How to be Faithfully Different in a Contrary Culture

How to be Faithfully Different in a Contrary Culture

1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1

How do you live faithfully different in a world dominated by other values and priorities?

• First and foremost, we need to embrace the reality that not is our calling in the world.

^“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” – John 17:13-18

I. Living Faithfully Different takes (10:14-22) – The Public Arena

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?  Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.  Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

• Paul’s Argument: Pagan may be powerless but pagan are not.

II. Living Faithfully Different takes (10:23-30) – The Private Arena

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” Not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.  For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.  But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?  If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks.

• Recognize that options are equalling good options!
• Our is to be with Christ; our is to be given to the non-Christians around us.

III. Living Faithfully Different takes (10:31-11:1) – The Guiding Principle

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.

Today’s Life Hack:

Keeping Jesus of you requires leaving idols you.

• Glorifying God is about becoming who he created you and doing what he has called you .

Finally, Paul says . . . live a focused life.

11:1 – Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.