Giving Up Your Rights
Most of ZA’s readers are American or Australian, Westerners who love their freedom. Freedom of speech, baby! “I’m proud to be an American (an Amurican?), where at least I know I’m free!” Often, we take the opposite of freedom to be bondage, and thus react very negatively when anyone tries to step on our rights. This spills over into the realm of Christianity, where the freedom of the believer is a very important part of our doctrine. But while freedom is important, it’s not the most important. It will always be subordinate to the glory of God and the advancement of the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 9 and 10 shed some light into this area.
1 Corinthians 9:1
Am I not free?
The subject of the chapter involves the freedom of the believer. It seems that the Corinthians resented preachers who didn’t work for a living. Nobody likes a freeloader, I guess. Paul, even though he was a preacher, continued to work to sustain himself. Acts 18:3 says that Paul was a tentmaker, and while Philippians 4:16 shows that he did accept aid from people, he wanted to work as well.
However, Paul knew that this was not required of him, and spends verses 6-14 thoroughly crushing the Corinthians’ notions that preachers have to work. This is good stuff. He makes some logical arguments, then grounds the whole thing in Scripture.
So, lesson learned. Paul is gonna quit his job and live off of his flock now, right?
1 Corinthians 9:15
But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.
Verse 15 says that even though he’s got the right, he’s not taking it. After elaborating on his refusal to take money to preach, he says this:
1 Corinthians 9:19
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
Paul answers his question from verse one. He is free! But freedom is not the most important thing to Paul. He would rather work for a living to be more credible to the Corinthians than fight for his right to be supported by his flock. And look! In verses 6-14, he already makes the arguments. He’s right! But even if the Corinthians knew he was right, they’d still subtly resent the fact that he was not working for a living. Paul says that isn’t worth it.
The apostle elaborates on this idea in the second half of chapter 10.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.
24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
The subject this time is about eating food that had been sacrificed to idols. Paul in verse 26 shows that the act of putting any kind of meat in your mouth and swallowing it isn’t bad. But if a believer knew that it was sacrificed to an idol, then they shouldn’t take part in it (vv. 20-21). A believer could eat that meat, no problem! But to those looking on, seeing their brother or their leader doing what pagans to, it could mess them up really badly. Why would you risk that? Just eat the veggies for dinner and call it a night; there’s no point flaunting your freedom if it comes at the expense of another believer.
Now here is the crux of the matter.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,
33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, they may be saved.
The key point to take away from this article is that, when we’re dealing with other people, when we make decisions about how we act around others, it has to be with the Kingdom in mind. We have to be more concerned about advancing God’s agenda rather than our own.
This is the beginning of an idea which I will talk more about in future issues, that Christianity isn’t about following rules. People have a sense that the Bible is a cosmic rule book, a do and don’t list that if you mostly keep, you’ll stay out of Hell. But to me, this is such a restrictive view of the beauty of God’s Word! Christians shouldn’t follow rules because they have to, they should follow the rules because they want to do what pleases God in the best possible way.
What’s going on in your life that is possibly being a stumbling block to others? Is there something that you are fighting for because you want freedom, but it really isn’t helping anybody? By worldly standards, surrendering freedom means living in bondage or oppression. We can’t be happy, because freedom is one of the highest worldly things we can attain. But in our faith, this isn’t the case. Surrendering freedom means giving up one thing for something better: a greater capacity to love God and reach out to others.
Grace and peace,
Brendan
To view more personal reflections on the content of this article, click here.
