I’ve seen quite a few articles and blogs lately sporting the “Should Christians _____” post title. My guess is, those types of titles are getting tons of clicks. That’s why there are so many.
The problem is, that sort of question is simplistic. And the reason so many people are asking those types of questions is because the Bible is silent on some of those things. So most of those blog posts are actually just opinions – not necessarily God’s word on the subject.
So if we shouldn’t ask “Should I”, what should we ask? (Yeah, the irony of this isn’t lost on me.)
I believe there are much better questions Christians can ask that will lead to far better results. The questions should be:
What’s the purpose for…?
or
What’s my purpose in…?
These two questions take the issue beyond just a legalistic one. They bring it back to the heart issue of our purpose as believers and the purpose for which God created things. And that’s really the trajectory our minds should take as we mature.
Children are taught to think “this is right” and “this is wrong”. But as adults, we need to start learning not necessarily what is right or wrong, but what fits within the design God created.
For instance, stoves are off-limits to kids. “Should I touch the stove?” For a child, the answer is always no. But for an adult, the stove is a powerful tool. It can cook delicious meals, and it also requires occasional cleaning. The “should I” question missed the purpose of the stove. And if a child never moves beyond that, they’ll never experience the opportunity of the stove.
“Should I” turns the world into black and white. But “What’s the purpose” opens the world up to the brilliant colors God created.
Instead of asking:
- Should I take this job?
- Should I have sex before marriage?
- Should I end this relationship?
You could ask:
- What’s my purpose and what’s the purpose of a career?
- What’s the purpose of sex and marriage?
- What does God want me to experience in relationships?
Those questions open up so many more possibilities – so many more colors. You won’t just decide not to take a job or not to have sex before marriage, you’ll decide to pursue a career and relationship that honor God and take you to the amazing places He has for you.
“Should I” is a question kids ask. Let’s move beyond that into innovative faith.
