The result has often been a priori conclusions buttressed with improper proof-texting. In other areas, concessions should be allowed. The apostle Paul recognized that the first priority of Christians is to preach the gospel. Christians must stand firm for biblical truth, yet also recognize the greater need for the unsaved person to hear a loving presentation of the gospel. Second, Christians should carefully develop biblical principles which can be applied to contemporary social and medical issues.
Christians often jump immediately from biblical passages into political and social programs.
They wrongly neglect the important intermediate step of applying biblical principles within a particular social and cultural situation. In recent years, there has been a dangerous tendency for certain Christians to identify their message with a particular political party or philosophy of government. Christians must be more careful to articulate the connection between biblical principles and specific programs. While Christians may agree about the goal, they may reasonably disagree about which program might best achieve that goal. In these non-moral areas, a spirit of freedom may be necessary.