“Thou shalt not” seems to be the phrase that comes to mind for most people when they think of being a Christian.
Billy Joel even has a line from a song that says, “I would rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.” Being a true believer of Jesus Christ is often perceived as a life with no happiness, no joy, no fun.
But Paul presents an interesting take on things in his letter to the church at Corinth. What is allowed? Although permissible, is everything beneficial? Is everything constructive? What should we seek?
We have some pretty simple statements here regarding the life of a Christian. Everything is permissible. He says it not just once, but twice. Everything is permissible. Now, before we go off on a sinning spree, we must realize the context in which Paul was writing.
He was addressing some situations that the Corinthian church was facing. They were living as believers in a society of idol worshipers and questions arose as to whether or not specific foods or articles of clothing were acceptable. They wondered if certain social practices should be observed by the believers or shunned by them.
We may have similar issues confronting us today. What is the Christian stance on alcohol and tobacco? What about certain clothes? Can a Christian read the Harry Potter books?
According to Paul everything is permissible. As Christians we can do what we want to do. We aren’t limited by rules and regulations as far as foods we eat, the clothes we wear or social behavior. BUT – not everything is beneficial or constructive.
We have no rules on food and clothing other than the rule that those who exhibit the fruit of the Spirit will display self-control. Part of self-control, egkrateia, is being able to avoid those things that are not beneficial – avoiding them not because they are not permitted, but avoiding them because we know they do not help. As Christians living out egkrateia we need to focus on the good of others, and not ourselves.
DAILY CHALLENGE: Is there anything in your life that needs to be removed because it is not beneficial?
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