Christian Liberty Part 2 February 28, 2007
Posted by marineben in Christian Liberty, Theology.add a comment
This is the continuation of my exegesis on Christian liberty based on 1 Corinthians 8-10. As I previously stated, please feel free to critique and comment. There is more application and refining of thoughts left to come, but this is my initial homiletical interpretation of Paul’s teachings on Christian liberty.
You can find part one here.
1 Corinthians 10 is where Paul makes one more illustration, this time of the misuse and abuse of Christian liberty, and then puts forth the final principles for using Christian liberty. The first 10 verses of the chapter starts off with Paul using the illustration of Israel and their fall into idolatry and complaining, and warns the reader against both of these sins. The interesting way that Paul sets up the first part of this passage is by pointing out that Israel had everything going for them, with the presence of God, the power of God, and the perfect leader and example in the man of God. Despite all of those things, they turned to idolatry and griping. In every Bible translation, this illustration of Israel seems to be treated as being separate from his dealing with the issue of Christian liberty as seen in the “meat eating” question. The same is true for the majority of commentators that I have access to. The only commentary that I thought made a decent attempt to fit this into the overall passage was “Expositor’s Bible Commentary.” I really do believe, though, that given the fact that this illustration falls between a clear teaching on Christian liberty and the final verses on Christian liberty, it has to relate in some way to that teaching. I believe the answer to how it relates is found in verses 11-13
11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
I think that the illustration from Israel’s history is teaching us that even though God has given us everything in Christ, including liberty, if we use that liberty to indulgence it can go too far and lead us into sin. When Israel was at the height of God’s blessing – Moses was on the mountain receiving God’s law, and they were worshiping God at a feast – their feasting and worshiping turned into a desire for a concrete physical image and the idolatry of the golden calf. The temptation to use our liberty as indulgence in physical pleasure can easily lead us into sin if we are not careful. While the temptation to abuse our liberty and commit sin may be great, God will provide a way out of the temptation without falling into sin. My thought is that a careful use of our liberty will help us to see God’s way out.
I intended to take this post to the end of the chapter, but I will do Paul’s final principles later.
Christian Liberty Part 1 February 24, 2007
Posted by marineben in Christian Liberty, Theology.2 comments
I have been preaching through First Corinthians in our chapel services on the base, and have been extremely challenged and even convicted by my study through chapter 8-10. I grew up with one view of Christian liberty, which was very restrictive, and I have seen some versions of Christian liberty, which seem to make anything allowable for a Christian. However, as I have been studying 1 Corinthians 8-10, I come up with a more complete and purposeful view of Christian liberty. This is only the beginning of my thoughts and I know there will be more to come. I would welcome any comments as I continue to refine my thinking in this area. Today I just want to lay out an initial overview of the total passage.
To start with, I believe from my study that the theme of 1 Corinthians is spiritual maturity. Everything Paul deals with is heading toward encouraging Christians to be completely mature in their faith.
In chapter 8, Paul is answering the question from the Corinthians which was addressed to him in a letter about whether it was right to eat meat which had been sacrificed to idols. He begins his discussion of this subject by saying that knowledge can make a person proud and arrogant, but love will build up the other person and seek their best. This will be important in his discussion. He then goes on to make it clear that an idol is absolutely powerless and worthless, therefore to have anything sacrificed to one of these inanimate objects means nothing. He continues the discussion, however, by saying that there are some Christian brothers and sisters whose faith is not strong and they are unable to eat this meat without it defiling their conscience. I believe Paul is saying with this line of argumentation that these people are immature in their faith. He continues, though, by giving the mature view of Christian liberty – that the mature Christian will set aside his freedom to indulge in that meat for the sake of the weaker (immature) brother. That is the short view of chapter 8.
Chapter 9 is an illustration from Paul’s own life of how he uses his Christian liberty. He starts off with a series of rhetorical questions that show his apostleship and the right he has to expect certain rewards and treatment because of that apostleship. His overall point is that he has the right to have a wife and travel with his family and expect the churches to take care of him and his family financially. Then he begins his example of how he sets aside this liberty he has to expect this treatment. He willingly preaches the gospel and asks for nothing in return, because he does not want anyone to ever get the impression that what he does is for money. He then closes his illustration from his life by making the statement that he would become “all things to all people” in order to present the gospel to them. My interpretation of this is that his use of Christian liberty is not to bring himself pleasure, but to be flexible enough to participate in whatever the activity that did not cross the line into sin. I say this because one of the statements he makes is that he will become a Jew to the Jew and a Gentile to the Gentile in order to see them come to Christ. The way I see this is that when he was with Jewish people, he willingly at Kosher, although he realized that God did not require this of him. When he ate with Gentiles and they served pork, he would utilize his freedom in the opposite direction and eat the pork. Everything he did was for the purpose of forming relationships that would lead to salvation of the individual.
