Episode #80—Christians and Absolutes: When Certainty Becomes a Problem

God calls Christians to live by absolutes— unchangeable truths, rooted in Scripture. God exists. God is unchangeable. These absolutes form the foundation of our faith. Yet we must exercise great care when making absolute claims, ensuring that what we declare as absolute truly reflects biblical teaching.

The Bible clearly defines certain absolutes. As Christians, we do live in the realm of absolutes, but we must be absolutely certain that our absolute is truly an absolute. This requires us to run any absolute statement through the matrix of Scripture, testing it against God’s revealed word.

Consider an absolute statement: “Christians cannot take medicine for depression or other conditions because our days are numbered.” When examined through Scripture, this claim fails to hold. Nowhere does the Bible absolutely forbid taking medication. In fact, there are situations where medication may be wise and helpful.

Sometimes, a person may be in such an emotionally distressed state that rational communication becomes impossible. In these cases, medication prescribed by a doctor may help stabilise the individual to a point where they can engage with biblical counsel. An antidepressant, used for a stated period, can treat symptoms while the root problems are addressed through Scripture and pastoral care.

However, we must recognise that medication treats symptoms, not root causes. Depression medication will not solve the underlying spiritual and emotional issues that lead to depression. Biblical counselling must accompany any medical treatment, addressing the heart issues that medication cannot touch. Those who are on psychiatric medication should not abruptly discontinue it based solely on their faith; rather, they should work with a Christian doctor who understands both medical and spiritual realities.

The goal is not dependence on medication but dependence on the Spirit and the word of God. Yet medication can serve as a temporary help to enable that deeper spiritual work.

Groups like Jehovah’s Witnesses make absolute statements about blood transfusions based on a wrong interpretation of Scripture. This illustrates the danger of making absolute claims without careful biblical exegesis.

Another absolute statement sometimes heard is: “No one may ever disturb a worship service.” While we should indeed guard the sanctity of corporate worship and minimise unnecessary interruptions, this absolute claim fails to account for the realities of living in a fallen, broken world.

Scripture itself provides examples of worship being interrupted. When Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead (Acts 5:1–11), this surely disturbed the Jerusalem church. When the temple was rebuilt in Ezra’s time, some were praising God whilst others were weeping and sobbing (Ezra 3:12–13). When Eutychus fell from a window during Paul’s sermon, the service was interrupted as Paul went down to revive him (Acts 20:9–10).

Medical emergencies—someone fainting, suffering a heart attack, or even dying during a service—may require immediate attention that necessarily interrupts the proceedings. To insist on continuing worship unchanged in such circumstances would be insensitive and unloving. There may even be times when a service must be closed due to a serious incident.

We should certainly minimise unnecessary disturbances. Congregations invest in sound systems and building design to aid people in hearing God’s word clearly. Families with crying babies should be welcomed, not made to feel uncomfortable. The goal is to guard the worship service as best we can whilst recognising that unexpected events may occur.

The absolute statement “no one may ever kill someone or practise capital punishment” misunderstands Scripture. The Bible prescribes capital punishment in Genesis 9:6, before the Mosaic law, and this principle is reinforced throughout Scripture. In Romans 13:4, Paul writes that the governing authority “does not bear the sword in vain,” which the vast majority of commentators understand as a reference to capital punishment.

While capital punishment is biblically allowable, it must not be exercised indiscriminately. Only legitimate government authority may carry it out, and it must be administered with great care and justice.

The Bible also recognises the legitimacy of self-defence. If someone attacks one’s family, there is a biblical responsibility to intervene and protect them, even if this results in the attacker’s death. The attacker bears the consequences of his choice to harm others. To refuse intervention, claiming to accept God’s sovereignty, misunderstands both God’s sovereignty and human responsibility.

Some absolute statements arise from misinterpreting Scripture or confusing cultural convictions with biblical commands. For example, some claim that women may never wear makeup or certain clothing, or that men and women must always be separated in church services. These absolute positions often stem from misapplying passages like 1 Peter 3:3–4.

If a church chooses to seat men and women separately out of cultural sensitivity—to avoid creating unnecessary obstacles to the gospel—that is a matter of wisdom and contextualisation. But if they claim the Bible requires this separation, they misrepresent Scripture.

When we make absolute statements and back them up erroneously from Scripture, we dishonour God’s word. If our convictions later change, people may conclude that the Bible itself has changed or is unreliable. This damages the credibility of Scripture and our witness.

Christians rightly embrace biblical absolutes. We serve an unchanging God who has revealed unchanging truth. But we must be extraordinarily careful about declaring something absolute unless Scripture clearly teaches it. Test every absolute claim against the whole counsel of God’s word. Be willing to acknowledge when cultural practices, personal convictions, or misinterpretations have been mistaken for divine commands.

In matters of genuine biblical absolutes, stand firm. In matters of wisdom, application, and cultural sensitivity, exercise discernment. Above all, handle God’s word with integrity, precision, and humility.