I wonder why God doesn't make things black and white. Why are there gray area issues where I have to think? Whether they are in terms of drinking, holding hands when dating, moving for school, or even doing the color run (haha yes, had to go through that)... and whatever else... it's a pain to me at least to have to figure out what's best. Don't want to be legalistic. Don't want to make mistakes. Don't want to stumble another. What's the right way to think? It drove me crazy the first time my convictions conflicted with a close friend. I don't even remember what the issue was... but what I learned then and now is that one thing it caused me to do is love. Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 are passages that talk about our liberties. And even though I have not studied on this topic, and I know there are books out there, just from reading these passages, it shows me that we should do things with the motive to please the Lord. We must be convinced in our mind.
5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (Romans 14)
And it goes on saying to not stumble our brothers for whom Christ died. Overall, these issues causes us to think and work through... for the sake of loving our God and our brethren. So I guess it is worth it despite all the brain energy =P
