To Do or Not to Do, That Is the Question

If you would turn in your Bibles to first rank and chapter 10. The title of the message tonight is to do or not to do that is the question to do or not to do that is the question I'm going to go ahead and put up the next slide that shows you are considerations tonight six points. It will look at some of them will be very brief of the one on edification will probably be the longest but I'll put that up and you can be counting those down if you care to show it again at the end of the course will be dealing with them one by one as we go through the message. Let me say this before we read first Corinthians 1031 through chapter 11 verse one goes without saying that there's a lot that is changed in our country.

If you were to describe what you see today to someone 10 to 15 years ago they wouldn't believe it is happening. Sadly, folks.

Not only is a lot changing in our country.

There's a lot changing in the true as a whole, and I think it's very needful for us just to be reminded what do I use as someone who is been saved for some time to determine making decisions about whether I'll participate in something as I interact with weaker believers, and by that I mean newer Christians. What should I used to determine whether I should participate in something or not.

I hope tonight that we can share with you some principles. These principles that will be beneficial not to fear that I'm going to get off on an athletic tangent again, but I do want to begin by saying one thing, over the years of coaching. Whatever you do with the written business or coaching or church work is pastor Bartman alluded to this morning, you develop a flossy over the years.

I was looking in my lateral file in my philosophy that I have the file on philosophy of coaching literally is about an inch and 1/2 thick and as I grew more mature as a Christian I came to realize that if I could practice first Corinthians 1031 through 33 and verse one of chapter 11. That's philosophy of or anything and if you would look at that with me will read it and then I'm going to read a brief introduction book 1st Corinthians 10 starting with verse 31 in the context is eating meat offered to idols and Paul says therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to the Jews order the Greeks or the church of God. Just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of many, that they may be saved and then starting verse 11.

He writes imitate me just as I also imitate Christ. That philosophy of athletics that I mentioned I called finishing which simply means doing your best for the glory of God. Corinthians 1031 and the eternal good of men.

Great short introduction this message were going to consider six principles that can help us determine whether we should participate in something that is potentially harmful to a believer who is young and the faith were not talking about decisions that are un-offensive by their very nature, like eating at Cracker Barrel or playing chess. The example will consider is how Paul addressed eating meat offered to idols, some established believers had the liberty of conscience. Data for new converts who were saved out of idolatry, eating the meat would've violated their conscience and I want to give this note because you're going to hear this as we go through the message tonight. Paul emphasizes words like a week conscience and liberty often in several text to show the seriousness of our decisions. We will be in the book of first Corinthians 2 or three different chapters and then will will look at Romans 14 briefly so won't be a lot of turning in your Bible, what you will have to do some the first thing they want to consider. The first principle is the enslavement principle does this activity in any way control me and beloved that takes being honest does this activity. Good or bad in any way control me.

You need to turn back a few chapters if you would to first Corinthians chapter 6, first Corinthians 6 and were going to read verse 12 first Corinthians 612 all things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of many or any I should say Paul has purpose that he's not can be brought under the dominion or power of anything that you note that statement. All things are lawful for me, it's almost like he's starting now advocating a blank check to do anything and everything in it couldn't be further from the truth. All things are lawful for me, was a popular phrase in Corinth and it was based on a false view of Christian liberty.

We don't could become free from the law, the grace of Christ only to become in bondage to something else we don't become free from the law and then continue in sin.

Paul rebukes that I and Romans. As Christians we must ask ourselves, will this thing enslavement is this activity really profitable for my spiritual life not concerning things that are sinful. As we said Romans 612 clearly states that we have a choice when it comes to bondage. Paul wrote, therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it and it's lost. So the bottom line number considering the enslavement principle when it comes to sinful practices God is going to give us the grace and the strength and the wisdom to overcome these we do not have to be enslaved by them and we can put it simply, as you see on the screen, choose to master sinful luster, sinful, lustful master you is just that straightforward. Choose to master sinful lusts for sinful, lustful master you and I give you the reference James 114 and 15 and you know what that's referring to.

Every man is tempted one is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed, and it ends up saying one sin is finished, it brings forth death. It could be physical death. Beloved, but it could be the death of the reputation or testimony. It could be the death of an occupation if I fall in the sin market down on the longer stand behind this pulpit but the bottom line is this were not careful, are lustful master us what what about sins or activities that are not sent.

