“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.—1 Corinthians 10:23-24
Paul’s reasoning is a little confusing, but so helpful. You are free in Christ to do anything.
BUT not everything is helpful or constructive. In other words, just because you CAN doesn’t mean you SHOULD.
Later, when discussing meat sacrificed to idols, he uses this same line of reasoning. Sure, you CAN eat it, but if another person you are with expresses concern, DON’T, so that way you don’t upset or confuse them.
This isn’t how we are accustomed to thinking.
Normally we do whatever we want however we want. Other people can like it or lump it. But Paul wants us to be in tune with our brothers and sisters in Christ. He wants us to act in consideration of others, not simply for self.
Your actions might cause a brother or sister to struggle in faith and you are aware of this? Then change behavior to accommodate them. It’s not just about what you want—it’s about all of us together walking towards Jesus in faith.
This mindset is so foreign to Americanism, it is difficult for us to think about how to proceed, but it could probably be summed up in another verse from Paul’s writings:
“in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Phil 2:3)
When we start to make spiritual growth not just about ME but instead about US, we are beginning to understand the radical vision God has for humanity in Jesus Christ—the embodiment of loving one another.
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This morning’s text: “You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me.”—John 5:39
God gave the Scriptures as a tool to show us Jesus. In studying them, we see the character of God displayed.
Beautifully, however…
I am increasingly convinced that almost any place where we give well-intentioned time, care and attention, we can encounter aspects of God.
In gardening, science, art, cooking, mechanics, etc. we discover patterns and qualities that are inherent in the very nature of who God is.
Theologians call this “natural theology” or “general revelation.”
As we find these qualities, they are confirmed in the unique and beautiful revelation given in the pages of Scripture (what theologians call “special revelation”).
When the women are on their way to the tomb (in Mark’s account), they ask one another: “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
Very next sentence: “But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.”
The thing about which they had been worried—the stone—was already taken care of. But—even better—God had done more with that moved stone than they could have ever imagined.
They wanted to move the stone to embalm a body.
God wanted to move the stone to raise the dead.
This is how God often works, both in the Bible and in our lives.
He is answering our prayer or addressing our concern—but he is doing so much more than we could ever know.
Ephesians 3:20: “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or *imagine*.”
About to crash into post-church nap, BUT if you care, here’s my take on the Matthew 16 “you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church” after all the great discussion earlier this week. 🧵
As has been well-documented, Jesus refers Peter as “petros,” the Greek word for stone or rock. In John 1 Jesus calls him Cephas, the Aramaic word for rock. But let’s be honest: Peter ain’t a rock. Not by a long shot. He’s erratic.
He denies Jesus three times. He cuts off an ear of the servant of the high priest. He makes Jesus so made that he gets called Satan. He has great moments of promise and great moments of disappointment.
For those wanting some good news about churches, religion, and our fair city, wanted to share some fun things from my day:
In the wake of George Floyd, a small group of clergy (Xian, Jewish, and Muslim) convened to brainstorm ideas about policing in our city.
We each wanted to talk through practical steps that could be taken to support LEOs, improve community relations, and take some steps towards reform.
We met a number of times across 2020 for hours at a time.
After a *lot* of meetings, we sent some recommendations to the city.
The city put together a task force and brought recommendation to the mayor on steps they wanted to take—and included our suggestions. @SylvesterTurner’s office took the task force report, appointed an independent oversight board, and they began implementation.
May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.—1 Sam 24:12
David refused to participate in vengeance towards Saul. He trusted God’s justice.
Hard as it is, let us actively love and entrust vengeance to God.
In those moments when I want to lash out, to go after the jugular of the one I perceive to be my enemy, I remember:
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.—1 Peter 2:23
I am sometimes surprised, as someone who despises conflict and actively works to avoid it, how easy it is to end up in a heart posture of wanting to lash out at someone who has hurt me personally.