Idolatry and Freedom...

This week, we have been looking at the issue of idolatry. After looking at how we fail to flee from idolatry when we fail to understand worship, Paul then continues by revealing a second reason why Christians act unchristian by failing to flee idolatry in 1 Corinthians 10:23:

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience' sake; FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS. If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience' sake. But if anyone says to you, "This is meat sacrificed to idols," do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience' sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other man's; for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Paul reiterates and responds to the members of the church at Corinth’s belief that “all things are lawful”. First, Paul states that while they may believe that all things are lawful, not all things are profitable. While we may believe that we have a great deal of freedom as followers of Jesus to engage in all kinds of behaviors, not all of these behaviors are advantageous or benefit our well being.

Second, Paul states that while we may believe that all things are lawful, but not all things edify. When Paul uses the word edify here, he is referring one’s improved ability to live effectively as a follower of Jesus. Paul is explaining that while we may believe that we have a great deal of freedom as followers of Jesus to engage in all kinds of behaviors, not all of these behaviors result in a growing and maturing relationship with Christ.

And because of this reality, Paul commands the members of the church to let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. Paul is explaining that as followers of Jesus, we fail to flee from idolatry when we fail to properly use our freedom. As followers of Jesus, we are to use the freedom that we have as a result of our relationship with Christ to strive for the spiritual good and growth and others.

Paul then applies this timeless principle to two specific situations that were occurring at the church in Corinth. First, the members of the church at Corinth wanted to know if it was o.k. to purchase and eat meat from the local markets in town that may have been previously sacrificed to idols. Paul responds to this question by commanding the members of the church to eat the meat that was sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience sake. When Paul refers to the conscience here, he is referring to our inward capacity of distinguishing right from wrong. Paul’s point here is that they did not need to engage in a thorough examination to determine whether or not the meat in the market was from an idol’s temple or not. They had the freedom to purchase and consume that meat.

Paul then transitions to a second situation that was occurring in Corinth. The members of the church at Corinth were wondering how they should respond to an invitation by a nonchristian friend to come over for a barbecue. Paul responds by commanding the members of the church to accept the invitation and enjoy the barbecue without asking questions for conscience sake. Paul’s point here is that the members did not need to engage in a thorough examination to determine whether or not the meat at the barbecue was from an idol’s temple or not. They had the freedom to accept the invitation to the barbecue and eat a steak.

However Paul commands that if the person who invited you over for the barbecue tells you that the meat was sacrificed to a false god, they were not to eat. While they could accept the invitation and attend the barbecue, they were not to eat the meat. Instead, they were to have a salad instead. Paul’s point here is that by eating a steak at the barbecue that you knew had been sacrificed to a false god, you would be sending the message to the nonchristian friend who invited you that worshipping a false god was o.k. Paul is explaining that while they may have the freedom to eat the steak, they should lovingly limit their freedom in order to reveal and reflect Christ to their nonchristian friend.

Paul then provides a timeless principle that should serve to guide our behavior as followers of Jesus: “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” This morning, the reality is that there are things that we can do or be a part of that simply do not bring glory to God. Followers of Jesus should not be engaged in any activity that does not bring glory to God. But in whatever we do; in however we exercise the freedoms that we have as a result of our relationship with Christ, we should exercise those freedoms in a way that brings glory and makes much of God.

Paul further unpacks this principle by explaining that we are to strive to live our lives as followers of Jesus in a way that does not offend religious people, irreligious people, or other followers of Jesus. While we have a great deal of freedom as followers of Jesus when it comes to how we live our day to day lives, we should lovingly limit that freedom when the expression of that freedom could result in offending the people you are with, whether they are religious people, irreligious people, or other Christians. Paul then states that the reason we are to live our lives in such a way is so that we seek the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.

The goal for lovingly limiting our freedom as followers of Jesus is so that those who are far from God, either because they are religious or irreligious, can benefit from being exposed to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel lived out in a way that reveals and reflects Christ. Our day to day lives should create space to engage those who are far from God in a way that leads religious people to repent from their religion and irreligious people to repent from their irreligious lives and receive the forgiveness of their sin and enter into the relationship with God that they were created for by believing, trusting, and following Jesus as Lord and Leader.

Paul then concludes this section of his letter to the church at Corinth by commanding the members to be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. Paul’s point here is that just as Paul followed the example of Jesus, who lovingly limited His freedom in order to engage those who were far from God so as to rescue and redeem humanity, the members of the church at Corinth were to follow his example as he engaged those in Corinth. Paul’s point is that we best reveal and reflect Christ when we follow His example.

