In Romans 14:22 & 23, the apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome and tells them not to be judgmental and condemning, but rather to be sensitive to one another: Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin.

This is the standard by which you and I are to make decisions as we live in Babylon. While, as Americans, we live in a nation founded on Biblical principles, and some of us may even live in a local community that still cares about Biblical principles, we still live in Babylon. Wherever we live on this planet, we live in a culture where pagans set the tone. We can’t just follow the prevailing culture.

I thank God for Christian influence in the United States, especially in certain places. We are sometimes blessed with genuine Christian influences in politics and media. On our local news, the Saturday night weatherman says, “Tomorrow as you head out to church, you might want to carry your umbrella.” When people from places other than the South visit and see our local television programming, they are astonished. Most people in the US have moved so far away from acknowledgment of anything to do with God that a weatherman could get fired for suggesting church during a news broadcast. Practicing the presence of God is increasingly socially unacceptable or politically incorrect. The US is looking more and more like ancient Babylon, where it will cost God’s children dearly to follow Him.

When in doubt, don’t. Even though we know this is a good rule, most of us don’t follow it.

When I was a boy, my dad told me, “If you aren’t sure if the shirt still smells good enough to wear again, put it in the laundry.” It must pass the “sniff test” before you put it back on. Likewise, if the food has expired, pitch it.

How do you handle questionable food at your house? If you’re like most of my family, you don’t eat it, but you don’t throw it out either. Perhaps you put it back in the fridge to see if anyone else will eat it. At my house, when we’re not sure it’s still okay to eat, most of us put it back and wait until either someone else eats it or we’re sure it’s no longer any good. Our lives reflect an attitude that says, “If in doubt, keep it around. Keep your options open.” While we may not plunge into doubtful situations, we want to hang on to the possibility for later.

I cannot count the number of people I know personally who have gotten into deep trouble because there was something in their life they weren’t sure was okay but they weren’t ready to say, “No.” They weren’t necessarily ready to say yes, but they waffled so long that saying yes didn’t seem so bad anymore. They got used to having the option around and in a moment of weakness, because they hadn’t decided against it, they said, “Yes.”

Daniel resolved not to defile himself… If in doubt, don’t.

After only ten days on a vegetarian-only diet, we wouldn’t expect an obvious change in Daniel’s appearance, would we? God blessed Daniel and his friends and their devotion to Him. At the end of ten days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king’s food. While you and I are not supposed to become legalistic an expect others not to eat meat because we aren’t eating meat, each of us should follow Daniel’s example in our own personal lives: If in doubt, don’t.

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