my life is in the hands of the Maker of Heaven.

I’ve seen this question pop up repeatedly on my dashboard. People anonymously ask other bloggers whether (masturbation/steamy movies/insert something here) is allowable.

I understand seeking counsel from people who are willing to help and getting someone else’s opinion. But at the end of the day, you cannot make decisions based on other people’s convictions. This is vital.

Here are some questions that I ask so that I can discern these things for myself.

» Am I glorifying God? Damon Thompson once said, “Instead of saying, ‘God, I want to get as close to You as I can on Earth,’ we say, ‘God, how close can I get to hell and still make it to heaven?’ We really shouldn’t be looking for loopholes to sin and saying that God’s grace will cover it. Is God being glorified through your actions? This is pretty straightforward. If the answer is no, don’t do it.

» Is it good testimony?  Think of someone that really looks up to you. For me, it would be the teenage girls from the small group I used to lead. For you, it might be a younger sibling, a Sunday School kid, or just someone you know. If they saw you doing whatever it is, what would they think of you? If someone weaker in their faith found out, would it cause them to stumble in their walk with Christ? 

» Have you prayed or looked to Scripture? This is a no-brainer. The Word is clear on certain issues and these things are not debatable. But if it isn’t clearly outlined in Scripture, go to God and ask for conviction and discernment. God might convict you of something that someone else can do without issue. 

I think that it’s wonderful that we are able to ask each other thought provoking questions on Tumblr, but we must be careful. Some things are meant to be discovered through prayer, reading the Word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to convict. If you become dependent on someone else making these decisions for you, you are only cheating yourself.