So this morning, what do you worship? Is there something in your life other than God that you worship as God? Because Christians act unchristian when we fail to flee from idolatry. We fail to flee idolatry when we fail to properly understand worship. And we fail to flee from idolatry when we fail to properly use our freedom. So may we be Christians who act Christian by fleeing from idolatry. And may we be Christians who act Christian by doing all that we do to the glory of God by properly understanding worship and by properly using the freedom that we have as followers of Christ.

Christians Act Unchristian When we Fail to Flee from Idolatry...

When you hear the word idolatry, what comes to mind? A statue? A backwards group of people worshipping a strange image? Simply put, Idolatry is the worship of something other than God as God. We commit idolatry when we take good things and make them God things. We commit idolatry when we pursue position, possessions, pleasure, or pride more passionately then we pursue God. Idolatry is giving something other than God more attention, more honor, or more glory than God. With this definition in mind, we see Paul in a letter to a church talk about this idea of idolatry and the reasons why we commit idolatry. Let’s look at it together:

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?

In these verses, we see another timeless truth that can occur when Christians act unchristian. And that timeless truth is that Christians act unchristian when we fail to flee from idolatry. Paul challenges the members of the church at Corinth to judge and evaluate the wisdom of his command to flee idolatry by applying the knowledge that they possessed to the argument that he will make in the rest of this passage as to why they were to flee idolatry.

First, we fail to flee from idolatry when we fail to properly understand worship. Paul explains that those in the world who do not follow Jesus and instead worship false gods, their worship ends up pointed to demons and the demonic instead of toward God. Paul is revealing for us the reality that those who do not follow and worship God through faith in Christ instead worship and follow demons. All other religious systems are created, controlled, and influenced by demons, which are supernatural spiritual beings that were once angels but rebelled against God and place themselves in opposition to God and His kingdom.

And because of this reality, when we participate in the worship of something other than God as God, we are taking part in the worship of demons. Whether it is Wicca, or the occult, or atheism, or any other religious system with an ism, these religious systems were created and are controlled and influenced by Satan and demons to turn people away from the relationship with God that they were created for. In addition, whether it is the idol of position, possessions, pleasure, pride, or any other idol that we worship as God, those idols are used by Satan and his servants to turn people away from their Creator and towards creation.

Paul then hammers his point home: “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.” Paul is explaining that followers of Jesus cannot participate in the worship of God through the celebration of communion and also participate in the worship of something other than God as God, whether it is participating in the worship of demons through eating at the pot luck fellowships that were occurring in Corinth, or though the participation of any other religious system or object.

You see, the issue is not whether or not we worship; God created all of humanity to be worshippers. The issue is what we worship. And Paul here is revealing for us the reality that we can only truly worship one thing. We cannot worship Jesus plus something else. We were not created with the capacity to worship more than one thing as the center and focus of our lives. We either worship, serve, and follow Christ, or we worship, serve, and follow something other than Christ. But only one person or thing can be the center and focus of our true devotion.

So what do you truly worship? What is the center and the focus of your life? What are you most devoted to? Because that is what you worship. If you are not sure what you worship, let me help you. To find out what you are devoted to and what is most important in your life, all you need to do is look at your checkbook, your calendar, your conversations, your contemplations, and your circumstances, because you spend your money and your time on what you are most devoted to; you think and talk about what you are most devoted to; and you lean into and trust what you are most devoted to in difficult circumstances. So what does your checkbook, your calendar, your conversations, your contemplations, and how you respond to your circumstances say about who or what you worship?

And because of the reality that we can only truly worship one being or thing, Paul explains that we provoke the Lord to jealousy when we worship something other than God as God. To provoke the Lord to jealousy literally means that we insult the Lord’s nature and character by worshipping something less than God as God. It is insulting to God to worship something other than God as God.

Paul then reinforces this reality by asking another question: We are not stronger than He, are we? God desires our total devotion because of His incredible love for us. The most unloving thing that God could do is lead us to worship something less than the best, the most powerful, loving, intelligent, just, and eternal being. For God to want anything less that our total devotion would reveal that He does not want or know what’s best, which would mean that He would not be the best, and thus would not be God. It is because God is who He is that leads Him to desire our best, which is our total devotion and worship of Him.

So what do you truly worship? What is the center and the focus of your life? What are you most devoted to? Because that is what you worship.

