Lectures to Professing Christians

Lecture 3: Doubtful Actions Are Sinful
Question Sheet

Why were people afraid of buying meat in the market?

What does it mean to have a defiled conscience?

When we sin against a weaker brother by causing him to have a defiled conscience, we sin against __________.

Every man should be fully __________ in his own mind that what he is doing is right.

If we doubt the lawfulness of something we do, we __________, even if it is lawful.

I. Reasons for the correctness of the principle of the text

    1) If a son doubts his parents would want him to do something or not, should he go ahead and do it? Yes  No

    2) If a man on a deserted island has food prepared for him, can he in good faith say there is no one else on the island, even though he has never seen anyone? Yes  No

    3) If a man does not believe in God and does not have an interest in finding out whether or not he is right in his belief, is he doing right? Yes  No

    4) If there is reason to believe something might be true, is it good to ask enough questions to find out whether or not it is true? Yes  No

The Principle:
For a man to do something for which he doubts the __________ to him it is __________ .

II. Showing to cases in human life

Wine at communion table. This is an example of a situation where it is doubtful whether we should do it, and doubtful whether we should not do it.

Does Finney think taking a sip of wine at communion is harmful? Yes  No

Does Finney think that wine is essential to the ordinance of communion? Yes  No

Why does Finney think wine was used as an example by Jesus in communion?

What would Finney use for the two elements of communion if he were ministering communion to Eskimos?

If a man doubts equally whether he should do something or not do it, what should he do?

The design is to __________ God.

Does Finney think it is lawful to make and sell alcoholic beverages? Yes  No

If we are not convinced the Bible allows something and persist in doing it we __________.

Which of these are of doubtful lawfulness? Check each one that applies

___ Doing unnecessary work on the Sabbath
___ Owning stocks of companies that work on the Sabbath
___ Drinking of wine and beer
___ Use of Tobacco
___ Use of Tea & Coffee
___ Reading the Bible
___ Theatre
___ Video & computer games
___ Parties
___ Ministering to the poor
___ Reading novels
___ Visiting people on the Sabbath
___ New year's parties
___ Wasting time
___ Extravagant fashions
___ Memorizing scripture
___ Marrying unbelievers

If we can show sufficient reason to doubt whether somethine is lawful, we shift the burden of proof to the other __________ of the argument.

III. Remarks:

If a man has the means of knowing whether something is right or wrong he is not bound to use those means. True  False

Those who continue to do that which they know to be wrong are in peril. True  False

The hypocrite tries to shield himself by hiding behind his doubts. True  False

Finney believes slavery is lawful. True  False

If someone is unsure of the lawfulness of slavery he doesn't need to be concerned. True  False

There is very little conscience in the church. True  False

People persist in doing unlawful things because they have so little love for God. True  False

If you have done something of which you doubt the lawfulness, you have done wrong, whether or not the thing itself is wrong. True  False

What shows we are impenitant sinners?

Vocabulary:

conscience

conscientious

idol, idolatry

palpably

scruples

shambles (n)

superstition