What about things that are out there that are not patently sinful, not condemning God's word. Charles Hodge gives the following pieces some believers are slaves to certain forms of indulgence which they defend on the basis that they're not wrong in themselves forgetting that it's wrong to be in bondage to any appetite or have we read that last part they they defend their involvement on the basis that this thing is not wrong in itself, forgetting that it's wrong to be in bondage to any appetite or habit. I jotted just a few in my notes sports cell phones, television, etc., in and of themselves. Nothing wrong with them, but if we become enslaved to them whether dominating our lives in our time the wrong Matthew Henry adds this lamp. He says Christian should not barely consider what is in itself a lawful to be done, but what is fit for them to do considering their profession character relations in hopes they should be very careful that by curing the notion that all things are lawful for me, too far not brought in the bondage folks. He's saying that when you make a decision, determine whether it's fit for you to do considering your profession that can involve your profession of faith or what you do.

Considering your character, your relations and your hopes quite frankly, in the millisecond of time. I believe I can honestly say that I consider my position as a pastor, a husband and a father or grandfather when deciding to participate in something now. How can you say that you do that in a split second you make a lot of these decisions ahead of time there some things I'm not going to do on one when instantaneously the opportunity pops up.

The decisions already made as a pastor I will not do. This is a husband I will not do. This is a father, etc. questions to ask when it comes to enslavement principle to first what is my reaction if I cannot do this activity when I really want to do so.

What is my reaction if I cannot do this activity when I really want to do so. Do I get angry.

I get frustrated if that's the case, and perhaps you're addicted for action enslaved. The second question, does this activity habitually hinder me from doing more profitable things does this activity habitually hinder me from doing more profitable things. If it does, and that's a priority issue. The next principle we looked at the enslavement principle business activity in any way control me. The next one is the edification principle the edification and this would be the longest of of the ones that we consider tonight and it'll take a couple of different text, the edification principle this my participation help or hurt the development of godliness in me and others. Does my participation help or hurt the development of godliness in me or others. If you would turn back to first Corinthians 8 wrong and look at two verses in this first Corinthians 8, verse one states now concerning things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies knowledge puffs up Charles Hodge again. He says the Greek word here is used in the New Testament, in the sense of to blow to fill with when to in-flight inflate knowledge divorced from love tends to inflate the mind. In other words it makes is vain and makes us conceited.

I'll mention this again later, but we gotta be very careful that our liberty in Christ is not become a thing of pride.

He says at the end of this knowledge puffs up, but love edifies love edifies Romans 1310 love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Beloved, merely knowing the truth merely knowing the truth profits little until use that knowledge wisely give you two examples or document Christian liberty beat me. This guy has it here's an unwise use of knowledge. John get a grip.

This meat was offered to a false God, get over it. Enjoy it. That is a wrong use of knowledge. You know your belittling your prideful looking down and basically you're saying spiritually grow up to, what about a wise use of the knowledge or the liberty that you can eat me offered to a figment of man's imagination and idle John, I will need it if it offends you, but I would like to talk about this some time and love it when you say I would like to talk about this some time and you you want to discuss it. Hopefully in a profitable way. You still gotta let the Holy Spirit do the leading in John's life, drop down, if you would in first Corinthians 8 to verse seven. He's told us in verse one we know that we all have knowledge but down in verse seven he says. However, there are not in everyone there is not in everyone that knowledge for some with consciousness of the idle until now needed is a thing offered to an idol in their conscience being wake is to file notices part with consciousness of the idle ESP translates that former association with the idle.

However, there is not in everyone that knowledge for some with former association with the idle until now needed is a thing offered to an idol in their conscience, being weak is to file the words until now revealed their new believers they use to practice idolatry until now. Verse seven goes on and it says that their conscience being weak is to file I look at Charles Hodge again. He says a week conscience is one that either regards as wrong. What is not, in fact, so or one that is not clear, and decided in his judgments. What is a week conscience is one that either regards as wrong. What is not, in fact, so it's not wrong or a week. Conscience is one that is not clear decided in its judgments.

Romans 1423 that will look at little bit later states everything that does not come from faith is sin, and therefore, beloved, whatever person does thinking it's wrong or being unsure whether it's wrong or not it send that person. And so we who are older and the Lord more mature in the Lord.