We Fail to Exercise Self Control When we Fail to Trust God...

This week, we have been looking at an absence of a characteristic that results in Christians acting unchristian. This characteristic that marks the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s activity in our lives is self control. And the timeless truth that is that Christians act unchristian when we fail to exercise self control. We have seen three failures that the members of the church at Corinth made, and that we can make as well, that result in a failure to exercise self control. First, we fail to exercise self control when we fail to train the right way. Second we fail to exercise self control when we fail to learn from history.

Paul then provides a third failure that the members of the church at Corinth made, which is that we fail to exercise self control when we fail to trust God. We see this in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13:

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Paul concludes this section of this letter by commanding the members of the church at Corinth, and us today, to let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. Paul here is calling followers of Jesus throughout history to beware or to watch out for the tendency to become overconfident and spiritually proud in their standing as Christians. Paul’s point here is that when we become spiritually proud and overconfident, we place ourselves in danger of falling into selfish and sinful behavior due to a lack of self control that results in falling from the spiritual growth and maturity that should mark their lives.

Paul then reinforces his command by explaining to the church that no temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man. In other words, every temptation that exists is a temptation for everyone. Paul then explains that not only are we susceptible to common temptations, we also have a faithful God who provides us a way to overcome temptation and exercise the self control that marks a growing and maturing relationship with Christ. When Paul states that God is faithful, he is revealing the reality that God is the one person who we can place our full confidence and trust in.

Paul then unpacks the evidence of God’s faithfulness by stating that God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Did you know that God is fully aware of the temptations that you are experiencing? Not only is God aware of our temptations, Paul reveals for us that God allows us to be tempted and then uses that temptation to test the depth of our faith and trust in Him.

And to do that, Paul explains that God provides a way that we can escape the difficulty that temptation presents which results in us leaning into a deeper trust in God. And as a result of leaning into a deeper trust in God, we are able to bear up under times of trouble and difficulty that reveals a growing and maturing relationship with Him.

So what temptation are you facing? With every temptation, we face a choice. We can choose to lean into and trust God and exercise self control. Or we can choose to give into that temptation in a way that reveals a lack of self control. And our choices reveal where we are at in terms of our relationship with Christ.

So how are you doing when it comes to exercising self control? If we could observe your life what evidence would there be when it comes to self control? Would we see the evidence of self control? Or would we see the evidence of things that control you?

We Fail to Exercise Self Control When We Fail to Learn from History...

This week, we are looking at Paul's confrontation of a group of people who claimed to be Christians, yet were not producing the fruit, or the proof of the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work, in their lives. Paul reveals for us is the timeless truth that Christians act unchristian when we fail to exercise self control. In 1 Corinthians 9:14-10:13, we see three failures that the members of the church at Corinth made, and that we can make as well, that result in a failure to exercise self control. Monday, we saw that we fail to exercise self control when we fail to train the right way.

We ended Monday wondering why Paul was so concerned about living a life that was striving to grow, mature and reflect Christ in his day to day life? Why was Paul so concerned about running the race of life here on earth in a way that results in winning and proving possession of the prize of an eternal relationship with God? We find the answer in what Paul says next:

For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

In these verses, Paul answers these questions by looking back at the history of the Jewish people. Paul gives the members of the church at Corinth a history lesson of God’s activity in the lives of the Jewish nation. When Paul states that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, He is reminding the members of the church at Corinth of God’s deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery at the hand of Egypt, which is recorded for us in another letter in our Bibles, called the Book of Exodus.

In Exodus chapter 13-14, we read of God leading the Jewish people out of Egypt as a pillar of fire by night and as a cloud by day. The cloud revealed God’s presence among His chosen people. Paul then continues by reminding the church at Corinth that God not only identified Himself with the Jewish people through His presence. Paul reminds them that God identified Himself with the Jewish people through His provision of manna and water in the desert. And in the same way today, just as it was for the Jewish nation in the wilderness, and just as it was for the church at Corinth, God identifies Himself with His people through His presence and His provision. And as followers of Jesus, we are to respond to God’s presence and provision in our lives by living our lives in a way that is marked by a growing faithfulness and obedience to His word and His ways.

