Title: Guidelines for Gray Areas
Text: 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1
Truth: Our greatest loyalty and love is to God and others.
Aim: to live in such a way we put God and others first.
INTRODUCTION
On December 1, 1955 at 6 p.m. James Blake complained to the bus driver that Rosa Parks, a black lady, refused to give up her seat in the white section and move to the back of the bus. She was arrested, tried in court four days later, found guilty within 30 minutes, and fined $10 plus required to pay $4 in court costs.
Interestingly, those laws of segregated seating were only three years old. Previously, the transportation system was in the hands of private enterprise. Private companies didn’t segregate, even in the Deep South, because you don’t want to offend a significant clientele. To private enterprise everybody’s money is green. That was their preferred color. It was only when the government got into the transportation business and private business couldn’t compete, that the prevailing philosophy of government enforced its opinion, which was segregation. If we only knew our history how wise we would be.
That began a boycott of the bus system in Montgomery, Alabama. Black citizens at great sacrifice walked instead of riding the bus. On November 13, 1956, the Supreme Court outlawed segregation and the yearlong boycott of the bus system in Montgomery came to an end.
Something of that same dynamic is occurring in the church at Corinth. When do you live out your rights and liberties, and when do you restrain those rights and liberties? That’s been the discussion of chapters 8-10. The Corinthian’s were asking if it was right to eat meat offered to idols. Some Christians had no qualms about doing so. They knew idols were just hunks of wood and stone. Other Christians were convinced they were sinning because they believed they were compromising their loyalty to Christ. They asked Paul to resolve this issue for them. Christians still debate over what is right and what is wrong for them to do. For example, in the past we debated over women wearing pants to church or men wearing shorts. Can you go to the movies, can you play cards, what length should be a man’s hair, can you listen to rock and roll music, and should you eat out at restaurants on Sunday? Those subjects have been replaced with debates over the style of music in a worship service or to have or not to have evening services on Sundays.
Does Paul give us any guidelines in these gray areas? Yes. In essence our loyalty to God and love for others guides our decisions.
Paul deals with our loyalty to God in verses 14-22.
I. LOYALTY TO GOD (1 CORINTHIANS 10:14-22)
Previously, Paul reminded the Corinthians that Israel had all these incredible privileges in the Exodus, but despite all their advantages they fell into the sin of idolatry. Even though they were tempted to sin against God, He always gave them a way out of sin. What was true of Israel was true for the Corinthians. They too have great privileges and are tempted to idolatry. They too will be given a way out of sinning. Now read v. 14---.
The way out of temptation from idolatry is to forcefully reject other gods, and stay as far away as possible from making something else our god. He is emphatic and urgent in this prohibition. The Corinthians may have been saying they weren’t really worshiping those idols when they joined in the banquet to that god.
In v. 15 he says that sensible, right thinking people will recognize this is the right decision. Next Paul gives two examples that prove this is the right decision, and that they are to take seriously the issue of idolatry and reject it with great energy. The first example is the Lord’s Supper and the second example is the Jewish practice of offering meat sacrificed in worship.
Read v. v. 16-17.
Paul says that when we participate in the Lord’s Supper we share in the body and blood of Christ. The Roman Catholic Church uses this verse to teach that the bread and juice literally become the body and blood of Jesus when a worshiper takes it. It is transformed or transubstantiated into the physical body and blood of Jesus. The Lutherans are not far from this understanding. They don’t believe it literally becomes flesh and blood but somehow His physical presence is there. Of course, that would have been ludicrous and abhorrent to a first century Jew. They understood Jesus and Paul meant this symbolically. It’s like when Jesus called himself the Great Shepherd or the Door.
When a person receives the Lord’s Supper they are professing that they have received Jesus Christ as their Savior through repentance and faith. That’s why you heard me instruct the children a few weeks ago to not take the Lord’s Supper. They need to receive Christ as Savior first.
We have placed our eternal hope in the broken body of Jesus and his spilt blood as our substitute for sin. This has united us to Jesus Christ. This one meal conveys the one way of salvation by the one Savior has resulted in us being one family. One of the reasons that the N.T. speaks so frequently and alarmingly about sins that divide the church is because it harms the testimony of this oneness we have in Jesus Christ. It’s one of our greatest testimonies to this generation.
Our society is filled with division. Bigotry, racism, gender equity, economic levels, political persuasions, and wars divide us. The list is endless of the things that divide people. The world is amazed to find a group of people that is as equally diverse but they love one another and live in unity. When they inquire as to what makes the difference, it is clear it is Jesus that gives us our unity.
Because we are bound to Jesus Christ as illustrated in taking the Lord’s Supper, we can’t have anything to do with something that competes with Jesus’ exclusive and preeminent loyalty. Therefore, flee idolatry.
