Lent Day #26

1 Corinthians 10:23-33 (ESV)
23 "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

THOUGHTS:
What does Paul mean here? It is easy to understand that "not all things are helpful" ... that "not all things build up". His main point here is about food, but it is clear when he says "whatever you do" in verse 31 that he intends for this type of thinking to apply to extend to everything.

We know that there are many things we can do that are harmful or destructive. Some of these things are There are many things we know are harmful and destructive. There are things that can be done and said that tear down our neighbor and our environment. Paul indicates that it's also not helpful to do things that lead others away from faith. He says that we shouldn't do those things that lead others away from faith ... away from God.

He says that his liberty should be determined by "someone else's conscience" (verse 29). I have a hard time with this. I agree that we shouldn't be hypocrites -- that we live according to our beliefs. Yet, should we also try to live within a box of what others believe a Christian should be like? There are people who believe a Christian should never drink a drop of alcohol, yet Jesus drank wine. I could list for paragraphs various things that people think "good Christians" should or should not do -- with no scriptural basis.

So what does this passage mean for us today?

PRAYER:
Dear God, help us to wrestle with Your Word. Help us to live in the questions, knowing that we find you in the struggle and sometimes answers aren't the point. Allow us to immerse ourselves in you, that we might truly live. AMEN.