Is It a Sin?

We know the Holy Bible says things like stealing, murder, adultery, and are wrong, but what about watching television, viewing the Internet, smoking, and other activities not mentioned in the Holy Scriptures?

First, it might be helpful to look at the Biblical definition for sin. Simply, it means to miss the mark, the target. What is the target? "Be ye therefore perfect (complete), even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (complete)," is written in Matthew 5:48.

Yes, outside of Jesus Christ we all fail. Those truly in Christ seek to meet that target of completeness through the grace of Christ: that is, the power of His life. That is why in recent years the phrase, "what would Jesus do," was popular among many Christians.

By reading and studying the entire Holy Bible, and listening to His Holy Spirit, we learn to know what Jesus would do and how and why He would do it.

As we actually study the Holy Bible we find that it contains numerous principles to guide us on contemporary matters not specifically covered in the Sacred Text.

A series of such principles is found in 1 Corinthians 10:14-33 where Paul, by the Holy Spirit, deals with the issue of Christians eating food that had been offered to an idol but was later sold. We will look at those principles as forming questions to guide us. It will also be good to keep in mind 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 which also addresses the matter.

Examining our Fellowship

As we read 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 we will see that a primary question to be asked is, "What type of communion (fellowship) am I participating in?"

For example, I might tell you that I do not think playing billiards is a sin. Sure, it's nice if I play the game with other Christians, but what if I am playing with a person that is not a true Christian or at least a weak Christian, or a team of people? I need the Holy Spirit's guidance as to the type of fellowship I am entering into and if God really wants me to participate.

Certainly we are to reach out to the lost and should not avoid them. But we must be careful of our surroundings.

With this comes two additional questions, with one being, "Will I become like them?" One needs to honestly evaluate if they act like those around them, or are they behaving and thinking the way God wants them to think. We must grow in our spiritual walk to where we ourselves are a positive influence in the lives of others, and others do not influence us in a way that would be displeasing to God.

Logically then, if the members of my billiard team behave in ways that Christ would not behave in, I must make sure I do not succumb to their ways as to begin to act, even to think, like them.

But this needs to be taken deeper. Maybe I am not acting or thinking like them, but I feel a pull in that direction. So, the question must be asked, "Will I be drawn away from God?" And, certainly if I find myself playing billiards when I should be with my family, in the house of God, or somewhere else God wants me to be, then I am slipping away from God. Remember this: give in one time and you will be pressured to do it again. If you were not strong enough to say no the first time, you will have a more difficult time to decline when your friends put on the pressure.

The focal point for this first principle is verse 14 that started the passage: "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry."

Is There a Need?

In verse 23 Paul by the Holy Spirit writes, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient." By saying "all things" the context shows he does not me actions like murder, adultery, stealing and the rest that we know the Word of God states is a sin, but he is dealing with those situations that we might consider neutral or even good.

From this first part of verse 23 we see we need to ask, "Is there a need for me to do this?"

I feel God does permit us to have some hobbies we can enjoy. I do enjoy billiards. It's different from the other things I do. Among other things, it hones certain motor skills. In the very least it could be considered something I might need every now and then to mentally refresh. However, meeting such a need never supercedes the main need we all have, and that is to do the will of God.