For now, that is all that I am going to discuss, but stay tune to part 2 covering chapter 10.
Running the Race February 17, 2007
Posted by marineben in Theology, running.add a comment
This was in our local paper this morning. (Hopefully, I’m not violating any copyright by posting it here!) Our base participated in the Step Up Florida! health event. The two guys running on either side of me and the guy on the bicycle in the back are all Navy SEALS that are stationed on our base. They asked me if I wanted to run with them for their leg of the event.
One of the Apostle Paul’s favorite pictures of the Christian life is that of a runner. A verse that I used in last Sunday’s sermon on 1 Corinthians 9, was Phillippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” This is just one of Paul’s pictures of the Christian life as a race with a goal to be reached at the end. Unfortunately, many times I find that running for physical benefits is much easier than living my life in a way to please God and reach for that Heavenly and spiritual prize that should be our goal. I like the way that The Message paraphrases Phillippians 3:12-14,
I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.
It shows us that the goal is Christlikeness, our reaching out for Christ, in response to Christ’s shed blood that reached out with God’s love for us. The part that I really like is that Paul says that even he doesn’t have it completely together, but he keeps his eye on the goal, that ultimately will never be reached here on earth. I can relate to that! Although I will never experience perfect Christlikeness, I can keep my eye on Christ and my back to the world. Easier said than done at times, but the goal of pleasing, and one day seeing, my Savior is the ultimate prize!
Update on life i.e. “It is well with my soul” February 3, 2007
Posted by marineben in Personal, Theology.2 comments
Wow, its been nearly 2 months since I last posted. I don’t know that I will ever be better about posting here. I am not very good at getting around to things as I should.
So, what’s been going on?
1. Christmas and New Year’s passed by. It was pretty good. We didn’t go anywhere, but I had a lot of time off work between Christmas, New Year’s and then the following Monday for President’s Ford Memorial, and then MLK Jr. Day. You gotta love working for the government.
2. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve service at the base chapel, where we had 36 people attend. I know what you are thinking – that is pathetic! When you are used to seeing 7-12 people in a service, you feel like Billy Graham when preaching to more than 30 people. I don’t push the chapel very much, and refer many more people to local churches in town than the base chapel. It’s not that I don’t want people to come, but theologically, I think the concept of a base chapel with no local membership accountability is Biblically problematic. No offense to other followers of Christ who would interpret church membership differently.
3. Along with several other younger pastors in the local area, we have started a theological reading club. The name is as yet undecided, but we have Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, and hopefully Calvary Chapel represented. Judging by the discussion we had at our first monthly meeting in January, this should be an interesting time for “iron to sharpen iron.” Our first discussion in February will center around the book, Perspectives on Church Government: Five views of Church Polity. I am almost through it and will try to comment on it when finished, (although, I wouldn’t wait with baited breath on that review, however, given my timely entries to this blog). I am in charge of April’s meeting, and I am probably going to go with Brian McLaren’s, A Generous Orthodoxy.
Well, to wrap up, I have to relate an experience from last week. I attended the Professional Development Training Conference for Navy Chaplains at NAS JAX in Jacksonville FL. On my way to the conference last Monday, I was listening to numerous CD’s during the 6 hour drive. I listened to some country, but mostly Christian including Spanish Praise and Worship by Marcos Witt, “Lifesong” by Casting Crowns and other Praise and Worship. Out of all the more contemporary songs I was listening to, though, I found myself most moved to worship God by the hymn, “It is Well With My Soul” on one of the Passion CD’s. This great hymn of the faith is one of those that will last and fit into any contemporary setting because of its timeless message and truth, and musically it works well in almost any setting. Everytime I hear that song and think about the history behind it, I find myself worshipping with all my being. The words are deeply theological and remind us of all aspects of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to know,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Chorus:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
My prayer is that I live my life in the knowledge of Christ’s sacrifice that has paid for my forgiveness! My favorite verse is “…my sin…is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more” and my only response is how that verse ends, “Praise the Lord”!!
