Sunday, October 23, 2011 - Straighten Up and Fly Right
“It’s a free country!” “If that person has a problem with what I’m doing, that’s THEIR problem!” “They’re just
legalistic.” “They’re judging me.” “What’s right for them may not be right for me.” “Get off my case!”
Common American sentiments. We don’t like our space to be invaded – our actions to be challenged. And we
certainly don’t like our motives questions. For most of us, when we do things, we think we’re OK and righteous. If it’s
good for us personally, it doesn’t really matter what happens to those around us. Right?
I think you can already see where this is going. Today we continue our series, “Straighten Up and Fly Right” in 1
Corinthians. There are lots of areas of our lives – just like the people of Corinth 2000 years ago – where we need to
lay aside our own understanding and adjust our lives to how God tells us life is supposed to be – fully devoted to Jesus
Christ.
As we prepare to look in 1 Corinthians again, let me ask – are you applying the adjustments we are talking about in this
letter? Just to know that we ought to do things differently doesn’t mean we have changed. It is obvious as we read and
study 1 Corinthians that there is a presumption of taking action. We know that anything good that happens in life comes
from Jesus – it is HIS work through the Spirit of God in us that causes change. Our part is to YIELD ourselves to Him
and give up the control to Him. Are we doing that? Are YOU?
Let’s PRAY.
Last Sunday in chapter 7, we saw that the Corinthians had apparently asked Paul a question related to how to deal with
virgins (unmarried women) in the church. Paul, inspired by the Spirit of God, touched on several marriage-related
issues in his answer, but didn’t really get to their question. The long and short of what Paul said in that section was,
keep your life as free of distractions as possible and be as fully devoted to the Lord Jesus as you can be. This morning,
we’ll get to Paul’s response regarding how to deal with unmarried women in the church family, and then move on to
chapter 8 and the issues we brought up before.
1 Corinthians 7:36-38. READ. Before we look at this, let’s first consider why the question was brought up anyway –
“What do we do about virgins in the church family?” Back when we started 1 Corinthians, one of the things we
mentioned that was an “attraction” in Corinth was the temple of Venus, also know as Aphrodite. The “worship” that
happened there usually involved sex with temple prostitutes. And, as in most pagan cultures, the most “pleasing” to the
goddess would be sex with a virgin.
The Corinthians had lived with this activity for years. But now people were getting saved and rescued by the Lord
Jesus. As they tried to figure out how to live now as believers, it came to them that this part of their old ways had no
part in the church. They wondered what was proper. In verses 28 and 34 that we saw last week, Paul briefly
mentioned virgins – “if a virgin marries, she has not sinned,” and “unmarried women and virgins are able to be
concerned about the things of the Lord.” So Paul has already made it clear that either staying single and pure or getting
married and being pure are the godly ways to “handle” virgins.
Now he turns to older, never married women and what to do in those cases. We could say, “If you – brother – have a
female friend who has never been married, and you have been just friends over the years, you can handle it in whatever
way is right and pure. If you want to marry her, marry her. If you want to maintain the single friendship, maintain it.
Either way, it’s good – just be honest with your inner feelings and drives. If you get married, you’re not sinning and if
you stay single, it is good, too. God can be glorified either way.
If a man thinks he is acting improperly toward “his virgin” – “his unmarried female friend” – he and she can do whatever
they want (presuming that it is godly). What does it mean, “improperly?” If they are hanging out and he especially has
sexual urges toward her, that’s an indication to him of what he ought to do. To remain unmarried and hide those
feelings while spending time with her is not proper – make it right, Paul says.
And I know we’re wondering about the phrase “past marriageable age.” The Greek there is literally “past the bloom of
youth” or “past her prime.” It just means older – especially in that culture, women were married while in their teens –
so this could be a never married woman al the way from her twenties up to the day before her death.
Look at the next section – an additional thought regarding marriage from Paul. 1 Corinthians 7:39,40. READ. A wife
is bound – or knit to her husband and unavailable to any other men – as long as her husband is alive. If he dies, and she
wants to, she can freely remarry anyone she wants, as long as he is a believer. Notice that God wants believers to
marry believers. It is clearly stated here. Many times, we use the verse that we’ll see soon in 1 Corinthians not to be
“unequally yoked.” That CAN be applied to marriage, but here it specifically says that believers obviously ought to
marry believers.
