Greyscale stuff


G'day Russell,

Sorry this reply has taken so long, but it has provoked a number of interesting and lengthy discussions at this end (thank you).

We have spent some of the time trying to boil this down to the couple of questions which we think you are asking and we will attempt to answer those below. (If we have totally missed the point we would be happy to have another go!!!)



To begin, some a definition:-

good = in accordance with the purpose for which God created us (which is outlined in the Bible, is revealed in the creation (Rom 2:15) and through revelation, amongst other things)

evil = opposite of good


So:-
Are there any non-trivial actions that one can do that are neutral ie. not good or evil?

No. (We are still searching for a bible verse for this, but it is consistent with our understanding. Sorry)

Does this mean that there are some actions that under different circumstances God might ask us to do, which, because they are not God's will for this situation this makes them BAD?

Yes

Does this mean that there are some actions that under different circumstances God might ask us to do, which, because they are not God's will for this situation this makes them SINFUL?

Sometimes - Romans 2 tells us that we will judged according to what we know.

[An example that we tossed around several times might help - I have $20 dollars in my wallet.
It is God's will that I give it to a homeless person tomorrow, but I give it to the Salvos today.

This action is evil (because it wasn't God's will), however the circumstances/reasons determine whether it was sinful. If I gave the $20 because I knew God's will, but wanted to stuff up God's plan, or because I thought that I knew what a better destination for the $20 was. Then that would be sinful.
If I didn't know I was doing something that was against God's will then whether it is sinful or not would come down to whether I could have known what God's will was - did I ask? did I listen for the answer? did I know to ask in the first place]

A few other random comments

>But not every seemingly detrimental action
>Is of the Devil,

Hmmmmm!!!! This brought a number questions, depending on definitions. There are a number of examples in the Bible where God's will, seemed to those involved to be a not very good course of action (Acts 21:10-14, Jonah 1:1-17, Gen 6:9-), but God can't will anything evil. So there are a number of "limitations" on the "seemingly detrimental action".

>And not every seemingly good act >Is of God.

Whereas, the devil is not so constrained. He can do something, which of itself is good, but is ultimately furthering evil in the longer term.

>To blame all on the Devil >Is a single-minded way to believe -

I am not a big fan of the "Devil made me do it" defense. While the devil can make certain actions more appealing to us, it is always our choice in the way that we respond. (1 Cor 10:13. Jn 10:28. James 4:7)

Back