The Authorized Version of First Thessalonians 5:22 indicated that the saints should “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
Many took this to mean that Christians should not only avoid things that actually were sinful, but also anything that even appeared to be evil. While that is surely sound advice in most situations, one must remember that Jesus himself did many things which appeared evil to the people around him. He appeared to be a shameless Sabbath-breaker to the Pharisees (Matthew 12:2) an untrusting pessimist to the apostle Peter (16:22) and a demonic glutton to a certain crowd of listeners (11:19).
The apostles themselves appeared to be doing great evil by preaching the forbidden name of Jesus after the Sanhedrin chastised them (Acts 5:28). Paul’s behavior was even criminalized when he appeared to be fomenting a revolt in the Roman empire, so that he was imprisoned and examined repeatedly before Gentile authorities. He was accused of great wickedness when he appeared to denigrate the Ephesian goddess, Diana (Acts 19:26).
Sometimes evil is in the eye of the beholder and the servants of God cannot be dissuaded from engaging in doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness, regardless of the howls of protest that issue from those who are offended by such incivility (Second Timothy 3:16-4:5).
In avoiding the appearance of impropriety, there is only so far that a disciple of Christ can go. Whenever possible, it is wise to avoid creating the appearance that one is doing evil. Unfortunately, a misunderstanding and misapplication of First Thessalonians 5:22 has occasionally been used to build a hedge around the New Testament and to prohibit brethren from engaging in behavior that was not at all sinful, but which bothered some prying critic. The Pharisees planted their hedges around the Law of Moses in much the same fashion, especially regarding the Sabbath, by forbidding people to do harmless things because of their peculiar interpretation and extreme application of the Law (Matthew 12:1-13). Jesus exposed them, not only as hypocrites, but as abusers of the Law and of the people whom they oppressed (Matthew 23:4, 15, 23; cf. Acts 15:1-5).
The admonition in First Thessalonians 5, however, is better translated as “Abstain from every form of evil” and has application to every category of behavior that is defined as sinful by God in the New Testament, rather than by the fickle opinions of every observer and gainsayer at large. Abstaining from every form of evil is not properly about avoiding even the appearance of doing wrong, but is about having your “powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14) – to “test everything; hold fast what is good” (First Thessalonians 5:21) and “Abhor what is evil” (Romans 12:9).
Rather than reduce the passage to a mere prohibition of engaging in behavior that might appear evil, the Holy Spirit is demanding that each of us avoid every sinful behavior, that we “make no provision for the flesh” (Romans 13:14) and no excuse for indulging sinful appetites or converting godly liberty into devilish license (see Galatians 5:13).
It remains very wise, however, to avoid the appearance of impropriety whenever possible.
Paul exemplified this attitude while he was preparing to transport a gift of monetary benevolence from the churches of Macedonia to the needy brethren of Jerusalem. In encouraging the Corinthians to get involved as benefactors, he noted that he would be accompanied on the mission by Titus and another famous, but unnamed brother. Paul, who had apparently been accused of greed by his many detractors, took great pains to avoid giving them any fodder for their suspicions (First Timothy 6:3-10, Galatians 5:11, Second Peter 2:15).
Paul explained, “[For] we are on our guard, intending that no one should find anything for which to blame us in regard to our administration of this large contribution” (Second Corinthians 8:20-21, AMPLIFIED BIBLE).
The presence of others provided security for Paul’s reputation and assurances to the donors that the money was not being wasted or embezzled. This is the same reason that checks require two endorsements and that men refuse to count the weekly contribution alone.
Not only does such company provide security against false accusation, it can help to prevent a weak person from giving into his greed, or in other cases, his lust.
Preachers and elders occasionally are called upon to counsel people who are struggling or confused. Sometimes they are women or young girls and they are emotionally vulnerable. There are even some who are so filled with self-loathing that they become romantic predators. Counseling them in absolute privacy is dangerous, not only to one’s reputation, but to his holiness. The presence of another is key to maintaining proper distance and decorum, in addition to muting any suspicious chatter that might otherwise arise. Too many pastors, preachers and priests have fallen prey to their own desires and the enticements of designing females to overlook the issue.
Paul further explained that, “we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man.” When it comes to dealing with money and the opposite sex, the only wise method is transparency and honor. While handling the church’s money, one ought to insist that a witness or co-signer be appointed.
When counseling or conversing with a girl or woman, any honorable man ought to be smart enough to leave the office door open, to invite along his own wife, and to stay on guard against his own wandering thoughts. Enticement can be so sudden that passion overwhelms reason, or so subtle that one slips into sin without realizing it. “For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men” (Proverbs 7:26).