1st Californians: Having a Winning Attitude (ch 8-10)
Break's over and we're heading back into our study of 1 Corinthians. Where did we leave off? Oh, yes - the gifts of both marriage and singleness, and the current tendency of the western church to unduly exalt one over the other.
Chapter 8 transitions into another issue that has been raised by the Corinthians via letter, and Paul begins to address it. Here's the general idea.
In that time period in Corinth, there were pagan temples on practically every corner. These temples housed idolatrous feasts that were filled with unholy activities. However, they also served as meeting places for different clubs and private dinners (like a convention center in our day). The Christians there were confused as to what was "allowed" in relation to these temples. Obviously it wouldn't please God to participate in the debauchery and idol worship of a pagan feast. But what if they were invited to a dinner party in one of those temples? Or what if some of the leftover food that had been prepared for a pagan feast was now being sold in the marketplace - were they allowed to eat it? Because some of that temple-steak looked really tasty...
In other words, the Corinthians wanted to know the "rules." "C'mon Paul, just give us a list of do's and don'ts." But Paul refused to. Instead, he gives them some principles to live by. These same principles are applicable to us today as we grapple with different activities in our modern society and to what extent we should participate in them.
He first tells them that he agrees with them that idols are just lumps of wood and metal. And yet, that knowledge is not sufficient to enable them to make a godly decision. They need more than information - they need God's heart on the matter. In other words, they need love. This, of course, is a major theme in this letter, and we will circle back around to it again and again.
So, he teaches them how to make love-based and knowledge-informed decisions. Will eating in a temple for an "innocent" dinner party cause other people to stumble, or to be confused about Christianity? Then don't do it. It's not worth it to indulge your Christian freedoms if it's going to make other people question their faith, your faith, or God's ways and character. Paul takes chapter 9 to explain how he walks this out in his own life. There are things that he could do that he wouldn't do. Why? Because "all things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up" (10:23). Like a runner in a race, determined to do only what will help him win the gold medal, Paul has decided to only do what will glorify God and help everyone around him to see how awesome God is. It's a life of sacrifice, and it's a life of love.
Once again we see how startlingly similar the Corinthian Church is to the believers of our own nation. Based in a country that is founded upon the right to be free and independent, we are famous for exercising our "Christian rights" as much as possible. Who says we can't drink alcohol? "Jesus did." Who would dare to tell us "how far is too far" in our dating relationships? Is there a Bible verse that says we have to fast? We constantly push the boundaries of what we are "allowed to do" as Christians. It is now not uncommon to have "beer Bible studies" in which people drink and read the Bible together in their church small groups, and for boyfriend and girlfriend to live together with the full knowledge (and silent acceptance) of their church community.
But there is a "more excellent way" (12:31)! It's the way of discerning love. Besides the issue of how our choices affect the people around us (ch 8-9), what about the lessons we learn from the Old Testament believers who pushed the limits in their own generation? This is what chapter 10 is about. We are warned, rather severely, that Israel in Moses' day was a spiritual group of people, and yet they lived compromised, lustful, selfish lives, and "with most of them God was not pleased" (10:5).
Here is the heart of the matter. Do you want to search the Bible for reasons to do what you feel like doing, or do you want to please God and help others, no matter what the cost? I believe with all my heart that God is raising up a generation of fiery believers that will fast essentials and sacrifice the comfortable just to see another soul come into the kingdom. This is the heart of God in this hour. Just as Paul sets forth in this epistle, we are not called to just live within the rules, but to run to win.
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 24-27)
Chapter 8 transitions into another issue that has been raised by the Corinthians via letter, and Paul begins to address it. Here's the general idea.
In that time period in Corinth, there were pagan temples on practically every corner. These temples housed idolatrous feasts that were filled with unholy activities. However, they also served as meeting places for different clubs and private dinners (like a convention center in our day). The Christians there were confused as to what was "allowed" in relation to these temples. Obviously it wouldn't please God to participate in the debauchery and idol worship of a pagan feast. But what if they were invited to a dinner party in one of those temples? Or what if some of the leftover food that had been prepared for a pagan feast was now being sold in the marketplace - were they allowed to eat it? Because some of that temple-steak looked really tasty...
In other words, the Corinthians wanted to know the "rules." "C'mon Paul, just give us a list of do's and don'ts." But Paul refused to. Instead, he gives them some principles to live by. These same principles are applicable to us today as we grapple with different activities in our modern society and to what extent we should participate in them.
He first tells them that he agrees with them that idols are just lumps of wood and metal. And yet, that knowledge is not sufficient to enable them to make a godly decision. They need more than information - they need God's heart on the matter. In other words, they need love. This, of course, is a major theme in this letter, and we will circle back around to it again and again.
So, he teaches them how to make love-based and knowledge-informed decisions. Will eating in a temple for an "innocent" dinner party cause other people to stumble, or to be confused about Christianity? Then don't do it. It's not worth it to indulge your Christian freedoms if it's going to make other people question their faith, your faith, or God's ways and character. Paul takes chapter 9 to explain how he walks this out in his own life. There are things that he could do that he wouldn't do. Why? Because "all things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up" (10:23). Like a runner in a race, determined to do only what will help him win the gold medal, Paul has decided to only do what will glorify God and help everyone around him to see how awesome God is. It's a life of sacrifice, and it's a life of love.
Once again we see how startlingly similar the Corinthian Church is to the believers of our own nation. Based in a country that is founded upon the right to be free and independent, we are famous for exercising our "Christian rights" as much as possible. Who says we can't drink alcohol? "Jesus did." Who would dare to tell us "how far is too far" in our dating relationships? Is there a Bible verse that says we have to fast? We constantly push the boundaries of what we are "allowed to do" as Christians. It is now not uncommon to have "beer Bible studies" in which people drink and read the Bible together in their church small groups, and for boyfriend and girlfriend to live together with the full knowledge (and silent acceptance) of their church community.
But there is a "more excellent way" (12:31)! It's the way of discerning love. Besides the issue of how our choices affect the people around us (ch 8-9), what about the lessons we learn from the Old Testament believers who pushed the limits in their own generation? This is what chapter 10 is about. We are warned, rather severely, that Israel in Moses' day was a spiritual group of people, and yet they lived compromised, lustful, selfish lives, and "with most of them God was not pleased" (10:5).
Here is the heart of the matter. Do you want to search the Bible for reasons to do what you feel like doing, or do you want to please God and help others, no matter what the cost? I believe with all my heart that God is raising up a generation of fiery believers that will fast essentials and sacrifice the comfortable just to see another soul come into the kingdom. This is the heart of God in this hour. Just as Paul sets forth in this epistle, we are not called to just live within the rules, but to run to win.
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 24-27)
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