He proves that point again by using an example from the Old Testament. When a Jew took his meat sacrifice to the temple he would offer it to the priest. The priest would keep a portion for himself and offer a portion as an offering to God. Then the priest would return a portion to the worshiper. The Jew would participate in the sacrifice by eating that meat.
In v. 19 Paul agrees that idols are nothing. This was the argument some were using to justify going to the banquets of idols and eating meat. But in v. 20 he says they shouldn’t participate in these worship experiences because these offerings are actually made to demons. The people didn’t call them demons. They called them gods. But Paul taught that these idols have an evil, spiritual reality behind them that is demonic. Demons are evil spirits that oppose the true God. Again Paul is simply following his O.T. Deuteronomy 32 and Psalm 106 are examples where this was taught.
Paul goes on to say in v. 21 that it is impossible to participate in the worship of demons and the worship of God. One will become dominant. They are reminded in the next verse (22) that just as Israel brought the judgment of God on them by their idolatry, so will they. Do you actually think you are strong enough to challenge God and survive your meeting with Him, he wants to know.
I was watching an episode of Man vs. Wild, and Beare Gryllis was crossing the African Savannah. In the distance he came across a pride of lions. He whispered and moved slowly and gave them a wide berth. It’s one thing to see a lion in the zoo or a cage in a circus, but its something altogether different to face them in the open countryside. Can you imagine anything more frightening than that? Yes. It would be to make God Almighty angry and have to meet him face-to-face!
An African Christian minister was making his way to a conference in Jerusalem. His plane was delayed and he fell into conversation with a German Buddhist. The African Christian shared the good news of Christ with the German Buddhist and the man was saved. Before they prayed the Christian asked the Buddhist if there was anything he need to give up before he received Christ. The Buddhist German said yes and reached into his pocket and pulled out a little statue of the Buddha. He said, “I won’t be needing Buddha any longer.” He gave up his idol for loyalty to Jesus Christ.
What if that question were asked of you in a private conversation, “Is there anything you need to give up before you pledge loyalty to Jesus Christ?” What would you pull out? What is it you’re tempted to worship and build your life around? What is it that you get excited about and you talk about? Is it Jesus? Where is He on that list?
They may all be good things, but they are a greater source of joy or interest or involvement than your relationship with Christ. They are closer to the center of your life than Jesus Christ. Your loyalty to them is greater than to Jesus Christ.
Could it be that is the reason for the nonexistent attendance of some members of this church? Could it be the reason for the inconsistent attendance of others? Someone said that the reason some can't get here for Sunday School at 9:30 is because they can’t get out of bed. What kind of God do they have? Apparently, whatever god they serve Monday through Friday can get them out of bed.
When a church like ours has a third of its members that won’t come or they come inconsistently to worship then it is in desperate need of a study like the 40 Days of Love. Too many members have lost their first love and loyalty to God.
When it comes to knowing what to do in gray areas we choose to be loyal to God.
II. LOVE FOR OTHERS (1 CORINTHIANS 10:23-11:1)
Love for others means seek good for others.
A. Seek others’ good (v. 23-24)
In your Bible these words are in quotation marks: “Everything is permissible.” Apparently, the Corinthians argued they were allowed to eat meat offered to idols. It is within their right to do so. It’s like a Christian saying, “I’m free to drink whiskey” or “I’m free to watch any program on TV I want.” Paul asks but is it beneficial, is it constructive? In other words, does this action or interest build up and strengthen others? Paul is describing someone who thinks only of himself and justifies his actions.
Instead our liberty is to be guided by love. Love does what’s good for others.
Again our 40 Days of Love emphasis will concentrate on loving others. I can’t think of a more important topic for our church to focus on for a six week period. When Jesus was asked what’s the most important commandment, He quoted Deut. 6:4. The greatest commandment is to love God. But He didn’t stop. Then He quoted Lev. 19 and said it is to love others like you love yourself. Think about that. We could please God and bring glory to his name if all we did was concentrate on two commandments: love God and love your neighbor.
To understand the context of Corinth is to understand the great sacrifice Paul is asking them to make out of love for others. To network for the success of your business, you went to the pagan banquet. To be accepted by the “in crowd” and be socially acceptable, you went to the pagan banquet. To gain public recognition or to advance in your community, you went to the pagan banquet. He says you willingly sacrifice more money in your pocket or being friends with the popular crowd because it will have a negative impact on your church.
Our Governor is a Baptist deacon at the FBC, Shawnee. One significant reason he is governor of Oklahoma is because of his promise to pass the lottery if elected. My wife recently heard a DHS worker say that gambling, which is growing exponentially in our state, is the worse addiction she has ever seen. When asked why she believed that gambling was the worse addiction, she said because gambling addicts people quicker than drugs and immediately devastates everyone associated with the addicted gambler. Our Baptist Governor did what was permissible but he did not do what was beneficial and constructive regardless of his rationalizations.
