Sin is sin.  There are some who would make this a point of contention by saying that in some circumstances it is not wrong to break the commands of God.  For instance, one person said that during the Holocaust there were some good people who hid Jews in their houses so the Nazis wouldn’t kill them.  They argue that it would have been wrong for them, when they were questioned by the solders, to tell them the truth about hiding Jews.  It is possible to get ourselves into situations which are hard to get out of, but that does not change the law of God.  The Bible still says, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death"  (Rev. 21:8).  Therefore, lying is still sin.  Sin is still sin no matter which way it is turned.
     But does the appearance of things really matter?  Something that is sin in the sight of God is sin.  Something that is righteous in the sight of God is righteous.  Jesus said, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment"  (Jn. 7:24).  Therefore, some would say (and have), that the appearance of things makes no difference whatsoever.  "If we are doing right, it don’t matter what other people think we are doing."  But hold the train just a minute Batman.  Paul {by inspiration} had something to say about this subject as well.  He said, "Abstain from all appearance of evil"  (1 Thess. 5:22) and "Let not then your good be evil spoken of"  (Rom. 14:16).  It is possible for us to do something that is perfectly good and wholesome before God, but we may do it in a way or place that it has the appearance of something evil.  Paul says for us not to allow this to happen.  Therefore, it is wrong for us to judge according to the appearance of things.  However, not all people live by this rule.  For this reason, we are not to do things in such a way or in such a situation that our "good be evil spoken of."
     How does this apply to me and mine?  In Romans chapter fourteen (previously quoted from) Paul makes an application of this rule.  Here, Paul discusses the practice of eating meats and that the eating of some meats offended and made some people week.  Many Christians, in that day, had come out of idolatry where they made meat sacrifices to their gods.  They would then take the meat and have a feast with all their friends.  Young Christians in this situation would be offended if a brother in Christ took of a meal of this sort.  Therefore, Paul said, "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak"  (Rom. 14:21).  Even the appearance of worshipping idols can cause a week brother to stumble and go back into the world.
     Modern day application of this principle is important.  Imagine a Christian drinking a non-intoxicating beverage that gives the appearance that he is consuming an alcoholic drink.  This is totally possible with all the non-alcoholic look-alikes on the market today.  The brother wouldn’t be getting intoxicated; however, he would be giving the appearance of evil.  Imagine a Christian man staying the night in the same room with a Christian woman to whom he is not married.  It is possible for this to happen and no fornication take place; however, we are to "abstain from all appearance of evil"  (1 Thess. 5:22) and that would certainly give the appearance of evil.  These two examples are obvious to most people, but there are some others that are a little more subtle.  When there is an Easter egg hunt at the church building, do passers by think the church is celebrating the pagan holiday?  When a piano is brought into the church building for a wedding, do the neighbors say, "See there, they do have instrumental music."   When we have a small group of Christians sing at a departed saint’s funeral, do the other mourners comment that we have a wonderful choir?  All of these things give the appearance that something evil is taking place and that is the very thing that Paul speaks against (1 Thess. 5:22;  Rom. 14:16).
     So, does appearance really matter?  Yes it does!