Controversial Issues in the Christian life (part 2)

This is part 2 of a study we started yesterday on controversial issues regarding the Christian life.  This is a more-or-less direct translation from Spanish of a study we did here in Mexico City.

Doesn’t the Bible say “all things are lawful for me”?

This phrase is from 1Corinthians 6:12.  Paul certainly isn’t saying that Christians don’t need to obey God!  This passage is about immorality.  There are numerous commandments in this passage, including “flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18).  In fact, the Bibles says that we know that we love God if we keep His commandments (1John 5:3).

Paul is probably referring to something that the Corinthians were saying.  Because there was freedom for believers when it came to things like Jewish dietary laws, they used this phrase as an excuse to sin.

No! says Paul We still need to live to glorify God (1Corinthians 6:20).

When the answer isn’t clear . . .

When we’re dealing with these kinds of decisions, we need to search God’s Word for the answer.  Here are 10 things to keep in mind:

1. Is it for the glory of God? (1Corinthians 10:31)
2. Can I do it in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God? (Colossians 3:17)
3. Does it belong in the temple of the Holy Spirit? (1Corinthians 6:19-20)
4. Does it come from faith? (Romans 14:23)
5. Will it edify others? (Romans 14:19)
6. Am I loving God and others?  Or am I loving myself and the world? (1John 2:15; Matthew 22:37-39)
7. Will I be yoked to unbelievers? (2Corinthians 6:14)
8. Will it allow something to master/dominate me? (1Corinthians 6:12)  Will it make something other than God my master?
9. Do I have the mind of Christ about this issue? (Philippians 4:8)
10. What does my church think about these things? (Hebrews 13:7,17)

Living in community…
Are there times when I need to limit my freedom out of love for others?  For sure!  Our goal is to help others to grow and be strong!

In 1Corinthians 8 we have an example.  Unbelievers in Corinth were eating food offered to idols.  The believers didn’t want to give honour to idols, so they would often avoid eating this food.  However, some believers didn’t think it was a big deal.  What does Paul say about this in 1Corinthians 8:8-13? (You can read the whole chapter if you have time.)

To summarize . . .

Live to glorify and love God in everything.
Study the Scriptures.
Treat other believers with love, forgiveness and grace.

That’s the end of the study.  I wrote a little about the discussion we had about it here in Mexico here.

Special thanks to An Introduction to Biblical Ethics by Robertson McQuilkin (1995) for some of the ideas in this lesson.