VII.
This passage becomes (at least for me) an exercise in “if … then.” “If (A) is true, and if (B) is true, what THEN.”

Maybe we could think of this as some of the paradoxes inherent in discipleship. If “paradoxes” is too strong of a word for you, maybe we could say “contrasts” in the life of the disciple.

Let’s take a look at these paradoxes/contrasts.

VIII.
1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 (NRSVue)

“All things are permitted,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are permitted,” but not all things build up. Do not seek your own advantage but that of the other. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience, for “the earth and its fullness are the Lord’s.” If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who informed you and for the sake of conscience— I mean the other’s conscience, not your own. For why should my freedom be subject to the judgment of someone else’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why should I be denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage but that of many, so that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

IX.

All things are permitted,
    Not all things are beneficial.
All things are permitted,
    Not all things build up.
Seek your own advantage,
    Seek the advantage of the other.
Eat whatever is before you,
    Do not eat for the sake of the conscience of the other.

Have you had the opportunity (challenge) to walk this line that Paul draws? If so, when was it? How did you walk it?

Sometimes the statement that, “… i try to please everyone in everything I do…” gives me trouble. It sounds like the opposite of “freedom.” It could sound like what I think doesn’t matter. Do you think that is what Paul has in mind here?

One more thing from this passage,

“… do everything for the glory of God.”

How can we live with the paradoxes Paul puts before us while seeking “the glory of God”?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}