Final Summary and Review of Christian Liberty
- our purpose tonight is threefold:
1) I'd like to summarize and review some of the
highlights from these verses (we'll do that with a
crossword puzzle we're going to work on in a few
moments.
2) I'd also like to propose a "Christian Liberty Decision
Making Tree." This will be a grid we can use to
evaluate questions in the future on Christian liberty.
3) I'd also like to bring out a chart we showed you at
the beginning of this series from another author so we
can "bat it around" a little bit more after having
studied these verses and principles.
4) I'd like to conclude with some hypothetical examples
of Christian liberty decisions and how these
principles can be used to make these decisions.
I. Crossword Puzzle
- let's begin with the crossword puzzle we handed out.
What I'd like you to do is get with someone around you
(be sure everyone is included) and take a few minutes
and see how many of these you can get.
- some points to remember:
1) I gave you the verses that go along with the
answer--but in a few cases the exact word that
fits in the blank may not appear in the verse (or
it may not appear in the verse in the particular
version you have in front of you.)
2) some of the words only fit in if you spell them
backwards (please note the directions at the end
of the clue.)
II. A Christian Liberty Decision Making Tree
- what I'd like us to do at this point is to take the
principles we've studied and organize them into a
flowchart or a decision making tree
- many of you use these kinds of things at work
- if you work with computers, you know that computer
programs are made up of decision loops
- the computer tells itself " if this happens, then
do this", "if that happens, do that"
- if you're in management, you use flowcharts for
planning and decision making
- if you work in a medical field, you're constantly
working cases through a diagnostic tree
- that's what we're going to do with these principles on
Christian liberty
- these kinds of questions come up during the week, and we
need a way to maneuver our question through a series of
biblical principles in order to determine God's will in
the matter
A. Which distinguishing category does this fall in?
- remember, we said at the beginning of this series
that we distinguish things that truly differ
- we said you can divide these kinds of questions
into three categories
- some are "black and white"--in other words, the
Bible speaks directly to those issues
- now, at that point - it's no longer an issue of
Christian liberty
- so the answer is - do what the Scripture
specifically commands
- another category is "standards that can be readily
deduced"
- while that specific subject may not be
addressed, as we study biblical principles and
and tie those principles together, the right
course of action become apparent
- a third category is "indifferent"
- at first glance, the Bible doesn't seem to have
anything to say about the matter
- at this point - questions in the first category are "out of
the loop"
- the Lord told us what to do and we just need to get
busy and obey.
- for the other two categories, we need to keep going
- the next question we need to ask comes from 8:1 and 8:4
- remember, Paul said - "this isn't the end of the
argument--but this is an important part of the
discussion"
- I need to ask:
B. Do I need more knowledge? (8:1, 8:4)
- If the answer is "yes", what should I do?
- Wait (Rom. 14:23) and study (II Tim. 2:15)
- as I study, I may find the Bible speaks directly
about that and I didn't realize it
- so after study, if I find that the Bible does speak
directly to that matter, I need to obey the
Scripture
- if after studying, there's still no conclusive
answer, I need to go back to the "loop"
- the next question I need to ask comes from verse 9
- INPUT - ?
C. Could this cause someone to stumble?
- remember, Paul started this discussion by asking us
to focus on the effect the way I handled liberty
could have on someone else
- if the answer to this question is "yes," what
should I do? (don't do it)
- if "no", "keep going"
- we're going to skip Paul's first illustration of how he
wouldn't take a salary and get to the point of that in
verses 15-16.
- the next question I need to ask is:
D. Would enslaving this liberty give me an opportunity
for proper spiritual glorying?
- remember we studied about how Paul wanted areas in
His life that he could point to which were
particular examples of how God had worked in his
life and allowed him to do special things for Him.
- Paul's refusal to take a salary was an example of
that.
- he said, "by all means don't pay me" - "I want the
way I enslave my liberty to be a special cause of
rejoicing"
- the next question comes from verse 19
E. Would enslaving this give me more opportunities to
witness? (or help me be more effective at the ones I
already have?)
- over and over in these verses Paul talks about
"winning others"
- evangelism has to be an important part of our
thinking on these questions
- now, the end of this chapter brings up the second
illustration Paul uses - the illustration of the runner
- that brings up another important question:
F. Is my body involved in this issue?
- INPUT - if the answer is yes? - what thoughts should
that bring to mind? (need to show particular
caution here--need to control my body like an
athlete)
- we said that at the end of verse 27 and on into chapter 10,
Paul makes a very important shift
- so far he's said--beware of the effect the way you
exercise liberty has on others
- now he wants us to ask:
G. Could exercising this liberty endanger me spiritually?
- in chapter 10, Paul "hones" down his argument and starts
talking about our hearts.
- INPUT - what critical question do I need to ask now?
H. What am I "wanting" to accomplish as I consider this
decision?
- if the answer is "something other than pleasing
God" -- I need to see that as idolatry and get busy
enslaving
- now, maybe the question has made it all the way through
these principles, but there's still some important ones to
go:
- what question should I ask as a result of verse 12?
I. Am I being proud?
- Paul says it's possible for a person to think they
can handle a particular issue when in fact they
can't
- most of us know that verse, but we need to remember
that it's first application needs to be made to
Christian liberty
- I need to ask, "Am I being proud and thinking
involvement in this area won't hurt me when in
fact it really could?"
- now, these are heavy questions, and Paul gives us one in
verse 13 to help keep this all in balance
J. Am I losing hope?
- if the answer to that question is yes, I need to
concentrate on the truths of verse 13
- there's three more questions
- from verse 23 - what do I need to ask?
K. Will this edify others?
- from verse 31
L. Will this glorify God
- from chap. 11:1
M. Will this help me be more like Christ?
- now you might say, boy PV – that’s a long list
- are you expecting us to carry that around and every time we
have a decision to make--to pull out our "handy dandy
liberty flowchart?"
- probably not
- a lot of these decisions won't get through the second or
third question
- but there will be some tricky ones form time to time where
it would be wisest to take some time and work it through
all the principles
- I'd rather have to answer at the Judgement Seat of Christ
for being too cautious than for being too lackadaisical
III. (Aldrich Chart)
- go over chart
- #1 - does exist (cf. Mr. Kelly/beard)
- #2 - does exist - I Cor. 8
- #3 - Paul - I Cor. 8:13
- problem with the chart as it currently stands:
- often times supposedly the most mature person ends
up in category #4
- that's surely not the thrust of this passage that
we've seen week after week
- another problem with the chart as it currently stands
is that it's incomplete
- there's needs to be at least three more categories
added
#5 - naive participating
#6 - proud participating
#7 - uninformed participating
IV. Practical Examples
- let's run these through the grid
1) seminary professor and the nude beach
2) clothing that is on the borderline of immodest
3) prom.
