“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 1 Corinthians 10:23
Paul was talking about whether or not the Christians in Corinth could eat the meat that was sacrificed to pagan idols. Some people stated it promoted the rituals and should not be condoned. Others thought it was not a big deal. It didn’t taint them or affect them. Who cared?
Today it seems, more than ever, anything goes. Boundaries are being erased. Morals are passe. The late 20th century philosophy of ” I’m O.K., You’re O.K.” has blossomed into a self-orientated “let me do what I want” way of thinking. Centers of our little universes, drawing cyberspace attention to ourselves, thinking the world really cares what we ate for breakfast or where we are going over the weekend as long as we say it in 140 characters or less. Millions of voices all chattering at once and never really listening to each other.
In the midst of the din of ” me,Me,ME” , we Christians stand with another beacon, shining not to attract attention to ourselves but to the One who can save this world. Strange concept in an age of anything goes. Ours is the call to adhere to the laws of sacrificial love, atonement for our sins, and putting others before our own needs. Unheard of in Paul’s day in the multi-cultural, over-tolerant city of Corinth.
Paul goes on to say, Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor (vs 24).
Perhaps, today, more than ever before, it is exactly what the world needs to hear.
Question- We can communicate with people all over the world in a split second. What message are we sending? Does it build people up, or us up? Does it point to Christ, or back to us?
