可以做和不可做的事
羅馬書十四章12至23節
12這樣看來，我們各人必要將自己的事在神面前說明。
13所以，我們不可再彼此論斷，寧可定意誰也不給弟兄放下絆腳跌人之物。
14我憑著主耶穌確知深信，凡物本來沒有不潔淨的；惟獨人以為不潔淨的，在他就不潔淨了。
15你若因食物叫弟兄憂愁，就不是按著愛人的道理行。基督已經替他死，你不可因你的食物叫他敗壞。
16不可叫你的善被人毀謗；
17因為神的國不在乎吃喝，只在乎公義、和平，並聖靈中的喜樂。
18在這幾樣上服事基督的，就為神所喜悅，又為人所稱許。
19所以，我們務要追求和睦的事與彼此建立德行的事。
20不可因食物毀壞神的工程。凡物固然潔淨，但有人因食物叫人跌倒，就是他的罪了。
21無論是吃肉，是喝酒，是甚麼別的事，叫弟兄跌倒，一概不做才好。
22你有信心，就當在神面前守著。人在自己以為可行的事上能不自責，就有福了。
23若有疑心而吃的，就必有罪，因為他吃不是出於信心。凡不出於信心的都是罪。
信息分享
基督徒該有怎樣的品格行為，聖經已為我們提供了主要的答案。基督徒應不應該騙人或撒謊？聖經的答案是「不」。基督徒應不應該與未信者結婚？聖經的答案是「不」。聖經還有許多類似的明確指示。
不過，有不少問題是沒有明確答案的。我們今天的社會文化與聖經時代有很大分別；因此，我們必須解釋聖經所定下的原則，了解它們該怎樣應用在自己身上。
因為這個緣故，基督徒中間便會就某些事情的看法出現分歧。我們的背景會影響我們的行為。正如年輕人對事情的看法，會跟父母不同。究竟誰是誰非？我們如何判斷呢？
每間地方教會都該為信徒的行為操守提供一套準則和指引。當信徒逾越這些準則時，就要執行紀律。不過，即使有部分教會嘗試為每種行為訂定準則，卻也不可能為每個信徒判斷每件事情該做或不該做。
信徒仍然要自行判斷。我們的決定要按照聖經的亮光和心中聖靈的引導來作。與牧者或基督徒朋友商討，也會有一定的幫助。
在接著的幾天，我們會一起思考這個使我們踏上蒙福之路的重要課題。妥協和讓步通常都不是正路，當神的話語充滿我們的思想，當聖靈住在我們的心中，我們必能知悉神的心意。
反思的經文：
「我要教導你，指示你當行的路。」（詩卅二8）
WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT CAN WE NOT DO?
Romans 14:12-23
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
The Law of Love
14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.
21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Message
Many questions about our conduct as Christians are answered for us in the Bible. Should a Christian cheat or lie? The Bible says no. Should a Christian marry a non-Christian? The Bible says no. There are many other similar positive directions.
But plenty of other questions are not answered specifically. Our culture is different to that of the days in which the Bible was written. Consequently we have to interpret the principles laid down in the Word of God as they apply to us.
The result is that Christians differ in their approach to many matters. Our background can influence our behaviours. Younger people today see things differently from their parents. Who is right? How do we decide?
Every local church should have standards and guidelines for acceptable behaviours. It ought to administer discipline when those standards are broken. But a local church cannot decide every question for us even though some churches try to do so.
The final decision is a very personal one. It is ours to make in the light of the Word of God and the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Talking it over with a pastor or Christian friends can usually help.
For the next few days we will think together about this very important pathway to blessing. The road to compromise is not usually the right way. When the Word of God fills our minds and the Holy Spirit fills our lives, we will know for ourselves what the Lord wants us to do.
A VERSE FOR TODAY: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” (Psalm 32:8)