It is often difficult to discern exactly what God would have us do. We can’t even totally depend on the teachings of the church, although it is wise to listen to what it says, since it has the accumulated discernment gathered across the ages.
Even so there are sometimes new issues or new circumstances that require a rethinking of our understanding that the Lord would have us act on. In all our seeking it is best to look first and last at what scripture teaches us.
For example, St. Peter had a dilemma about what to do and who to associate with. Many of his fellow believers including some apostles argued with him determining that he was making the wrong choice. The account is found in Acts 11:1-18. We read in verse one: “The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God and So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
The church, in order to protect itself, had at some point determined that normally they should abstain from fraternizing with unbelievers or imitating their menu. Peter led by the Holy Spirit and the example of Jesus had ignored that custom and shared the word of God with unbelievers in their homes and they had become believers. This had come about (v4-8) not just by Peter’s own calculations or personal preference but through prayer, an ecstatic experience of God’s leading, a vision and an anointing of the Holy Spirit. Interesting enough the vision was about unclean food (that is food Jews were not allowed to eat since it was considered unclean). In the vision all these unclean foods were let down from heaven on a sheet and Peter was told to kill them and eat.
Peter argues with God. He acts like he is wiser than God or behaves as if God had forgotten his own rules. The truth is that God is changing what he requires of his people because the times are changing. For much of history God was calling out to himself a unique people who were learning obedience, and that required discipline and self control. Now God was opening the gates in the kingdom in a more generous way not only to the sons of Abraham but to the gentiles who accepted by faith the gospel of Jesus. It was no longer about rule keeping, heritage or dietary rules but it was about receiving the truth of Jesus’ saving love through the Holy Spirit. When Peter was urged by the Holy Spirit to go to a Gentiles’ house he felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to do so and so he did in spite of the criticism he knew he would receive. His action seemed confirmed, when as he was speaking, the Gentiles received a manifestation of the Holy Spirit and accepted the message. Peter then remembers Jesus’ own words: “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So if God (v17) gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ who was I to think that I could oppose God?
Even the opposers were convinced (although a church council needed to be held later to bring the church to one mind and one policy about these matters.) v 18 concludes: They had no further objections and praised God saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”