We need to be very very careful that we don't try to talk people and doing something that they're not certain in their conscience that they should do. The last thing under verse seven, the word defiled means something which the unenlightened conscience does not allow we defiled their consciences to file. They've done something that there unenlightened conscience does not allow under this principle of edification. We want to ask you to turn back to first Corinthians chapter 10 first Corinthians 10 and this was probably the toughest section of the message for me to study through and I pray that the Lord will enable me to explain this well for us. First Corinthians 10 I want to read 23 to 30 and were only going to make a comment on a couple of verses because the rest speak for themselves. But those those particular verses were challenged to me and looking to commentaries but this text.

First Corinthians 1023 through 30 is another example, the priority of not offending the weaker brother, beginning with verse 23. All things are lawful for me, there is that statement all things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.

All things are lawful for me, but not all things edifies.

Let no one seek his own, but each one. The other's well-being eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience sake, for the earth is the Lord's and all its fullness, if any, of those who do not believe invite you to dinner and you desire to go eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience but if anyone says to you this was offered idols do not need it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience sake, for the earth, visible warts and all its fullness. Verse 29 conscience I say, not your own, but that of the other for why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience if I partake with thanks.

Why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks when we look at verses 23 all the way down to verse 28 it's simply saying you're free to eat the meat by the meat.

Eat the meat unless a weaker brother voices concern that it was offered. Idols so you know if it's an activity like I mentioned earlier, you're free to participate in because you have liberty to do so have at unless another brother in Christ says you really think gotta be doing that or addresses it in some other way that shows his concern. John MacArthur on verses 28 and 29 a states this even if you are a guest at an unbeliever's house and don't want to offend him. It's better to offend the unbeliever and not eat for the sake of the weaker Christian would be offends the sense love to other brothers is the strongest witness we have that made me do quite a bit of thinking and I think it will you even if you're a guest at an unbeliever's house and don't want to offend him. It's better to offend the unbeliever and not eat for the sake of the weaker Christian would be offended to eat wine sense love to other believers is the strongest witness we have. If you pass up the meat as the main course, but again to say your vegetarian if you pass up the meat in the presence of an unbeliever and a believer who really seriously questions because it's been offered idols. He's basically saying you are reinforcing your testimony in the eyes of both and I do believe while not all unbelievers would respect you.

A good number would this dude really believes what he professes he really believes what is per professes you know, even in the face of not wanting you know is I've offered it to them now versus 20 9B and 30 in these verses, Paul anticipates an argument from some believers who would eat the meat regardless of its impact on the weaker brother. He's anticipating and he basically says this for why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience, but if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks and here's the reason the reason for refraining is that he does not want his Christian freedom condemn to another man's weaker conscience. He's not going to eat it because he does not want his testimony or his liberty in Christ condemn to another man's conscience.

MacArthur puts it this way and I think this is a profound simple. In a sense, but profound statement here is the just the legalism of the weaker brother should not make us legalistic only gracious, I want you to think about that in the context of the illustration you've gone to an unbeliever's house. He's offered me weaker believer finds out that it's offered to idols and you basically defer you don't need to me the sake of the weaker brother and MacArthur is putting it this way he sang the legalism.

I'm not gonna touch that stuff. The legalism of the weaker brother should not make us legalistic only gracious in other words, in different circumstances for another Christian does not take exception to the activity at hand participate with thanks in different circumstances where you don't have another Christian who takes exception to the active, whatever it may be you can participate with thanks.

Obviously that's presuming that the activity is not a an offense against the word of God or a violation of questions to ask when it comes to the edification principle to MRI sensitive, apathetic, calloused or prideful when interacting with others who do not have the liberty to participate in something that I think is permissible. Want to read that again because there may be more responses than that, but am I sensitive, apathetic, I don't really care calloused or prideful when interacting with others who do not have the liberty to participate in something that I think is permissible. I initially took this out of my notes and I end up putting putting this in their there's been times when I thought something was right, but I had to change my change my convictions over the years in two ways.

In some ways I've got a for lack of a better way of putting it. I become more careful in some ways. In other ways as I've been enlightened to the teaching of the word of God, for lack of way of putting it.

I've loosened up a little bit in some ways I don't necessarily like to use that that term but you know what I'm saying. I I have to make certain that I'm sensitive when interacting with others who do not have liberty to participate in something I think is permissible because I'm not the final word. The second question a critical one. Could my involvement be used as an excuse for younger Christian to violate their conscience. Perhaps a look up to me. Could my involvement in this activity be used as an excuse for younger Christians to violate their conscience. What if I as a coach instructed one of my players to do something dishonest and she you know why the little clips that I say to guys or girls on the feel we do not stoop to conquer, we do not cheat to win. They have all I gotta do is tell them to do something dishonest, harmful, whatever. And I've I blown my testimony out of the water with lifted to the enslavement principle is is activity in any way control me the edification principle does my participation help or hurt the development and display of godliness in May and now were were looking over the esteem principle. What impact might my participation have on others. I want us to turn back to first Corinthians 8 would first Corinthians 8 and were going to read versus 9 to 13 but the way that I'm going to read them. I want to read them one at a time and give a little commentary after each one. If I could.

