How can I know what is inappropriate?

Romans 14:20-23Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. . . . You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

1 Corinthians 6:12You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.

1 Corinthians 8:9-13You must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.

2 Corinthians 6:3We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.

Hebrews 12:13Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

1 John 2:10Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.

To determine the appropriateness of a response or action, we should ask these questions: Will this choice draw us closer to God or move us a step away from him? Will this choice draw another person closer to God or further away from him? The answers will determine the appropriateness or inappropriateness of a choice.