One of the distinctive marks of Christians is love of one another. Christians reveal Christ-like love by seeking the good of others. One of the chief goals of a Christian is the well being of others. We say Jesus is our Lord. Well, how do we demonstrate the priority of Jesus Christ? We inconvenience ourselves for others. Where is the sacrifice of time, money, energy, and humility in order to serve our fellow Christian or the lost? We won’t do this perfectly but it is the intent and direction of our life.
It may not be wrong for you to do this or that practice, but is it the right thing, the wise thing to do at this moment with these people? Are you seeking the good of others?
Love for others means surrendering our freedom.
B. Surrendering our freedom (v. 25-30)
Paul agrees with those who don’t have a problem eating meat offered to idols. I’ve explained how the pagan worshiper brought his animal sacrifice. . .
Paul says if it is you and your family in private and you are not bothered by eating meat offered to an idol, go ahead. There is nothing wrong. He quotes Ps. 24:1. Jewish families would quote this passage before meals and then pray thanking God for providing the food. Jesus taught that it wasn’t food that defiled a man. The food went in the stomach and out of the body. God taught Peter in Acts 10 that nothing is unclean. Paul is saying help yourself.
But if you are at someone’s home and you are warned that the meat has been offered to idols, don’t eat the meat. Maybe the warning comes from another Christian or the pagan friend. You abstain from eating because you want to give a clear message by your life choices that there is no other god but Jesus.
This question at the end of v. 29 apparently means Paul is not controlled by another’s sensibility. We don’t live our lives controlled by what other people think. He knows he has the right to eat that meat but he chooses to set aside his liberty for their good. He is controlled by his desire to please God not to be a man-pleaser.
The point is to use your freedom in a loving way for the benefit of others.
Christian women have the freedom to follow the latest styles in fashionable dress. But out of sensitivity and thoughtfulness for their Christian brother, a Christian woman ought to dress with modesty. That doesn’t mean homely but it does mean holy.
Christian men, do you prize a joke more than you prize Jesus? You can tell your off-colored or racial joke so you’re in with the guys. But you’ll be more of a man and ultimately gain greater respect if your speech will be filled with purity out of honor for Jesus.
If you really thought of others before yourself, would it change the way you talk about politics? You ought to see what I see when folks get on a tear about some politician or political party. There are folks who don’t appreciate it. I don’t know their politics. But are you willing to harm the fellowship of the church over politics or would you be willing to set aside that freedom? Obviously, there are ethical issues like gambling that Christians need to speak about with one voice, but be careful of bringing the coarse, judgmental discourse of the political pundits into the church fellowship.
Love for others means seeking the good of others, surrendering our freedom when necessary, and showing God’s glory.
C. Show God’s glory (v. 31-11:1)
It’s interesting that Paul began v. 14 by saying we are to flee false gods but he ends the argument about glorifying the true God.
What does it mean to glorify God? The word “glorify” means to manifest or to make obvious. If we were to interview your family or coworkers and ask how you exposed or revealed God through your life this week, would they be able to name something? Would they say they heard you say something that made them think of God? Would they say they saw you do something that made them think of God?
Last week, Carol and I took the grandkids to Burger King. I was with the grandkids in the play area and my wife went to order something. A homeless man came in and sat at a booth. Carol inquired about the man to the attendant. She bought the man a hamburger to give to the homeless man. The young man at the counter told Carol if she needed anything else he’d be sure she got it. A few days later I was in that same Burger King to get a cup of coffee. The same young man waited on me. He gave me a cup free. I believe my wife glorified the Savior in that act of compassion and generosity.
The word “glory” comes from the root word for opinion. To glorify the Lord is to inspire others to have a good opinion of Jesus.
All of us have examples to follow. Notice the examples that seek to be like Jesus. They seek to lead you to Jesus. Follow those examples. And be one of those examples. Are you a good model to follow? If others were to trace their life after yours would there have been a time of Bible reading, prayer, witnessing, and worship?
CONCLUSION
I started this message with the story of Rosa Parks. Did she do right? She refused to give up her right to sit in the front of the bus. She disobeyed the law of the city of Montgomery. Yes, she did right.
This deaconess in her church chose to remain loyal to God and love others. The worse testimony the Christian church in America has ever had was when white Christians permitted and promoted a division between their brothers, black Christians. It was a fundamental denial of the message of the gospel. It took a courageous black lady to be willing to be the focus of incredible hatred to remind Christians in America that our greatest loyalty and love is to God and others. May her spirit spread through this church.