Paul then explains that in spite of God’s presence and provision for the Jewish people, Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now when Paul states that they were laid low in the wilderness, the word laid low means that they were killed. Paul is providing this history lesson to the members of the church at Corinth because of the timeless reality that we fail to exercise self control when we fail to learn from history. And we all intuitively know this don’t we? I bet that almost all of here this morning have heard the saying that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

And we can fail to learn from history when we miss God’s activity in our lives. But what would cause God to be so displeased with the very people that He chose to provide for and be present with? And why would God respond by killing them? Paul provides the answer for us in verses 6-11:

Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY." Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Paul begins by explaining that God’s displeasure and His response was to serve as an example to following generations. Paul then states that the reason for such an example was so that we would not crave evil things as they craved. The word crave here means to have a strong desire for something. Paul’s point here is that the Jewish people that lived in the wilderness lived lives that were marked by selfishness, sin, and rebellion as a result of their lack of self control.

Paul then unpacks the nature of their lack of self control with four examples. Each of these examples revealed that the Jewish people selfishly rebelled against God through acts of idolatry, immorality, unbelief, blame shifting, and criticism that demeaned the character of God and others. Paul explains that these stories were preserved and recorded for us in the Bible in order to provide counsel so that the members of the church at Corinth and people throughout history would avoid or cease being involved in selfish and sinful activities that reveal a lack of self control.

Paul’s point is that as followers of Jesus that live at this point in God’s story, we are to live a life that reflects a growing and maturing relationship with Him that is marked by a growing faithfulness to His word and self control in our behavior. As followers of Jesus, we are not to worship something other than God as God; we are not to reflect a lack of self control by becoming involved in unlawful sexual activity; we are not to reflect a lack of self control that is seen in harsh or critical comments that demean God’s character or one another.

So do you live your life in a way that learns from history? Or do you fail to exercise self control because you fail to learn either from your past mistakes or the past mistakes of others?

Accidents Happen and I am Thankful for God's Protection...

As my wife and daughter were driving to school this morning, they were involved in a pretty scary accident. This is what happened when a car tried to make a left hand turn in front of my wife, who was going 50 m.p.h. through an intersection. We are thanking God for His protection as everyone who was involved in the accident walked away not seriously hurt.

Training to Take Control...

For the past several months, we have been involved in a sermon series entitled when Christians act unchristian. Throughout this series, we have seen a man named Paul repeatedly confront a group of people who claimed to be Christians on their unchristian behavior. To understand why Paul is so direct and passionate in his objections, we must keep in mind what is supposed to happen in our lives when we become followers of Jesus.

When we become followers of Jesus, God gives us His Spirit to dwell in us so that we may live the life in relationship with God and others that we were created to live. The Holy Spirit teaches us, convicts us, and motivates us to repent from sin and to live a life that faithfully follows the message and teachings of Jesus. And as we grow in our relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit continues to transform and change our hearts and our mind, which results in changes in how we live our day to day lives. The Bible refers to these changes that occur as the result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives as the fruit of the Spirit.

Yet as Paul looked at the members of the church at Corinth, he was not seeing the fruit, or the proof of the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work, in their lives. Instead of seeing the evidence of the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s transforming activity that revealed a growing and maturing relationship with Christ, he was seeing the evidence of lives that looked no different from those who far from God.

The Apostle Paul responds to this situation by addressing the absence of a characteristic that marks the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s that results in Christians acting unchristian. This characteristic that Paul reveals for us is that Christians act unchristian when we fail to exercise self control. In 1 Corinthians 9:14-10:13, we see three failures that the members of the church at Corinth made, and that we can make as well, that result in a failure to exercise self control. First, we see that we fail to exercise self control when we fail to train the right way. We see Paul reveal this failure in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27:

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Paul begins this section of his letter to the church at Corinth by asking them a rhetorical question designed to introduce a well know and generally accepted fact: Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Paul here is painting a word picture of a track meet that occurred in the athletic stadium in Corinth, which held games that were second only to the Olympics. And just like today, the members of the church knew that while there were many athletes that competed in these races, there was only one athlete who would win what was called the victors prize.

Paul then takes this picture that the members of the church were very familiar with and applies it to their spiritual life: run in such a way that you may win. In other words Paul was calling the church and us here today to live out our lives as followers of Jesus with a focus on growing and maturing spiritually that reveals the reality that we have come into the possession of our position as part of the kingdom of God. Because, the reality is that while many people run the race of life here on earth not everyone is running the race of life here on earth in a way that results in winning that race and possessing the prize of an eternal relationship with God.