I think that that will be more effective in this text.

First Corinthians 8, beginning with verse nine. Were talking about. The esteem principle. What impact might my participation have on others. Verse nine but beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak, the new Christian or the untaught Christian will have a week or undeveloped conscience friends more mature believers need to be sensitive to that fact when someone first hit saved. Obviously there novices in the word and we've got to be sensitive to the fact that they will have a weaker and undeveloped underdeveloped conscience. Verse 10, Paul writes for if anyone sees you, who have knowledge eating and an idols temple will not the conscience of him who his weight be emboldened to eat those things offered idols the words you who have knowledge describe a believer who acknowledges that with this salvation came some liberty in Christ. Praise the Lord for that, but notice what he sang.

If anyone sees you, who have knowledge eating and an idols temple that when we looked over the edification principle we were talking about eating meat offered to idols in the house of an unbeliever, but in this text probably shifted the focus to a different setting and I just want to make a general statement sometimes setting makes a difference. Sometimes something is is okay to do in some settings and not best. Do when others I don't think of an illustration of the doubt may have been.

I'm sure you can setting does make a difference. I'm not going to drink a Coca-Cola and a bar for lack of a different illustration. My going to drink a Coke: I have one that comes to my mind. I was counseling some Ellis years ago and I I had some concern for them.

They got into playing pool will, in and of itself. There's nothing wrong with that. Okay.

The problem was they were going to a pool hall to play pool and when I went to them and shared my concern is that they they serve alcohol there. I don't know that that's the best place for you to be playing pool and the answer respectfully was well they serve food. There and I said they are a pool hall and bar who serves food, they are not a restaurant, who also serves alcohol and has a few pool tables. Now you might think well I'm sure that really convince them well. Holy Spirit mustard because it did. They saw yeah that's true. Their main emphasis is not on the food that they offer.

It's on the pool that you play, which is fine and the blues that they offer. So, setting can make a difference.

What were sign verse 11 verse 11, and because of your knowledge shall the week brother parish, for whom Christ died. Shall the week brother parish, for whom Christ died.

If you don't look up without means in the Greek you can think, is he talking about dying physically or as a document losing his salvation. No, the answer is no.

On both parish means spiritual devastation rather than eternal destruction.

Can we say that in a different way. The weaker Christian sees the better informed Christian as eating something offered to an idol and he's harm spiritually by what he believes is wrong. He's thinking I cannot believe that someone so that I hold in high esteem is doing that because of your knowledge. There's nothing wrong with this. I have liberty to do it because of your knowledge shall the week brother parish, for whom Christ died. We don't want to do anything to hurt or be a detriment to the spiritual welfare of weaker Christian and then verse 12 what when you thus sin against the brethren and wound their way conscience, you sin against Christ. What a powerful statement. What a sobering state is not an exercise of their liberty. It's a sin against their brother, and therefore it's a sin against Christ.

One commentator put it this way is similar to something is done to a child also being done to the parent because when you hurt the child, the parent he sang. When you hurt one of these weaker brothers. You're hurting Christ when you sin against one of these weaker brothers and wound their way conscience, you sin against Christ.

But we also notice that the esteem principle requires regard as requires regard as leaders. Paul's example as a leader. Can you imagine this, if Paul had the attitude.

If I have the liberty to eat meat offered to a lifeless idol you got an issue with me doing so that your problem now folks I can imagine Paul doing that but I can imagine some II have. I have observed that by got the liberty to eat meat offered a lifeless idol you got initial me doing so that your problem. On the contrary, Paul was exemplary and practicing what he preached. Notice verse 13, that the same chapter.

Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble I will never again eat me, lest I make my brother stumble and that is the attitude that we all must have. We will not do anything that clearly offends her with your brother in Christ, and you remember Paul begins the next chapter, first Corinthians 11 with these words imitate me just as I also imitate Christ. When I defer to the conscience of a weaker brother. I am being Christlike. That's the bottom line imitate me as I also imitate Christ. Whether you're in a formal position of leadership, pastor or whatever are your simply held in esteem by others, it behooves you to be very circumspect.