But, Paul says in verse 40, in HIS opinion – from his life experience – the woman would be happier in the Lord if she
just remained unmarried. Do we kind of chuckle and pooh pooh Paul’s opinion here? I don’t think we should – he is
writing under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, communicating God’s message. Paul is speaking about an issue that
the Lord Jesus did not talk about, but he knows that God is giving direction and truth through him.
Paul’s opinion about singleness is valid for those who have the self-control and desire to remain single. We should not
excuse it because we might disagree for ourselves. So, when Paul says at the end of verse 40, he is anticipating the
chuckling response of some – “I think I also have the Spirit of God.” It is somewhat sarcastic – but it is true.
On a related note, can we speak with sarcasm? Could that be proper? Notice that it is extremely rare, but it happened
here. God can use our personalities as He pleases. Also notice that Paul does not try to humiliate or belittle anyone
with his sarcasm – he is stating the obvious and reminding them that his view can be and is just as valid as theirs.
With that, Paul moves on to another question they had asked about. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3. READ. In a community like
Corinth, with this temple of Venus, and other pagan worship places, these believers were surrounded with all kinds of
idol worship and practices related to idol worship. One of the things was that the meat markets, their grocery stores,
usually had meat and food for sale that had been offered in worship to one of these idols.
The Corinthians had asked about whether it was proper to use that food, or did they have to avoid it. Especially
because there were some in the church who were really torn up about eating it – thinking it was sinful to eat food
offered to idols.
Paul addresses this issue starting with those who claim that it is OK to eat the food. And as he starts to address it, he
doesn’t even talk about the food. He quotes something they may have said in their letter – “We all have knowledge.”
Those who thought it was OK to eat the food were using their knowledge of life and faith and following Jesus to try to
force people to eat the food – or to say that it was OK to eat it.
But if anyone thinks he knows anything, Paul says, he better be careful. You may not know as much as you think you
do – and your knowledge is not the key factor on how to act. Some may have considered themselves experts on the
matter, but Paul reminds them that knowledge inflates with pride – it puffs people up. Knowledge should not be the
basis of how we interact with those who have a problem eating that food.
Knowledge used as a weapon is not love. If that’s how we use knowledge, we’re definitely not experts. Knowledge is
to be tempered with love. This is dealing with our personal use of knowledge so as to show love to others. But, verse
3, if anyone loves God, that person is known by God. Trust God – do what He says. Let love for God and love for
others determine how you respond to others.
So, to use knowledge as a weapon or to try to force someone to do something they think is wrong is not loving. Notice
that verse 3 starts with the word “but” – this is a contrast with verses 1 and 2. Knowledge puffs up and inflates with
pride. Holding knowledge as the determining factor in how to deal with people who have trouble eating this food is not
helpful or right. BUT if anyone loves God, that person is known by God.
In contrast to being puffed up and pretending to know what you’re talking about, loving God is preferable, better, more
effective, more useful to God and more loving. What we ought to utilize regarding knowledge is knowing and loving
God Himself. NOT knowing info, knowing loopholes, knowing stuff to make others feel intimidated or ignorant, not
knowing to merely know (not to fill our heads with information ABOUT Jesus, but to fill our lives WITH Jesus
HIMSELF).
This truth about knowledge and love is vital for every part of life. In verse 4 and following, Paul relates it to whether to
eat this food, but it relates to many other areas that we will talk about. 1 Corinthians 8:4-6. READ. Verse 4, as it
relates to this food, here’s what we know (if you want this to be based on what we know). We know that idols are
nothing and we know that there is no god except the true God. And, verse 5, even if there were other “gods,” here’s
the truth – verse 6 – for us there is one God, the Father FROM whom are all things – all things that exist are from God
and we who believe are FOR Him, AND there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, THROUGH whom are all things – He is the
Creator, the Word which God spoke and made everything that exists, including us. We exist THROUGH Him.
This is what we know and what we ought to base our involvement in questionable activities on. The activities of our
lives are not based on what we THINK we know about life. The truth is God the Father is who is the center and God
the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the One who made it all – so HE needs to be the central focus of what we do in this
life.
Read on. 1 Corinthians 8:7-13. READ. Not everyone knows that God the Father and God the Son are the center of
life. BUT it is not hidden or secret or unavailable. And it certainly is not restricted from anyone – God showed it to
US. And if WE have that knowledge, it does not make us any better or more privileged or smarter than anyone else.
Those who do not have the knowledge that there is one true God and one Savior Jesus Christ are LOST and IN
NEED of that knowledge. Turn to John 17:3. READ. That knowledge needs to be shared.