Now a natural question that arises here is “how do we run in such a way as to win? Paul answers this question for us by pointing to the training that the athletes in Corinth put themselves through in order to have an opportunity to win. When Paul states that everyone in the games exercises control in all things, he is referring to the athletes focus on keeping their desires under control during their training. An athlete’s training requires that they keep their desire to satisfy their appetites with food that would harm their performance under control. An athlete’s training requires that they keep their desire to stay out late and ignore their workout routines under control.

Paul then explains that if an athlete is willing to keep their desire under control in order to win a prize that will not stand the test of time, how much more should the members of the church at Corinth strive to keep their desires under control, so that they would be able to attain the indestructible prize of eternal life with God that awaits followers of Jesus. However, when we fail to train the right way as followers of Jesus by failing to exercise self control, the result is a lack of spiritual growth.

Paul then describes how this reality impacted how he lived life in the here and now. When Paul states that he runs in such a way as not without aim, this phrase literally means to run aimlessly and without a fixed goal. Paul then transitions to use a word picture of another athlete in training, this time a boxer. When Paul states that he boxes in such a way, as not beating the air, he is painting a word picture of someone flailing away and missing the mark. Paul’s point that when we fail to train the right way as followers of Jesus by failing to exercise self control, the result is a lack of direction and aim.

Instead of wandering aimlessly through life without a fixed goal; instead of living a life that continually is missing the mark when it comes to growing and maturing spiritually, Paul explains that that he has enslaved his body to a strict and disciplined life of spiritual training designed to produce growth and maturity. Paul then states that he had made this decision so that he would not make the fundamental mistake of talking the talk when it came to proclaiming the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel, yet not walking the walk as a follower of Jesus in his daily life.

Paul did not want to live a life that was marked by selfishness and sin as a result of a failure to exercise self control. But why was Paul so concerned about living a life that was striving to grow, mature and reflect Christ in his day to day life? Why was Paul so concerned about running the race of life here on earth in a way that results in winning and proving possession of the prize of an eternal relationship with God?

We will look at the reason for Paul's concern tomorrow. But in the meantime, how are you living your life when it comes to the issue of exercising self control?

Christians act unchristian When We Fail to Lovingly Limit our Freedom for the Sake of Others...

This week, we are looking at the tension of balancing the individual freedoms that we have as a result of our relationship with Christ and the responsibility that we have in community with other followers of Jesus. When can I exercise my freedom in Christ on issues such as drinking, dancing, music styles, tattoos, and the like which are debated amongst Christians, and when can’t I exercise those freedoms?

We have seen Paul reveal for us the timeless principle that pastors who are involved in a full-time commitment to serving in a local church should be financially supported by the church. Unfortunately many pastors stop their sermons there. This is unfortunate because while Paul provides us with this timeless principle, this principle is not the main point that Paul is attempting to make to the church at Corinth and to us today.

We see Paul’s main point, and a timeless truth that can occur when Christians act unchristian, revealed for us beginning in 1 Corinthians 9:15, so let’s look at these verses together:

But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

In these verses Paul explains that he had chosen not to exercise his freedom to receive financial support from the church. And in case they misunderstood his previous comments, Paul explains to the church that he does not want financial support from the church. Paul then provides the reason for his decision by stating that it would be better for him to die than to have any man make my boast an empty one. But what does that mean?

To understand what Paul is communicating here, we first must understand what was happening in Corinth. Corinth was a very academic and philosophically based community. And as a result there were many different philosophers and teachers who made their living proclaiming, explaining, and defending their teachings. So there were members of the Corinthian community who would view Paul as just another philosopher who just wanted a paycheck. They would view Paul’s message and motives to be driven by money instead of the kingdom mission that he was given.

Because of this danger, Paul believed that it would be better to die that to create an environment where the message of the gospel was viewed as just another money making scheme. Paul’s source of pride was in God’s activity in the lives of the people at the church and he did not want the pride that he felt from God’s activity to be damaged or destroyed as a result of people questioning his motives for the ministry.

Paul then unpacks the reason for his pride by explaining that he does not proclaim the message of the gospel because he gets something from the gospel; instead he preaches the gospel because he has to. The phrase under compulsion literally means to have an obligation laid upon someone. And because of this obligation that has been laid upon him by Jesus, Paul states woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. Paul’s point here is that his motivation for proclaiming the message of the gospel had nothing to do with his freedoms; his motivation for proclaiming the message of the gospel came from Jesus pressing passion in his life.

