The Problem of Liberty

There is a principle known as Christian Liberty, the idea that we are free to submit to our own conscience on matters not commanded or forbidden by God. Paul addresses this concept in Romans 14, but covers it much more completely in 1 Corinthians. From chapter 8 through chapter 10 (and most argue up to chapter 11 verse 1), Paul lays out the truth and danger of Christian Liberty. We're pretty familiar, it seems, with the first part -- "meat sacrificed to idols." Paul explains on one hand that idols are nothing so eating meat sacrificed to nothing isn't a problem. Go ahead. But he warns, "If food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble" (1 Cor 8:13). That is, if we use our Christian Liberty and it causes a problem for a fellow believer, we must limit our own liberty. In the next chapter, Paul uses himself as a prime example. As an Apostle, shouldn't he have all these rights? And, yet, he limited himself (1 Cor 9:15). "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them" (1 Cor 9:19).

A lot of us miss the fact that chapter 10 is still on this same topic -- Christian Liberty -- but Paul takes it from a different direction. The idea he offers in 1 Corinthians 8 and 9 (and, for that matter, Romans 14) is that we should limit our freedoms for the sake of others. We shouldn't cause other people problems because we're exercising our liberty. In chapter 10, though, he offers another concern. There he describes Israel in the Exodus. They had many of the same characteristics that we do. They had "baptism" (1 Cor 10:1-2) and "Communion" (1 Cor 10:3-4), but they failed. Why? They had problems with idolatry and sexual immorallity, with testing Christ and complaining (1 Cor 10:6-11). Paul is warning about the other side of our liberty. It is possible, by pressing our liberty, to press too far. It is possible to push the borders across the border, so to speak. He says, "Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor 10:12).

How? He uses the story of the Golden Calf as one example. The people wanted a reminder of God (Exo 32:1), so Aaron made them a golden calf (Exo 32:2-4) and declared feast to YHWH (Exo 32:5). The result, the linguists tell me, was an orgy (Exo 32:6). You see, worshiping God was good, but how they did it was not, and, pushing that boundary, they plummeted off the edge of sin. Three thousand people died from that (Exo 32:28). Paul uses other examples. There was the merging of Israelite men with Moabite women that ended up with 23,000 dead (1 Cor 10:8; Num 25:1ff). They complained about God and died from serpents (1 Cor 10:9; Num 21:4-6). They complained about Moses and 14,700 died from a plague from God (1 Cor 10:10; Num 16:41-49). Israel pushed their borders and got caught in their own sin.

We often ask, "Is it okay for me to do such and such?" where "such and such" is a questionable behavior. Generally we ask because we don't see a clear command from God, but, also, generally we ask because we want our liberty. We don't want to do too much for God. We don't want to give up too much fun. We don't want to cut ourselves short from pleasure in life if we don't have to. Paul warns on two fronts. You may be free to do what you ask, but first ask yourself, is it profitable? Does it edify (1 Cor 10:23)? Is it beneficial for the people in my life (1 Cor 10:24)? Most importantly, does it glorify God (1 Cor 10:31)? Because it's easy for us to latch onto our own Christian Liberty, but it can be harmful to others ... and it can be harmful to ourselves. Beware of that liberty.