Free But Constrained
"You take a dog, in the city perhaps, but anywhere, and you fence him in a small yard and he barks and barks, pacing back and forth. He jumps at the gate begging to get out. When by chance he gets someone inadvertently lets him out or he escapes, he runs through the neighborhood, knocking over trash cans, scaring cats and chasing cars.
Take that same dog on a ranch in Wyoming with wide open spaces and no fences. That same dog sits on the porch with little desire to run and chase even the prairie dogs within a few feet from its nose. He knows that he is free and does not need to prove it to anyone.
I think it is amazing how when we are fenced in we run and run around, chasing our own tails just waiting to get out, but once we realize how free we truly our, it is on the porch with the familiar where we are content." - eric j. sherman
I am Free! But I am constrained by love for the Family of God
1 Corinthians 8:7-9 (NCV)
7 But not all people know this. Some people are still so used to idols that when they eat meat, they still think of it as being sacrificed to an idol. Because their conscience is weak, when they eat it, they feel guilty.
8 But food will not bring us closer to God. Refusing to eat does not make us less pleasing to God, and eating does not make us better in God’s sight.
9 But be careful that your freedom does not cause those who are weak in faith to fall into sin.
1 John 2:12-14 (NIV)
12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. Little childrenYour sins have been forgiven on account of his nameYou have known the FatherYoung menYou have overcome the evil oneYou are strong, and the word of God lives in you (vs 14)FathersYou have known him who is from the beginningThe greater the responsibility the less freedom you have!
Principal to Live By: You are not free to do anything that causes a believer to fall into sin.
Meat and Idolatry
Some eat and feel fine. Some eat and feel guilty
This became a point of contention and accusation
Look closely at verse 3. “But if any person loves God, that person is known by God.”
We each of us live before God as individuals. Don’t set your self up to judge how anyone else is living before God – with one exception. Yourself!
That does not allow believer with frail faith to dictate behavior to the believer with the more robust faith.“I don’t like that so you can’t participate in it.”
Does my expression of my freedom damage their faith and cause them to fall into sin?
I am Free! But I am constrained by the rights of those who minister1 Corinthians 9:4-7 (NCV)
4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to bring a believing wife with us when we travel as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Peter? 6 Are Barnabas and I the only ones who must work to earn our living?
7 No soldier ever serves in the army and pays his own salary. No one ever plants a vineyard without eating some of the grapes. No person takes care of a flock without drinking some of the milk.
Now I am a little uncomfortable in what I am going to say because it can sound self-serving. But I’m going to say it anyway for the sake of the others on staff at MCC and for your sake.
Paul makes it very clear that those who have given their lives to ministry have rightsMinisters have a right to eat and drink
Ministers have a right to the support of a believing wife ministering and serving alongside them.
Ministers have a right to a salary from the tithes and offerings of the people they serve.
Let me clarify some things to you about ministry: Ministry is about what you are – not what you do. It is not a profession. I am not a professional. I am not paid to minister. I am paid so I can minister without having to work to support my self and my family. For this I am very grateful to you.
While ministry is a privilege and I am grateful it is also a matter of doing right by those who are in ministry on behalf of the church body.
1 Corinthians 9:15 (NCV)
15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this now to get anything from you. I would rather die than to have my reason for bragging taken away.
Those in ministry often do not use these rights… (vs 15)
Paul didn’t: He worked as a tentmaker in Corinth for some 3 years because they had such an attitude problem about money that he wanted to make sure they didn’t think that was all he cared about.MCC staff doesn’t either!
Can I be forthright with you about those who are in ministry to you and to the community here at MCC? They are not about money. They are about serving and building the kingdom of God.
Look, The elders and ministers of MCC (and I) believe in our unique and special work. What we are doing in some ways is harder but it is also forcing us to get really good at being the church – without the costs and impediments of a building. Someday we will need that tool and God will provide it. I can only guess that now it would not be enough or it would not be right for us. Some day we’ll say, “wow, look at how God has taken care of us in this matter!”
In the mean time let’s become GREAT in being the family of God – in this place! We are God’s family – a community where everyone is welcome and where people can come and learn about being a follower of Jesus – just Jesus, no extra creeds and rules.
No denominational guidelines or expectations – writen or unspoken. Just Jesus! This is what we are about!
Principal to Live By: I will share what God has given me with those who minister through my tithes, my offerings, my ministry to them and in my prayers for them.
Yes, we are free. There is no NT law about tithing. You don’t have to give. But we are constrained by the rights and dare I say the passions of those who serve in ministry.
I believe that tithes support the local ministry.
Offerings support the needs of the church. Don’t be a token giver. Don’t give in payment for services rendered. Don’t give leftovers.Your support in the work and the ministry is so important!I urge you as does the apostle Paul to share proportionately as God has provided to you. Make the commitment to not be part of the earthen wall we call a dam which blocks the living water from reaching and satisfying those who thirst after life.
I am Free! But I am constrained by God’s passion for the lost
1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (NCV)
22 To those who are weak, I became weak so I could win the weak. I have become all things to all people so I could save some of them in any way possible. 23 I do all this because of the Good News and so I can share in its blessings.
The MCC staff believes is working to “Let Loose the Prevailing Church!”
Paul said, “I make myself a slave…” To the Jews To those without the law To those who are weakGod has allowed some paths to be cut off but he is providing other ways to go. We are pretty good at inventing MCC every week but we are working to become GREAT! Why because we believe that God wants us to focus on the work of the ministry itself. People – not buildings. Please begin now to pray for this fall.
Principal to Live By: I become all things to all people that I might save some of them in any way possible
Contemporary Music… Video… Drama… Church at the bandshell
Paradox Productions and message of Jesus
It comes down to people and relationships… Investing and Inviting… Teaching and sharing. Loving and accepting
I am Free! But I am constrained by the goal of completing the race before me (vs 26)1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (NCV)
26 So I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something—not just the air. 27 I treat my body hard and make it my slave so that I myself will not be disqualified after I have preached to others.
Running the RaceSelf control. Constraint now for a prize someday!
Principal to Live By: I will focus on the goal of serving Jesus and let nothing keep me from the future He has planned for meIshmael and freedom.
Decision Time!
