Is It a Sin If the Bible Doesn’t Mention It?

What do you do with situations the Bible does not directly mention?

In this episode of FaithFuel with Bob Shaw, Bob talks about gray areas, personal conviction, discernment, and spiritual maturity. From entertainment and hobbies to habits and self-control, this devotional looks at how believers can approach difficult questions without turning Christianity into a search for loopholes.

Bob also shares a personal story about playing Dungeons & Dragons before becoming a Christian, and how different believers can wrestle with conviction differently.

Looking at 1 Corinthians 10:23, Romans 14, and Galatians 5:22–23, this episode encourages believers to ask not just “Is this allowed?” but whether something is pulling them away from becoming more like Christ.

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Transcript

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A lot of people want a simple list. Just tell me what's wrong, what's allowed, and where the line is. But life and the Christian walk is not always that simple. I'm Bob Shaw, and this is Faith Fuel. One of the most common questions Christians ask is some version of this. Is this a sin? People ask about drinking, smoking, movies, music, entertainment, different lifestyles and activities. And to be clear, there are absolutely sins that Scripture speaks very plainly about. But then there are other areas where believers wrestle with questions about wisdom, conviction, self-control, and discernment. And that's usually where people want a simple answer. Just tell me if it's wrong or not. And I understand why people think that way because rules can feel easier sometimes. Rules remove the responsibility of discernment. But scripture often takes us deeper than a simple checklist. Sometimes the bigger issue is not just what we're doing, but why we're doing it, how it's affecting us, and whether it's helping or hurting our walk with God. 1 Corinthians 10 verse 23. You say, I am allowed to do anything, but not everything is good for you. You say, I am allowed to do anything, but not everything is beneficial. Well, that verse gets right to the heart of situations that aren't always black and white. Because some things in life are not specifically spelled out with a direct command saying, This is always sinful in every circumstance. But that doesn't mean wisdom disappears from the conversation. Years ago, before I became a Christian, I used to play Dungeons and Dragons with friends. And I look back on those memories fondly. Good friends, fun games, a way to escape for a while and just enjoy being together. Later on, one of those same friends became a Christian too. And for him, he felt strongly convicted to get rid of all his Dungeons and Dragons material. So he threw it all away because he believed that was the right decision for his walk with God. And I respected that completely. But interestingly, I never felt that same conviction myself. I still have a lot of that old stuff packed away. I don't really play anymore, but sometimes it's fun to go through it and remember those days and friendships. And I think this is where believers sometimes struggle. We want one simple answer for situations that require discernment. But sometimes God is dealing with the heart more than the activity itself. Eating isn't a sin. Watching TV isn't a sin. Having hobbies? That's not a sin. But almost anything can become unhealthy if it starts controlling your life, consuming your attention, damaging relationships, or pulling you away from God. That's where wisdom and self-control come in. Is this becoming controlling in your life? Is it pulling you closer to God or farther away? Is it damaging your witness? Is it feeding something unhealthy in you? Those are important questions. Because following Jesus is not supposed to become a game of how close can I get to the line? A better question might be, is this pulling me away from becoming more like Christ? Now, does that mean believers will agree on every situation Scripture doesn't specifically address? Probably not. Romans 14 talks a lot about conscience, conviction, and not looking down on other believers over disputable matters. At the same time, Scripture also talks about self-control, wisdom, discernment, and spiritual maturity. Galatians 5, verses 22 and 23 says, the fruit of the Spirit includes things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control. And self-control becomes really important in areas that require discernment. Because sometimes the issue is not whether something is automatically sinful for every person on earth. Sometimes the issue is whether it's becoming unhealthy, consuming, addictive, controlling, or spiritually damaging in your own life. That requires honesty, real honesty before God. And that's why the Christian life is about more than simply avoiding obvious sin. It's also about growing in wisdom, maturity, discernment, and closeness with God over time. Lord, thank you for giving us wisdom through your word. Help us not approach the Christian life looking for loopholes or asking how close we can get to the line. Give us discernment, self-control, and honesty in the areas of life that require wisdom and maturity. Help us pay attention to conviction and to the work your Spirit is doing in us personally. And protect us from becoming judgmental toward other believers in areas where Scripture may not give a direct command. Above all, help us continue becoming more like Jesus in the way we live, think, and make decisions. In Jesus' name. Amen. Maybe instead of asking how close can I get to the line, the better place to start is simply asking God for wisdom and honesty in the areas you wrestle with. And if these short devotionals have been helpful to you, be sure to follow Faith Fuel so you don't miss future episodes. I'm Bob Shaw. Peace and joy.