As an example and play it safe. Play it safe.

Whether you have a formal position or you just esteem by others be very circumspect suspect in and play it safe and then I will say this before we get to the questions under the esteem principle.

You need to be very careful not to let the esteem of others. They hold you in esteem need be very careful you don't like the esteem of others, be a stumbling block of pride in your life. We talked about imitating Christ. Try this one Jesus said of himself. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, humble, and you will find rest for your souls. 11 were talking about. The esteem principle. What impact might my participation have on others. We need to make certain were very, very careful to questions to ask when it comes to this. If you're in a position of influence are you willing to deprive yourself of an activity that might cause someone who looks up to you to some new repeat that if you're in a position of influence are you willing to deprive yourself of an activity that might cause someone who looks up to you to stumble and then secondly, this question what biblical standards of conduct you expect from leaders in your life, what biblical standards of conduct do you expect from leaders in your life. Follow-up. Do you expect the same yourself, you expect the same from yourself. We look at the enslavement principle the edification principle of the esteem principle that we want to consider the endearment principle, the endearment principle turn to Romans 14 will be coming back in a moment or 2 to 1st Corinthians 10, but turned Romans 14 and I promise you, I tried to minimize the number of verses that I would use as much as possible, but take to get what Paul is teaching it's impossible to leave some of these things out. We've trimmed it as much is is I felt I could endearment principle is my decision to participate or to refrain demonstrate love for others and I want to again do what we did earlier and you can see it on your your slide will go through each verse starting with verse 14, Paul writes, I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there's nothing unclean of itself, but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. What we need to do is take seriously the scruples of weaker brother, and Paul goes right in Romans 15 don't turn there, but he goes right in Romans 15. The first two verses saying that very thing. He says we then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the week and not to please ourselves, but each of us please his neighbor for his good leading to edification. Verse 15 yet if your brother is grieved because of your food. You are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with food. The one for whom Christ died. The word grieved means causing pain or distress.

The word destroy is not talking about causing the guy to lose his salvation is again referring to a serious devastation of the for a person's growth edges.

He takes a hit. He takes a hit because he seen you do this if your brother is grieved because of your food. You are no longer walking and love verses 16 and 17. Therefore, in light of this, do not let your good be evil spoken of or spoken of as evil. Verse 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Commentators say the Paul is admonishing us to guard her testimony, especially in nonessential and external observances was a meaning, by that. Are you really willing to offend a younger Christian over any activity I mean is any activity that important you're willing to openly offend a weaker Christian and participate in that. Paul's answer is absolutely not. He's admonishing us to guard her testimony, then, verse 18.

He says for he who serves Christ in these is acceptable to God and approved by men while so by consciously determining that I'm not going to eat meat offered idols redo this activity. Whatever it would be consciously choosing to do that on behalf of a weaker brother in Christ, I am serving Christ and notice what Paul says it's not only acceptable to God but it's approved by men refraining from an activity offends a weaker brother honors Christ and grows our testimony verses 19 through 20. I will read as a as a group. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace things by which one may edify another.

Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.

All things indeed are pure but it's evil for the man who eats with offense. In other words you're eating. And while you're eating your offending another. It's neither good. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles for his offender is made weight. Paul is saying we should be pursuing peace and edification, and when he says, eating with offense that means abusing God-given liberties at the expense of other believers and it is very sobering folks to note that God says that doing this is evil.

Verses 22 and 23 DFA. In other words, do you have the faith that it's okay for you to eat that many do you have faith have it yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves, but he who doubts is condemned defeats because he does not eat from faith. For whatever is not from faith is sin. MacArthur states this, Paul urges the strong to enjoy their liberty of conscience before God while refraining from publicly exercising it. If an activity offends others money.

Read that again because he puts a qualifier there.

Paul urges the strong to enjoy their liberty of conscience before God I I don't feel guilty. I don't feel like I'm sending a chance God the one I meeting this may because it's meat offered to an idea that some guy cooked up and is represented in stone. I have a problem doing that whatsoever so you have faith have it yourself before God.

Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves, but he who doubts is condemned defeats because he does not eat from faith, whatever is not from faith is sin. And notice what he says again you enjoy your liberty of conscience before the Lord, but refrain from publicly doing so. If that activity offends others and then toward the end, he once again warns weaker Christians against doing something that violates your conscience to questions that we can ask when it comes to the endearment principle do I place the spiritual welfare of people.

