Redfog

1Th 5:22 Abstain567 from575 all3956 appearance1491 of evil.4190

Refrain from every hurtful or evil form or view.

This is not talking about how others will see us; so as that we should make ourselves appear pious.

Rather it is saying that we should refrain from anything that is of a hurtful or evil element, whatever fashion it is.

For example listening or viewing common TV or radio programs, is not refraining from every evil form or view.

John if we are to abstain from the appearance of evil this would seem to be the appearance of evil as viewed by others. It is well known that we are to abstain from evil, but this is not saying that, it is saying we should not appear to do evil, weather or not we are doing it.

Redfog

The original text says "apo pantos eidous ponèrou apechesthe" which is literally "from every form of evil be abstaining."

However, even though this actual verse is not talking about abstining from the appearace of evil, as in not doing things which might appear to another to be evil, the concept is still a valid one in that Paul said he would abstain from things which, although he felt them to be OK, might cause his brother to stumble.

Mark chapter 3 makes it clear that Jesus was not afraid to appear evil. Abstaining from doing right because someone else may perceive it as wrong is wrong. Compromising right to placate others misguided views is only encouraging their misguidedness and multiplying error.

Mark ch. 3 - fascinating story and note that Jesus was angry. One of only two times He is described that way.

Something which has the appearance of evil is something which in the eyes of others would lower the standard of religious principle. Ellen White mentions undue familiarity with people of the opposite sex, close association with a married person of the opposite sex, hearing (especially a minister) marital problems from someone of the opposite sex, courtship until late at night (of course the two alone), objectionable friendships (of course not with a missionary objective), engaging in amusements improper for a Christian. She also mentions hop raising (here in Brazil a special problem is coffee raising).

It seems that Christians are always trying to find out what the limits are this of course leads to a number of opinions and answers.

Paul dealt with this in the question of eating meat offered to Idols. In 1st Corinthians were he says in chapter 8,

1Co 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

1Co 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

1Co 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

1Co 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

1Co 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

1Co 8:8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

1Co 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

1Co 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

1Co 8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

1Co 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

1Co 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Sister White says it best in Steps to Christ,

Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we are Christ's, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of Him. All we have and are is consecrated to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe His spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things. {SC 58.2}

Those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Galatians 5:22, 23. They will no longer fashion themselves according to the former lusts, but by the faith of the Son of God they will follow in His steps, reflect His character, and purify themselves even as He is pure. The things they once hated they now love, and the things they once loved they hate. The proud and self-assertive become meek and lowly in heart. The vain and supercilious become serious and unobtrusive. The drunken become sober, and the profligate pure. The vain customs and fashions of the world are laid aside. Christians will seek not the "outward adorning," but "the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit." 1 Peter 3:3, 4. {SC 58.3}

I want to serve and please Jesus so I will go out of my way to avoid anything that would appear evil, some one brought up drinking ginger ale in a restaurant that some one could think you are drinking beer. Then I will avoid drinking ginger ale in a restaurant so as not to offend the weaker brother or sister.

Jesus was accused of eating, drinking, and hanging out with sinners..... so to me this concept seems to be a bit overrated....

Evil is definitely wrong. Paul didn't say avoid even the appearance of grey areas. Evil is evil in the eyes of everybody - not just in the eyes of a few fanatics. So, was he talking about the biggies?