Can I or Can’t I?

Today’s scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?

My thoughts (Vivian Wyatt):

Oh my word, when I was growing up in rural Virginia, there were so many things I couldn’t do: play cards or dance on Sunday, play with any board games that had dice, or wear pants, just to name a few. I never got a clear understanding why these simple things were forbidden. Perhaps my parents thought these were things that would lead me down the wrong path. I don’t know what softened their hearts, but by the time I was a teenager, those rules didn’t seem so important after all.

In this passage, Paul states that “‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up.”  The problem in Corinth that Paul was addressing was the eating of food that had been offered to idols. Should they or shouldn’t they? What should good followers of Christ do?

Eating food offered to idols is not a problem for most of us in the Unites States, but suppose the issue was a glass of wine at dinner. Can a good Christian have a nice glass of Pinot Grigio with her dinner? Or an Amoretto Sour to unwind?

Paul’s take is that everything is good because God created everything. However, you must consider your brother or sister. Will drinking a glass of wine cause her to stumble; that is, cause her to lose her spiritual footing?

I will turn again to Paul for the answer. In Romans 14 (The Message) Paul writes, “Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with — even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table; while another, with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ’s table, wouldn’t it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn’t eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God’s welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.”

Thought for the day: In disputable matters, let God be your conscience. Don’t argue about it; and even if you feel free to partake, remember the people around you and abstain if your action is a temptation to them.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.