Good afternoon friends,
Yesterday we saw Paul build a case for why he, as an apostle, has the right to be supported financially in his ministry. Today, he completes that thought by telling why he lays that right aside. He doesn't make use of his rights as a way to go above the calling God laid on him. We as a culture are so fixated on our rights, and they are important. If we had a bit more of Paul's spirit in terms of giving up our rights to serve others, our society would be more of a community and more healthy in many ways.
He also sets his rights aside to make the gospel free for all, so that more people can hear the gospel. Paul stresses that he reaches out to all kinds of people on their own terms, in language they can understand. To people steeped in Judaism, Paul speaks to them in the context of Jewish faith. To people from pagan backgrounds, Paul speaks about the gospel in ways they can understand too. That's our calling for today: reaching out to people with the good news of God's love in ways they can connect with. That means we have to know the people we seek to serve. Our calling is out of the church and in to the world around us, so we can bring hope and love to those in need.
God bless,
Sam
1 Corinthians 9:15-23
15But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this so that they may be applied in my case. Indeed, I would rather die than that—no one will deprive me of my ground for boasting! 16If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! 17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.
19For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
Showing posts with label using our rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label using our rights. Show all posts
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
freedom and responsibility, part 2
Good morning friends,
Our reading for today continues Paul's theme of giving up our rights sometimes for the sake of others. Yesterday he talked about how Christians are free from laws about food and, religiously speaking, have the right and freedom to eat food sacrificed to idols. The thing is for Christians what is most important isn't our rights, but how our behavior impacts others. So while we have the right to eat whatever we want, we are called to be mindful of others in our choices. For this reason, he warns that eating food sacrificed to idols might harm the faith of weaker believers who are used to idols and might get the wrong idea.
In today's reading Paul uses himself as an example because, as an apostle, he has the right to devote himself to the work of proclaiming the gospel without having to make a living besides that. In today's reading he spends a lot of energy explaining why he does have that right, tomorrow we'll see that he's making that case not to use his right but to show how he gives up that right to serve the community better. Service comes before self in the Christian family; responsibility has more weight than rights.
God bless,
Sam
1 Corinthians 9:1-14
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4Do we not have the right to our food and drink? 5Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk?
8Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same? 9For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop. 11If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? 12If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more?
Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Our reading for today continues Paul's theme of giving up our rights sometimes for the sake of others. Yesterday he talked about how Christians are free from laws about food and, religiously speaking, have the right and freedom to eat food sacrificed to idols. The thing is for Christians what is most important isn't our rights, but how our behavior impacts others. So while we have the right to eat whatever we want, we are called to be mindful of others in our choices. For this reason, he warns that eating food sacrificed to idols might harm the faith of weaker believers who are used to idols and might get the wrong idea.
In today's reading Paul uses himself as an example because, as an apostle, he has the right to devote himself to the work of proclaiming the gospel without having to make a living besides that. In today's reading he spends a lot of energy explaining why he does have that right, tomorrow we'll see that he's making that case not to use his right but to show how he gives up that right to serve the community better. Service comes before self in the Christian family; responsibility has more weight than rights.
God bless,
Sam
1 Corinthians 9:1-14
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4Do we not have the right to our food and drink? 5Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk?
8Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same? 9For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop. 11If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? 12If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more?
Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Monday, April 12, 2010
release and resistance
Good morning brothers and sisters,
In yesterday's reading Paul and the others were arrested, beaten and imprisoned for their ministry, in particular for casting a spirit out of a slave. Their imprisonment led the jailer to faith. Now the authorities decide to release them from prison, but Paul isn't going to make it easy on them. Instead he tells them he is a Roman citizen, which worries them since they haven't observed his rights. We will see Paul using his rights as a Roman citizen several times in Acts.
For the most part in Acts Rome isn't the oppressor, but a mostly neutral outside power. Most of the opposition to the apostles comes from religious leaders and both sides of the conflict at times try to use Roman power to their advantage. We also see that, even though at times the apostles defy the rules and human rulers to proclaim the gospel, they also generally obey the law. When asked to leave Philippi, the apostles do. The blend of courage, defiance, obedience and strategic thinking the early church used to spread the message can teach us a lot about adapting to different situations while remaining true to our faith and seeking opportunities to share.
Blessings on the new week,
Sam
Acts 16:35-40
35When morning came, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36And the jailer reported the message to Paul, saying, “The magistrates sent word to let you go; therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37But Paul replied, “They have beaten us in public, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they going to discharge us in secret? Certainly not! Let them come and take us out themselves.”
38The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens; 39so they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40After leaving the prison they went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed.
In yesterday's reading Paul and the others were arrested, beaten and imprisoned for their ministry, in particular for casting a spirit out of a slave. Their imprisonment led the jailer to faith. Now the authorities decide to release them from prison, but Paul isn't going to make it easy on them. Instead he tells them he is a Roman citizen, which worries them since they haven't observed his rights. We will see Paul using his rights as a Roman citizen several times in Acts.
For the most part in Acts Rome isn't the oppressor, but a mostly neutral outside power. Most of the opposition to the apostles comes from religious leaders and both sides of the conflict at times try to use Roman power to their advantage. We also see that, even though at times the apostles defy the rules and human rulers to proclaim the gospel, they also generally obey the law. When asked to leave Philippi, the apostles do. The blend of courage, defiance, obedience and strategic thinking the early church used to spread the message can teach us a lot about adapting to different situations while remaining true to our faith and seeking opportunities to share.
Blessings on the new week,
Sam
Acts 16:35-40
35When morning came, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36And the jailer reported the message to Paul, saying, “The magistrates sent word to let you go; therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37But Paul replied, “They have beaten us in public, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they going to discharge us in secret? Certainly not! Let them come and take us out themselves.”
38The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens; 39so they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40After leaving the prison they went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed.
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