Question: Hello, Does the Bible say anything about a person refusing to offer a business service to another person due to moral/religious values? Thanks Jorge

Answered by: Ed Romero, who has been a volunteer with us since July 2011.

Answer: Hi, Jorge! Thank you for question. This is a really nuanced subject which really isn’t black and white. The Bible doesn’t say (that I know of) to whom we can or can’t offer services. However, it does give us permission to buy from pagans. For example, in 1 Corinthians, they were allowed to even buy meat sacrificed to pagan idols, because ultimately it’s all God’s. Knowing that we can purchase from unbelievers, it seems to make sense that we can also sell to unbelievers.

With that said, it becomes more nuanced when it comes to what the person is using our service for. Ephesians 5:11 says, ‘Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.’ So, a baker, for example, might be in a conundrum when it comes to decorating a wedding cake for a homosexual union. However, we are inconsistent in this application. For example, I’m in banking. People use money for evil. Should I have nothing to do with opening their accounts? Or some Christians sell mattresses. Should they turn away couples who are unmarried? These are difficult questions that aren’t answered in black and white, and we have to use wisdom and do business according to our conscience, guided by the Holy Spirit in the word.

Question: Why were the OT Jews so attracted to idols?

Answered by: TJ Conwell, who has been a volunteer with us since April 2008.

Answer: Thank you for writing to us. Just like today, human beings are attracted to idols because they seek to rebel against God and/or put God in a box where they can make trinkets become their `god`. We see that today in crucifixes that are necklaces, church buildings that are glorified as something more than brick and mortar, and elevating people (like preachers) to a platform they should not be on.

The same things happened in the OT and continues today — again, because we seek to make gods out of things rather than worshiping God for who He is. The best example of this is shown in Exodus 32 when, after receiving the commandments, Moses returns to the camp and sees what they have made worship out to be and he smashes the tablets. The lesson is that People, left to their own devices, will always make much out of things created by man rather than placing the honor and glory where it should be … on God. God bless you. ~ Rev TJ