"We are allowed to do anything, but not everything is good for us to do. We are allowed to do anything, but not all things help us grow strong as Christians." 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NLV)
This principle as Paul is laying it out to the church in Corinth is something that honesty I've never heard spoken about in any church to this day and I can sort of understand why. Most pastors are not going to get up on a Sunday morning and tell the congregation, "hey look, we're allowed to anything so let's pray and we'll see you next week." Imagine the disastrous outcome that could have.
The truth is this statement is actually true. There is an amazing amount of freedom IN CHRIST but the keywords here are IN CHRIST. Because of the price Jesus paid and what He accomplished at the Cross those who put their faith completely and totally in Him do actually have an amazing amount of freedom. You've never heard this or thought about this way? Do you wonder why? Well I think it's because of one of the things I hate the most that contradicts this Biblical truth a thing called religion. I unequivocally despise organized religion and the legalistic zealots who try to live up Biblical and Godly standards based on their actions. I grew up in a time where "the church" was very legalistic and church consisted of a list of "do's and dont's" and honestly it left a bad taste in my mouth for all things religious or having to do with God. I'd see all these "Christians" doing things and acting in ways that I just didn't line up with what I had read in scripture. As I grew up and started to really study the scriptures it soon became blatantly apparent that much of the church was and still is stuck in legalism and unbiblical traditions.
Christ didn't come, step into time and give up His life so that we could follow a laundry list of rules and regulations and then look down our noses at anyone that doesn't follow those same rules. The Bible tells us that He came so that we might have a great full life (John 10:10 NLV). So why do we get so caught up on rules and regulations? I think society has taught us this learned characteristic. Society as a whole is very merit-based and we tend to think that God operates within these same parameters but He doesn't; He never has and never will. In another letter Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus he stated, "For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God. It is not given to you because you worked for it. If you could work for it, you would be proud." (Ephesians 2:8-9 NLV)
So again, IN CHRIST, there is freedom and as I paraphrase what Paul said, "just because you can it doesn't mean you should." There are literally hundreds of rules and regulations I've heard placed on Christians and not by people outside the church but by Christians themselves. The rules range from cussing is a sin, so is drinking any alcohol, any music that is not labeled as Christian is out and also watching anything rated "R" yup that's a sin too. Now don't twist what I'm saying. I am not saying Christians can go out and do whatever with whoever. Nope not all and Paul touches on this this in other portions of scripture (see Romans 6:15). So again I say it, just because you can; doesn't mean you should. This same statement comes to mind when I see some of the clothing (or lack thereof) that people choose to wear, but that's a completely different topic.
I believe the bottom line is just this, if we profess to be a practicing follower of Jesus Christ we need to examine our lives and what we allow into them and ask ourselves, "does this help me get closer to God?" Most of us if we were honest with ourselves already know the answer to this question regarding a few things. Once God begins to point things out to you don't go telling every other person in your church that specific thing is a sin and if they do it they are in danger of burning in hell. This is where things can get weird very fast and where personal convictions get tossed around and imposed onto other people. I knew a Pastor that was convicted by just stepping into a Blockbuster video store, but he didn't stand up on Sunday Morning and tell the congregation it was a sin to go into these stores. This was a personal conviction for him the keyword is PERSONAL.
So while watching the movie "The Hangover" or the TV show "The Bachelor" will not necessarily send you to hell we do need to ask ourselves will they help or hinder my walk with God? OK, some of you are saying, "What's wrong with The Bachelor?" Allow me to quote from Craig's book "Soul Detox" concerning his view on the show (which I do agree with) he writes, "Besides all the skin and overnight sex partners, what subtle (or not so subtle) message does this show send? (1) everyone is hot, (2) love is best found on helicopters flying over waterfalls, and (3) if you can't decide who to marry, spend the night having sex with all three before deciding not to marry any of them. Sorry Bachelor fans.
Take Care & God Bless,
-E
Christ didn't come, step into time and give up His life so that we could follow a laundry list of rules and regulations and then look down our noses at anyone that doesn't follow those same rules. The Bible tells us that He came so that we might have a great full life (John 10:10 NLV). So why do we get so caught up on rules and regulations? I think society has taught us this learned characteristic. Society as a whole is very merit-based and we tend to think that God operates within these same parameters but He doesn't; He never has and never will. In another letter Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus he stated, "For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God. It is not given to you because you worked for it. If you could work for it, you would be proud." (Ephesians 2:8-9 NLV)
So again, IN CHRIST, there is freedom and as I paraphrase what Paul said, "just because you can it doesn't mean you should." There are literally hundreds of rules and regulations I've heard placed on Christians and not by people outside the church but by Christians themselves. The rules range from cussing is a sin, so is drinking any alcohol, any music that is not labeled as Christian is out and also watching anything rated "R" yup that's a sin too. Now don't twist what I'm saying. I am not saying Christians can go out and do whatever with whoever. Nope not all and Paul touches on this this in other portions of scripture (see Romans 6:15). So again I say it, just because you can; doesn't mean you should. This same statement comes to mind when I see some of the clothing (or lack thereof) that people choose to wear, but that's a completely different topic.
I believe the bottom line is just this, if we profess to be a practicing follower of Jesus Christ we need to examine our lives and what we allow into them and ask ourselves, "does this help me get closer to God?" Most of us if we were honest with ourselves already know the answer to this question regarding a few things. Once God begins to point things out to you don't go telling every other person in your church that specific thing is a sin and if they do it they are in danger of burning in hell. This is where things can get weird very fast and where personal convictions get tossed around and imposed onto other people. I knew a Pastor that was convicted by just stepping into a Blockbuster video store, but he didn't stand up on Sunday Morning and tell the congregation it was a sin to go into these stores. This was a personal conviction for him the keyword is PERSONAL.
So while watching the movie "The Hangover" or the TV show "The Bachelor" will not necessarily send you to hell we do need to ask ourselves will they help or hinder my walk with God? OK, some of you are saying, "What's wrong with The Bachelor?" Allow me to quote from Craig's book "Soul Detox" concerning his view on the show (which I do agree with) he writes, "Besides all the skin and overnight sex partners, what subtle (or not so subtle) message does this show send? (1) everyone is hot, (2) love is best found on helicopters flying over waterfalls, and (3) if you can't decide who to marry, spend the night having sex with all three before deciding not to marry any of them. Sorry Bachelor fans.
Take Care & God Bless,
-E
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