Here’s another aspect of God’s will that I grew up with, the negative side, often expressed as, “Is it OK for a Christian to…?” Every tradition has its own list of questions and answers. 

Andy Stanley in his book Irresistible suggests that this is the wrong question. Andy calls a concern for what we can or can’t do “Vertical Morality” or “Sin Management.” How much can I get away with and not make God angry with me? Or even, more positively, how can I keep myself pure?

It’s still the wrong question. I can play a game, say, basketball, and never break a rule. Never be called for traveling or double dribbling. Never foul my opponent. But if I don’t help my team win games by being an effective scorer myself or helping others to score or preventing the other team from scoring, I haven’t contributed.  

Andy argues, and I agree, that the better question is,

What does love require?

Andy calls this “Horizontal morality,” not, how am I relating to God, but how am I relating to others? Scripture is clear:

[Jesus said, “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22.39)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13.34, 35, ESV)