Everything Is Okay but Not Everything Is Helpful

by: Chic Broersma

When Paul declares all things lawful, he clearly is not speaking of immoral behavior such as gluttony, drunkenness, or illicit sex. Instead he is addressing behaviors that are neither good nor bad in themselves but are nonetheless able to enslave a person. Paul also has in mind his Jewish Christian readers, many of whom remained captive to numerous dietary and other ritual rules.

The truth of the Christian faith is not that it gives us freedom to sin but that it gives freedom not to sin. Some people brag about being free to do whatever they please: to gamble, to party, to spend countless hours watching TV, to buy whatever they want. The real question is: are they free not to do these things? What we do has the power to become our master. When that happens, the activity is not beneficial to us or others.

Jesus died to save us in body as well as soul so that he alone will be our Master. God intends our bodies to be living, breathing, walking, talking temples in which the Holy Spirit lives. Redeemed by Christ we’re free not to do whatever we please, but to do what pleases the Spirit of God within us. And to do what is helpful to others.