Navigating the Gray Areas of Faith and LifeSýnishorn

There’s No “Holy” Without the Holy Spirit

There are five questions that we must ask the Holy Spirit when navigating the gray areas of life and faith—things like whether we should use social media like Tinder, get a tattoo, or drink shots of tequila.

The first question is, “Holy Spirit, is this right (or wrong) for me to do?”

Like the Father and the Son, the Spirit is also a person, and He even calls people by name for specific tasks. For example, in Acts 13, the Spirit says, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

In John 14:16, Jesus describes the Spirit as “another advocate,” continuing the personal activities of Jesus Himself. The Spirit bears witness to Christ and guides us to all truth. We may enjoy a personal relationship with the Spirit, just as we do with Christ. We may talk to the Spirit, seek His counsel, get to know His mind and His will, and enjoy the Spirit’s guidance in our lives.

We should involve the Holy Spirit in all of our decisions, no matter how ordinary we might view them:

* Should I leave my current job and seek something else?

* Am I spending my money on purchases that reflect God’s best for me and the world?

* We would like to purchase a new home; is that a good idea for us right now?

And then, of course, there’s the whole raft of issues with moral overtones:

* What apps are fine for me to use?

* Is it a good use of my time to be on Facebook three hours a day?

* Is it okay for me to drink alcohol responsibly, or should I abstain altogether?

“The Spirit of truth” (John 16:13) who indwells us, given for our help and holiness, will never lead us astray. But we must remember that when asking the Spirit whether something is permissible for us, it is critical that we honestly listen.

Hearing the Spirit say “No!” when we really want to hear a “Yes!” is challenging, no doubt. But it’s not impossible. With a heart set toward obedience, being intentional to hear His voice, and with friends or family seeking God with us, we can hear the Spirit clearly and be obedient.