The Next Normal - When Everything Changes
The Next Normal - When Everything Changes • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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There are times in life when everything changes. Sometimes it just changes for us personally, sometimes a few others are on that journey with us and less often, something happens that the entire world changes.
Personally, there have been several times in my life where everything changed for me. When I graduated from high school, when I joined the Navy, when I accepted Christ. In each of these instances, I went from one way of life to an entirely new way of life. There are a few graduates in our church…Our son Caleb officially graduates this year. Annabelle is graduating high school this year and they are both off to college next year. Gone are the confines and structures of home and a new way of life begins.
A few changes in my life were changes where it was a change for me and someone else along with me…When Renee and I got married, When I got out of the military, When we started our family, when we answered the call to pastor here…these changes resulted in a new life that we chose together. We had a say, we did it together.
Then there are a few larger scale events where things change for everyone. As a result of the change, we all have to feel out and determine what things will look like after. We don’t usually have a say in the change that came, but we do have a say in what the result of that change could be.
A few examples - 9/11. Our perspective of the world changed. No longer were we safe - we were attacked in our own country where we thought we were safe. As a result, we all, at some level, lived life a little differently after 9/11.
Covid-19 - Where we are today is way different from where we were a year ago and even more different than where we were 18 months ago. Things have changed. From the looks of things, we are on the verge of exiting pandemic here in Vermont, but things aren’t going to go back to the way the were. In some cases, I think this is a good thing, in others, I’m not so sure.
I began to look at what we’ll be experiencing over the next few months and began to pray for any wisdom God might have for us as things change yet again.
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 10, starting in Verse 23...
Paul is on his journey through the Mediterranean countries. He’s planting churches, his ministering to Gentiles and Greeks. For as long as anyone can remember, the religious systems were pagan or Jewish. These were all very well established and Paul is traveling and spreading the Gospel message and he is part of something that is changing everything in their world.
Much of this letter to the Corinthian church is all about what has changed and how they are to handle it. He tells them how some view points they had were wrong and how they needed to change what they did. In other instances they were doing the right things, but for the wrong reasons. Paul is helping them navigate this change.
I believe this passage in chapter 10 will be helpful for us to navigate the changes that are ahead of us.
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
The Corinthian church had gotten the message of freedom in Christ and took the fullness of the freedom to all aspects of life. Paul agrees with them that they have the right, but just because we have the right, doesn’t mean we do it.
Asking if it is OK to do something is the wrong question. It is better to ask if we should. Will it be beneficial? Will it be constructive - will it edify others? That is a much better measure of determining whether to do something or not.
Paul goes on to say that as believers, we should be seeking the good of others. That our decisions should have the good of others as a motive over the good of ourselves.
Paul speaks in more detail about seeking the good of others in chapter 9…that would be a great chapter to study this week as a follow up to today’
He goes a layer deeper with them to help them understand by giving examples and helping to draw a line...
25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
Bacon bought at market…go for. God made pigs and pigs are bacon…eat away.
This decision is a personal one. A decision that happens in private. Buy your meat, take it home and eat it. No problems.
27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.
The second example. An unbeliever invites you over for dinner.
First of all, this was a change to how Jewish people thought. They had been taught all their life not to associate with Gentiles and certainly don’t eat with them as they will feed you food sacrificed to idols and try to convince you to follow those idols as well. We need to recognize here the cultural impact of this idea. It was a major change for Jewish people.
He goes on to clarify that there is no explicit details on where the food came from. Eat what is served. To do so exercises your right to eat what you want, but also sets the unbeliever at ease that they will not be judged. You may not love what you are eating, but you are loving by eating.
Next example:
28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.
Here is where Paul draws the line. But the line is not for the sake of the eater, it is for the sake of the one worshipping idols. By knowing where the food came from and eating would be sending the message that this sacrifice was OK when it is not. Paul says don’t eat it.
Another likely scenario would be that the unbeliever would look at the Christian and think them a hypocrite. How can they say they worship Jesus as Savior and yet are willing to partake in our idol worship of food sacrifice and eating. There would be so many questions and conversations that would just distract from the Gospel message.
A polite denial of the food based on conviction of following Jesus gives an immediate open door to begin to share the Gospel. That is what Paul’s goal is and what he teaches should be our goal in our actions - That others might be saved. That doesn’t happen without being able to have a conversation.
He ends this with “and for the sake of conscience” that is clarified in the next verse:
29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience?
It speaks to this idea that the person would just be confused when the conversation ultimately turns to the Gospel. If they do become a believer, will they look back on offering this food and it being eaten and feel bad about it. Let’s not even make that an option. Just decline the food. Sure there is no personal moral wrong like there is under the Mosaic law, you have a right to do it, but is it beneficial? Does it build up? Just say no to the food.
Paul ends with questions that are likely to come from those who think they can eat without a problem:
29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
These questions come from the perspective of self. It is just a subtle little way that may seem right, but is it beneficial? Does it build up? Paul says no it does not. These questions turn people away from the Gospel and not toward it.
He offers us three things to do in these situations that will help steer us to the better way:
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Do it all for the glory of God.
What is our motivation for eating what we want? Doing what we want to do in the name of Freedom? Is it for the glory of God or for something else?
32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—
Do not cause anyone to stumble.
Is what we are doing going to cause someone to make poor decisions? Will it expose them to unnecessary temptation.
A quick example is alcohol. Is it permissible to have a beer? Sure. Should you do it with an alcoholic? No.
33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Seek the good of many and not our own good.
Are we doing this because we want to or because it will help someone find Jesus? Are our preferences the focus or the needs/desires of others?
By all accounts, the state of Vermont will be lifting all restrictions that were put in place to help curb the spread of Covid-19. I don’t want to get into a debate on whether we think those restrictions took away our rights…this puts us on the same side of the conversation that the Corinthian church found themselves on. As followers of Christ it is more important that we ask the question…Is it beneficial? Is it building up?
People are going to greet the lifting of restrictions with many different responses.
Like some of the Jews in the 1st century church they felt the need to hang onto some of the rules. Pauls says this of them:
1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.
Let us respect where each person is at and love as best we can. Sometimes that might mean wearing a mask or staying physically distant even when you don’t think it’s necessary. Paul says it well a little later in Romans 14:
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
This is my desire. It has been my desire from the beginning of the difficult time this last year has been. I hope it is your desire as well. Not that we would be able to do what we want (hug and gather) and stop doing what we don’t want (wearing masks and physical distancing), but that we would want to do that which would allow people to hear the Gospel and be saved.
