Between Black and White
Is there really anything between black and white? Does the so-called grey area really exist? While we know that the answer is actually no, too often we fall into situations and temptations that led us to think that there IS a grey area. The Scripture has actually given us warnings about this issue, such as the one we’ve often heard in Matthew 5:37 - “Simply let your Yes be Yes and your No be No; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” It doesn’t say that there is a “maybe” or “depends”. The black and white isn’t a matter of decimals where there is anything in between and let’s not even say that black and white is just a matter of RGB (Red/Green/Blue) color combinations where there are “shades of grey”.
Since I’m not much of a theologian and more of a mathematical and logical thinker, I will try to explain my thoughts exactly with a simple equation.
If Black = ‘Sin’ and White = ‘Not Sin’
Then if Grey = ‘Not Sin ‘ means Grey = ‘White’
Or if Grey = ‘Sin’ means Grey = ‘Black’
Right?
But more often than not, our grey area is something black we’re trying to make white, not the other way around. In fact, why would someone want to think of something that is not sin as sin? Why would someone think of - for example - charity, love, or kindness as a sin? We would rather prefer to think of some sins as not sins. We would think of shoplifting as a sin, but not of cheating in an exam or pirating a movie. We would think of killing someone as a sin (and a huge one at that), but not of hating someone and thinking cruel thoughts about that person. We would think of money corruption as a sin, but we have no problems giving money to (read: bribing) a policeman to avoid a fine or ticket.
Why does it work that way? Well… wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it, but small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14). For me, it means that the white area is smaller than the black one, and that there are fewer good deeds in the world than bad deeds. If it’s easier to do good than to do bad, the gate and the road that leads to life wouldn’t be so narrow, would it? If the road is wide and people can be freed from their sins on their own, then there would be no sense for Jesus to come and die for our sins, would it?
Because of this, I must remember to always be careful on every step, on every path, on every thought. A single misstep can lead me astray from the light into the darkness as the true path is narrow. I must always keep a constant reminder that there is only the black and the white, there is no grey. Everytime I am being tempted to think there is a grey area, I must say to myself that what looks grey is actually black. I must ask God to be given the strength to discern, to always be able to know the truth and choose the right choice. I pray that this will also be your prayer today, to always stay true and stay close to God. Amen.