Paul then states that if he was to publicly proclaim the gospel without any pressure, but voluntarily, then it could be considered that the only reason that he was preaching the gospel was so that he would receive financial support. But since he proclaims the message of the gospel unwillingly and under compulsion, it reveals that he is not eligible for pay as he is merely functioning as a manager called to proclaim the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel.

Paul then asks the members of the church “What then is my reward?” He then answers his own question by explaining that he chooses not to exercise the freedoms that are rightfully his as a church leader when he proclaims the message of the gospel. Paul’s pay was not pay. Instead, Paul’s reward was to lovingly limit his freedom as a church leader in order that those who were skeptical and far from God would be able to hear and respond to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel.

But not only did Paul lovingly limit his freedoms so that his motives would be clear. We see a second reason why Paul lovingly limited his freedom in Christ in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23:

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

Paul continues by stating that while he has freedoms as a follower of Jesus and church leader, he has made himself a slave to all, so that I may win more. The phrase, made a slave literally means to make one subservient to one’s interests. The win here for Paul is that they would receive the forgiveness of their sins and enter into the relationship with God that they were created for by believing, trusting, and following Jesus as Lord and Leader.

Here we see Paul reveal for us the timeless principle that as followers of Jesus, there are times that we are to lovingly limit our freedoms as followers of Jesus in order to engage others with the message of the gospel. Paul then unpacks how he limits his freedoms and rights in order to be used by God to share the gospel and bring people to faith in Christ. When Paul refers to Jews, he is referring to those who were God’s chosen people but instead chose to be religious people instead of having a relationship with Christ. Paul explains that he lovingly limits his freedom so that he can engage those who were culturally religious on their own turf with the message of the gospel.

When Paul refers to those who are under the Law, he is referring to religious people who were not Jewish. Paul explains to the church that that while he understands that keeping the rules of the Law will not save Him and that he has freedom from the Law, he will lovingly limit his freedom from the Law so that he can engage those who are under the law on their own turf with the message of the gospel so that they can leave religion and enter into the relationship with God that they were created for.

So if Paul was invited to have lunch with an orthodox Jew, Muslim, and Mormon, he would not order an pulled pork sandwich with a vodka and coke. He would lovingly limit his freedom in order to engage those who lived under religious rules with the message of the gospel.

When Paul refers to those without the Law in verse 21, he is referring to irreligious people. Paul explains that while he followed the message and teachings of Jesus that brought salvation, he will lovingly limit his freedom that comes from the teachings of Jesus in his day to day life so that he can engage those who are irreligious on their own turf with the message of the gospel so that they can leave the irreligious life and enter into the relationship with God that they were created for. So if Paul was invited by an irreligious person who was far from God to have lunch at Hooter's, he would not be judgmental: instead, he would go have lunch with at Hooters without compromising his personal convictions.

In verse 22, Paul shifts from religious or irreligious people who are far from God to those who are followers of Jesus who are immature and weak in the faith. Paul then explains that while he had freedom and rights as a mature follower of Jesus that informed how he lived his day to day life, he will lovingly limit his freedom so that he can engage those who are weak and immature in their faith so that they can grow and mature in their faith. Instead of exercising his freedoms and rights, which could cause the weaker brother or sister in Christ to stumble and sin, he lovingly limited his freedoms for the sake of the weaker brother or sister.

Paul then summarizes all of his statements into a timeless principle that guided his life and should shape our lives as well: I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. Paul’s point here is that as followers of Jesus, we should follow His example by reflecting Christ as we love people where they are at, while loving them enough not to leave them there. Paul, if he was here today and talked to us in the language of our culture, would describe himself as being theologically conservative and culturally liberal.

And as followers of Jesus, we should strive to be theologically conservative and culturally liberal that love people where they are at and love them enough not to leave them there. However, as Christians we act unchristian when we fail to lovingly limit our freedoms for the sake of others. Paul then concludes this section of his letter by stating that his life was driven for the sake of the gospel and the kingdom mission that he was given, so that he might share in the benefits that occur from the impact that the gospel has in the world.

So how are you balancing the freedoms that you have as a result of what you know about God with the responsibility that you have to live in relationship with one another in community? Because the reality is that as Christians we act unchristian when we fail to lovingly limit our freedom for the sake of others. When we fail to lovingly limit our freedom for the sake of others, we can cause others to stumble. And when we fail to lovingly limit our freedom for the sake of others, we fail to be all things to all people so that we might be used to save some.

So what is one way that you can lovingly limit your freedom in order to engage others in a way that loves them where they are at while lovingly reflecting Christ and the message of the gospel?