When the Bible Seems Silent

By Justin Duran

One of the driving principles behind Biblical Counseling is the sufficiency and supremacy of The Bible. As Biblical Counselors, we must never forget that part of our role is to help our counselees find confidence in the fact that the Bible equips us and them to address every situation. It may be easy for the counselor to remember that while scripture doesn’t mention internet pornography, Christ does address lustful eyes and thoughts (Matt 5:27-30). As biblical counselors we know that while the Bible doesn’t specifically mention how to deal with this week’s earth-shattering theological debate in that one Facebook group, we do know to avoid fruitless debates, and what to do with contentious people (Titus 3:9-10). However, especially for many counselees, the Bible seems silent on many things in our world. 

What do we do when a counselee comes to us with problems that the Bible doesn’t explicitly address? How do we help to equip them to tackle these matters when we’re not there to provide guidance? While the Bible might not specifically mention things like smoking marijuana, steroid use, drooling over Instagram thirst traps, the futility of engaging in theological debates with the “heresy watchdog bois” of social media, or a seemingly endless multitude of various other matters, there are guiding principles that help us with things that appear to be outside the lines. While certainly not an exhaustive study, here are a few concepts that we should weave into the counseling relationship that will help our counselees understand the biblical principles that govern much of what we as Christians think, do, and say. 

In Mark 12:29-31 Christ, harkening back to Deuteronomy 6 tells us that the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Then he tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Christ says that there are no commandments greater than these. If Christ, our Savior, the Author, and Perfector of our faith, says that there are no greater commandments than these, I’d be willing to bet dollars to pesos (admittedly a differentiation that may not matter much longer) that there is a whole lot of truth and application that can be garnered from those commands. 

The first principle that we see is that we need to love God with everything we have, over and above everything else, even our own passions, desires, thoughts, preferences, and needs. So, when addressing things that the Bible seems silent on, this is a great place to start. We need to ask: “What thought/action/behavior can be taken in response to this issue that will love God?” and “In light of the truth of The Bible, does that thought/action/behavior leave you with a clear mind and clean conscience?” and finally “Is God pleased with thought/action/behavior you are about to do? Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 2 Cor. 5:9 NKJV

The next principle to consider relates to what Christ says is the second greatest commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself (Mt 22:39). In general, we as people tend to think highly of ourselves. Short of God, we are the most important person in our lives. When Christ tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves, He is telling us to love others with the same fervor, compassion, and intensity with which we love ourselves. So, when addressing things that the Bible seems silent on we should ask ourselves: “Does this thought/action/behavior love my neighbor?” “Does this thought/action/behavior point them to Christ?” “Does it reflect the glory of Christ?” “Does it help my neighbor to be a better Christian?” “Will it help my neighbor to become a Christian?” “Will this thought/action/behavior encourage others to think more highly of themselves in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?” “Will this thought/action/behavior cause my neighbor to view me as a proper representative of Jesus Christ?”

A third key concept we find in the Bible is the consideration of the consequences of our choices in life. When Jesus faced the cross, He focused on the “joy set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). Similarly, He encourages us to consider the cost of following Him before committing ourselves to His path (Luke 14:25-34). This way of thinking is known as ‘teleological,’ which means focusing on the results and consequences of our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

With this idea in mind, we can pause and ask ourselves some crucial questions before we embark on any endeavor: What will be the outcome of what I’m about to do? Where will this train of thought ultimately lead me? What’s the future of this fresh idea or perspective (e.g., a new type of music, political theory, or approach to relationships)? Will your actions contribute positively to these areas in the long run? Think about whether your choices today will lead to a more loving and supportive environment for those around you in one, five, or even ten years.

Another important principle that the Bible consistently emphasizes is the idea that God created the world with a specific design and purpose. With this in mind, we can ask ourselves several questions to ensure our actions align with this principle: Does what I’m about to do align with how God intended the world to function? Will my thoughts or actions contribute to the betterment of the world God created, or will they tear it down? If my choices improve the world, do they do so in a way that pleases God and brings Him glory? Are my actions helping to restore a world that resembles the Garden of Eden, or am I falling for a short-sighted imitation of what God initially provided for humanity?

The Bible often highlights a conflict between the things of God and the things of the world. The world represents those who don’t love Jesus Christ and are drawn to actions that defy God. Therefore, this principle prompts us to consider: Who is promoting this new idea or trend? Is what I’m about to do a passing fad, driven by those who oppose God? Does my action have a solid foundation in the Word of God, or is it something the Bible generally disapproves of? If the world created, supports, or takes pleasure in it, it’s likely not a good thing.

The final overarching principle, which encompasses all the others I’ve discussed, is that God saved us so we can enjoy immediate and personal fellowship with Him. As a result of this fellowship, we grow to become more like Jesus. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is actively working to transform us into Christ’s likeness (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Peter 2:21). We’re encouraged to adopt Jesus’ mindset (Philippians 2:1-11), regularly renew our minds (Romans 12:2), and imitate God (Ephesians 5:1), Paul (1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1), and Christ. By doing so, we become reflections of Christ to those around us (John 8:12; Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 5:14). This transformation not only makes us more godly (sanctifies us) but also serves as the primary way God spreads His Gospel to others, alongside preaching the Word.

With this in mind, we should ask ourselves: Does what I’m about to do imitate Jesus? Is this something He would do if He were here? Will this action make me more like Christ? Will my actions help others see and desire to be like God? If the answer to these questions is no, then it’s sinful. In such cases, we ought to flee from temptation (2 Timothy 2:22), run to Jesus (Luke 9:27), and find comfort and refuge in Him (Psalm 46).

As we examine behaviors not explicitly mentioned in the Bible through the lens of these principles, we can see that they fail to give glory to God, don’t express love for our neighbors, don’t lead to positive outcomes, don’t contribute to the world He created for us, lack long-term godliness, and don’t reflect the One we claim to serve—Jesus. As a result, these actions are sinful and should be avoided. Instead, we should actively pursue and engage in godly activities that honor God and help us grow in our faith.