Does Adiaphora Mean That Anything Goes?
A common mistake in Christian discussions about adiaphora is to assume that “neither commanded nor forbidden” means “anything goes.” Let me explain: the word adiaphora comes from the Greek and means “indifferent.” In other words, adiaphora often refers to ceremonies and ecclesiastical practices that are neither commanded nor forbidden in God’s Word but have been introduced into the church. So, where is the problem? The problem comes when something that is called “indifferent” is treated as though it is free from the discernment of Christian doctrine. For example, a church practice may not be commanded or forbidden in the Bible, but make no mistake, it does not exist in a theological vacuum. Adiaphora is not like police yellow tape saying to doctrine, “DO NOT CROSS!” Mark this: once doctrinal discernment is pushed out of an adiaphora conversation, something else will take its place: personal preference, nostalgia, private agendas, pragmatism, or contemporary cultural assumptions (to nam...
