Drink Away, My Friend! Drink Away!

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (ESV)
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to 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, that they may be saved."

Tomorrow morning I will be preaching on 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 where I will primarily be focusing on verse 31.  In that verse Paul states that everything we do should be to the glory of God.  Of course, our mission at First Baptist is to glorify God by making disciples and this verse is actually one of the verses the church choose long before I came to  minister to represent their mission.  This verse standing alone is very powerful, but when put into the perspective of the context I believe it becomes even more powerful.

Every week I find a few things that I could say in my sermon that would be challenging and some things, if said, would be very unsettling.  When I study for my messages I try to take the context into account and try to understand the author's perspective rather than what I want to hear.  This passage is no different.  When I read and studied the nine verses before 1 Corinthians 10:31 I began to see where Paul was coming from and what he was trying to convey to the church in Corinth.  In this passage Paul is talking about our freedom as believers.  He says very plainly in verse 23, "'All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful,' but not all things build up."  In other words, as believers we are free to do many things without the fear of conviction, as long as it is not sinful.  But even those things, though we can do them with good conscience, are no always the best things for us. 

Here is an example: Drinking alcohol is not sinful, but it may not be the best thing for me to do.  Especially is it is against another's conscience.  Though I may not have a problem with drinking, someone else around me (believer or unbeliever) may and so Paul says that we should not drink in front of them lest we violate their conscience.  We do this not because I need to please others around me, but because the guy who doesn't want me to drink is the weaker brother and so I must be willing to help that weaker brother in his growth in Christ, even it means stopping something that is rightfully allowable.

The background to verse 31 is based off of our freedom as believers without violating the conscience of the weaker brother or unbelieving friend.  "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."  We do things in our life not because we want to prove a point of our freedom in Christ, but because we are to bring glory to God through everything.  If it takes for me to not drink to bring God glory than so be it.  But if someone's conscience is not violated then I say, "Drink away, my friend!  Drink away!"  Just do it for God's glory and not to prove a point.

I'm a Poor Example and It Sucks

1 Peter 5:1-3 (ESV)
"So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."

I will have to admit something to you all. I struggle with staying focused on my vocation and ministry of being a pastor. There are days that would rather sleep in until 10:00am, go to bed early, and do nothing but watch football in between. And would have to admit that I don't do the best in fulfilling the scripture above.

Peter lays out some basic principles for elders/pastors: shepherd the flock, serve eagerly, and be an example to the flock. But the principle I feel that I need to focus on the most is the final principle. Honestly, there are weeks where I feel like such a hypocrit. During my sermons on Sunday mornings I preach the a true believer in Christ can't help but live their life for Christ. In other words, reaching out and preaching the gospel of Truth through their words and actions. And yet, as I live my life during the week I would have to admit that most of my time is spent with believers. I mean a 99-1 ratio believers-unbelievers. And usually that 1% unbelievers are those I run into at the grocery store and our conversation doesn't go past "Hello. How is life? Oh, that's good."

And then I get frustrated with my leadership because they are unwilling to even think about getting out of their comfort zones, go down to the bar, buy a coke, and sit with "sinners." I am certainly not being a good example.

So, why don't I get out of my comfort zone enough? Yes, God has called me to lead the people of this church in spiritual growth, intimate relationships with each other and Christ, and challenging them in their beliefs about their faith. That is my vocation, my job. But that job does not give me a pass on evangelism. Man, I frustrate myself. God has called each of us who believe in Him to make disciples, help expand His kingdom (not ours), and bring Him glory through our lives.

Sometimes I just feel like I'm riding the fence. I want to be on fire for Christ, but my own selfishness and depravity get in the way. How do I get past this hump in my spiritual life and ministry? How do I jump in the game and hit the line with all my might? (Sorry for the football analogy.) How do I give Christ all of me instead of most or just some of me? That is the real question.

Suffering for Jesus (Sort Of)

1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV)
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."

I remember receiving a phone call from my dad a number of months ago. He was on the west coast (I believe in Oregon) standing in front of the Pacific Ocean. He was there for some type of Regional Minister's Conference. When I asked him what he was doing right at that moment he said, "I'm breathing in the ocean air and walking on the beach." My response was very sarcastic. "So, you're suffering for Jesus, eh?"

We in America have no idea was suffering for Christ is all about. Or maybe a different way of stating it is that the suffering for Christ that Peter is talking about in 1 Peter 4 is not something we can relate to. All over the world people are dying because of their faithfulness to the call of Christ in their life. But the most we suffer, outwardly at least, is to be told "no" when we invite others to a Bible study.

I say outwardly because I feel that the persecution that we normally suffer here in America is inwardly (Is that even a word?). For example, as men we walk into a grocery store and we walk past the lingerie section. Our mind wanders and we begin to lust in our hearts. Or we struggle with any type of sin and the fight is not usually between on individual and another, but between one individual and their own inner thoughts and desires. Yes, those around us may be affected by our sinfulness (especially close family members and friends), but most of the suffering comes from the inner turmoil that occurs in our heart and mind.

We have no idea what it means to suffer for Christ, at least outwardly. Maybe that's the problem with us in America. We've become too relaxed and see our faith as an inward struggle between us, our desires, and the desires of Christ. When in actuality we should also be suffering for Christ outwardly. When was the last time I asked a "God Question" to someone outside of the Church? It's been a while. And I'm ashamed of that.

Easier Said Than Done

"So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander." 1 Peter 2:1 (ESV)

I will have to admit that as a pastor I tend to read passages like 1 Peter 2 in the direction of the congregation rather than myself. After all, they need to hear things like this much more often than I do. But more often than not I find God using the scripture yes to talk about the church I pastor, but much more often than not God uses the scripture to speak to me.

I know this all sounds very much obvious. Of course God speaks to us personally through His Word. But how many times have you read a passage and another person's name came to mind and when our name comes to mind we tend to suppress it.

Take a look at the 1 Peter 2:1 again. All too often I find that I fulfill most if not all of those words Peter uses. He is in a way begging the churches in Galatia to live a life different from the world around them. He desires for their lives to reveal the glory of God through their circumstances and how they react to those circumstances. "[S]o that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:7). How much more should my life reveal the glory of God.

But all too often words spoken are easier said than done. I am finding that the more I try to live my life for Christ the more I fail. What I mean by this is that I try it on my own, through my own power. That is why I fail. The only way to accomplish the goal of true sanctification is through the work of God in my life. He needs to do the work in me. And I need to be willing to be changed. Obviously, right now I'm not ready because I am still grasping onto the hope that I can handle it. Now the definition of insanity is coming to mind.