How do we discern “gray matters”? Maybe we should ask, “What are gray matters?” Eric Simmons did an excellent job unpacking this topic in some clear and practical ways. He gave us a list of gray matters, though not comprehensive, it helped us to think about the right categories. Here is a partial list:
Smoking, tight clothes, music, debt, sex in movies, TV, My Space, Facebook, Drinking, bars, gay people and more. How do we think biblically about these things? What does God say about things that are not black or white?
His outline was simple:
1. Groundwork for thinking about gray matters
2. Process for thinking about gray matters
He began with two assumptions (1) Being transformed into Christ’s kingdom radically redefines our identity in Christ. (2) There is no such thing as gray matters; we assume Scripture is silent, but it is not.
Keys to the sermon
Key #1: Let our default assumption be that God has something to say
Key #2: When discerning gray matters always ask the question “Why” when you want to know about this or that
Key #3: Find somebody ahead of you in your walk and seek their counsel and not somebody who you already know will agree with you. Find the person who you think will not agree with you, but they are spiritually mature
Key #4: We are made to seek socialization. We are social creatures. Therefore, ask yourself who do you want to imitate, be like, join-up to? Hint: Eph. 5:1
Good questions to ask when discerning gray matters
Will this reveal God’s glory?
Will this set me apart from sin?
Are we bearing the family image? (Christ)
Am I orienting my life around my Father’s pleasure?
This was a very practical message with immediate application today!