So whatever kind of food we eat or avoid eating has no bearing on our acceptance by God. We CAN eat whatever
we want as followers of Jesus. BUT, verse 9, if you partake of something and it causes another brother or sister to
stumble – to sin – you should not do it. This is where we can really relate this discussion to our lives. There really aren’
t that many foods we avoid for “religious” reasons – if any.
BUT what about alcohol or gambling? What about TV or movies? How about tattoos or body piercing? Even
smoking. The clothing styles we wear. You may say, “I have freedom in Christ to do this, that or the other – if it
bothers them, that’s their problem.” “It’s a free country.” “They’re just legalistic.” “They’re judging me.” “What’s right
for them may not be right for me.” “Get off my case!”
What’s wrong with those comments? It is NOT seeking the best for others no matter what the cost to you – it is NOT
LOVE. Our main interaction with others – especially others in the Body of Christ – is NOT to get our own way, but to
LOVE. It is to have the way of Jesus seen and followed by them.
So, verse 10ff, if our activity – alcohol, gambling, smoking, movies, TV, body art, whatever – is seen by a brother or
sister who considers it to be sinful or wrong – his or her “weakness” will be challenged and they might give in and do
one of those things still considering it to be sinful. Then that “weaker” brother or sister – and yes, they ARE weaker,
but as Paul explains it, it does not matter – that “weaker” brother or sister is ruined by your knowledge (back to verse
1). They would be participating in something that they still consider sinful – ignoring their own conscience or fighting
against it. That kind of feeling is NOT from God.
Verse 12 says that to do this is to SIN – to cause a brother or sister to do something against their own conscience.
And not just a sin against THEM – it is a sin against Christ Himself because they too are members of the Body of
Christ. So, because of this, if food causes my brother to fall, Paul says, I won’t eat that food (I won’t drink that
beverage, I won’t watch that show, I won’t wear those clothes – put your own life situation in here) TO PROTECT
MY BROTHER.
THAT is love. Would you live like that? That’s what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ – a
“Christian.” Would you lay aside your own rights? Lay aside your own comfort? Lay aside your own entertainment or
money or significance or enjoyment to help a brother or sister?
There was a mistake in each of those questions – something VERY inaccurate. It was the words, “you own.” Go back
to chapter 6:20 and 7:23. Who do your rights/comfort/money/enjoyment/significance – who does your LIFE belong to
if you are a follower of Jesus? Chapter 6:19 says that we are not our own. We belong to God who bought us with the
life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are HIS.
Can I live like this? Can I lay down my life for others? It is not MY life – I should do what my OWNER wants (7:
22). Turn to 1 John 3:16. READ. We are to live like Jesus lived. Lay down your life for others – live for them to see
God the Father and Jesus the Savior.
We’re using a lot of “would you,” “could you.” The real question is WILL you? Will I? Some things are a lot easier to
handle based on love, but there are likely certain things that each of us will hold onto pretty tightly. If we SAY we
belong to God – if we claim that our time, talent and treasure are His – will we live that way?
I am NOT talking about giving more to the church – although you can give more if your Master wants you to. I am
talking about seeing the needs and concerns around us – seeing the convictions of perhaps “weaker” brothers or sisters
– and “denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Jesus” (Matthew 6:24).
If I am unwilling to relinquish control of my life to the Master – the One who owns me, the One who made me, the One
who allows me to exist at His own pleasure – then I am my OWN master, plain and simple. Is there any other way to
explain a person who refuses to do what his Master requires? And is it so horrible, what our Master requires? TO
LOVE others? TO FOLLOW Him? What keeps you from jumping in with both feet?
You can spend more time on the answers to this question in your further study time – but what keeps you from jumping
in with both feet?
- I don’t have enough money
- I don’t like the people God is bringing me to serve
- I’m addicted to ___(fill in your addiction)_______
- I like what I’m doing/eating/drinking/watching/wearing
Each of those questions are listed in your further study notes with verses to consult. The fact is that there is no issue that
God has not made possible for us to be involved with Him to love Him and others.
I realize, of course, that merely hearing me talk about this will not bring the changes to your life that God wants to work
in you. You might agree that this is correct – you may have shaken your head in agreement, but if it is merely based on
knowledge and on hearing this message on October 23, 2011, it won’t take long to wear off.
BUT if you respond obediently to the Spirit of God – trusting Him and doing what He says – leaning NOT on your own
understanding, but acknowledging Him in ALL your ways, HE WILL direct your paths – make your paths…straighten
up and make you fly right as the Spirit of God works in your heart and life. LOVE ONE ANOTHER.