10:25 Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience, 10:26 for the earth and its abundance are the Lord’s. 17 10:27 If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience. 10:28 But if someone says to you, “This is from a sacrifice,” do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience 18 – 10:29 I do not mean yours but the other person’s. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 10:30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the food 19 that I give thanks for? 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 10:32 Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, 10:33 just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit 20 of many, so that they may be saved. (I Corinthians)
I decided to read this after Joe mentioned spiritual gifts in yesterday's sermon. When we think about causes of war, most of us would say because this country did that to another, or because this country felt that this or that land or resources belong to them. Rarely do we make an internal connection, and say that conflict is something that begins within us as individuals, and starts only as a thought. Like James says, "desire gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death" (1:15). Likewise, when we get angry and want to lash out, it is a reflection of our inability to cope properly with circumstances in our life. That does not mean anger is a sin, only our reactions to it can be.
Along these same lines, we easily develop a pseudo-conscience if you will, which tells us what is right or wrong, not always understanding the word of God completely. For example, I think over the years a lack of confidence, or a lack of seeing that Christ is in me if you will, prevents me from opening up to people and showing a true love for Christ. This is not biblical, and is clearly a distortion that I am praying God will keep opening my eyes to. Just like Paul talks about here, our actions, even if they are despicable in the eyes of men, are ultimately judged by God, and that is what we should be concerned about. Worrying about how we are perceived by others only takes us away from our ultimate source of identity, and does little to further God's kingdom. So pray with me Cornerstone, that all of us will have a "renewing of the mind" that our being born again will not be hindered by misconceptions!
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