I had a my desire to participate in this activity by place the spiritual welfare of people ahead of my desire to participate in this activity and secondly does my love for God made me actively pursue the welfare of the children does my love for God made me actively pursue the welfare of his children S&M question because if what you do is based on your love for God. You don't pick and choose how you act, depending on who the other person's.

I don't particularly like that of the Christian. I'm not really sure if they are even say you know you start being pragmatic and and that is not God honoring this my love for God made me actively pursue the welfare of his children. The last two are short but they are probably the most powerful. We read the start, the evangelization prints evangelization prints will do my decisions reflect concern for the eternal good of others turned back to first Corinthians 10 first Corinthians 10 and will end here. First Corinthians 10 and I want you to look at 32 and 33.

Once again we read that Paul wrote give no offense, give no offense neither to the Jews order the Greeks or the church of God. Just as I also please all men and all things not seeking my private own profit but the profit of many.

Why, that they may be saved when it comes to our decision to participate in something potentially offensive. Our primary concern must be the evangelization of the lost Jews and Greeks in the edification of Christians. The Church of God notice what he says you're not going do anything that offends Jews, Greeks of the Church of God questions to ask when it comes to evangelization, principal does is activity in any way hurt my effectiveness business activity in any way hurt my affect as a witness. Second question does my participation so that Christians can do this without compromising the testimony and again forgiveness but I go back to coaching.

Does my participation show. The Christians can do this without compromising the testimony yeah you can do that can do that and you know if you got the right perspective on this. You're getting a double dip dose you pursue excellence on the soccer field or basketball court. Whatever you pursue excellence and if you are good enough in the will of God.

You may win a championship, but did you win in the most important area and that is the area sportsmanship or testimony. Sportsmanship for the Christian is godliness applied to the games of life sportsmanship for the Christian is godliness applied to the games of life is my participation show that Christians can do this without compromising the testimony of simply mention the name Tim Diebel.

I had a little blurb that I was going to read about him, but it would've taken too long Tim Tebo. I'm sure he doesn't die design crosses T as we wouldn't every instance Dante one thing about it. He is hated for his testimony. He is hated for his testimony by some. He is a board by others for his testimony because he doesn't use terms like the man upstairs, or he doesn't use a general term, and I say this reverently, God he mentions the Lord Jesus Christ. His participation shows, Christians can pursue excellence Heisman Trophy without compromising the test. The last thing that we look at in the shortest, but most important, does my participation in this glorify God. Verse 31. Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all glory of God the eating and drinking, especially the eating part is in the context of eating that which is offered idols. But Paul broadens it out and he says whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Paul's conclusion when it comes to doing anything that might pose a problem as it were, to do all for the glory of God. If you wrongfully offend others you wrongfully offend others by what you do are not glorifying God and love. The thing is, Paul connects the glory of God glorifying God would not offending other people and I think we need to think that through questions ask when it comes to the exaltation principal number one does my participation give others a good opinion of God. Another was disappointed his glory doesn't point to the essence of who God is in his perfection and secondly does my participation show that Christians can do this thing without compromising spiritual integrity. They can glorify God participating in this without compromising spiritual integrity when we look at this again.

The first four enslavement principal business activity in any way control me the edification or build up principal does my participation help or hurt the development display of godliness in me, the esteemed principal what impact my my participation have upon others who hold me in a steam or others who I esteem the endearment principle is my decision to participate or refrain demonstrate love for others in the last two evangelization principal do my decisions reflect concern for the eternal good of others, and finally the exaltation principal does my participation in this glorify God in your sandal passion tour. There is no way that I'm going to remember all of that.

All you gotta remember folks, I think we need these thoughts, enslavement, principal, edification, esteem, endearment evangelization exaltation.

I think those are good to make us think through where we stand in each of these signs, but the bottom line.

All I need to remember is this is this for the glory of God and the eternal good of men. First Corinthians 1031 through 11 verse one and I will close reading those and we will pray in light of everything I've said before, therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Give no offense either did the Jews order the Greeks order the Church of God just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit with the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ (father, we do ask that you help us to be sensitive to the spiritual well-being of others. Not only the loss to need to get say, but young Christians who need to be edified and grown. Help us to realize that we need to be an example before them. We need to make decisions when it comes to participation in various things that may be questionable.

That may cause offense that we need to be very prayerful and careful in making those decisions.

Father, we end our prayer with this request. May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and all, just as we do to you so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and father of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his same payment