Freedom and Responsibility

Section 3-3.6 screamed to me SONSHINE!!!!!! (Of course in my best William Wallace voice from Braveheart).

Summary:
3.1 - Food offered to Idols - If eating the meat from the market place causes a brother or sister to stumble, then I will place SELF-IMPOSED limits on my actions and become a vegetarian (please God no!).  We see Paul setting limits on his personal freedom for the sake of the Gospel.  Whatever the Gospel ministry requires, Paul is okay with setting self limitations in order to see the Gospel through.  For Paul, the same self-limitation applies to accepting a salary and to marriage. (SONSHINE!!!!!)

3.2 - Paul's Personal Freedom and responsibility - Here we see Paul maintaining the freedom to choose his own servant-hood path.  Paul did not allow the Corinthians to control the direction of his mission to the gentiles.  "Am I not Free?"  he asks.  Paul establishes his freedom in ministry and then goes on to show how that freedom plays out in ministry.  (SONSHINE!!!!)

3.3 - Freedom in Mission - How can a Christian live in a pagan society? FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY!!!  Man this is good stuff!  In this section, Paul affirms limits, he will do whatever he can to cross cultural lines in the name of Christ.  He will even make himself a slave.  But he is realistic about his limits!  "I am free from all people!" By rejecting patronage he assures no one controls the direction or focus of his ministry (SONSHINE!!!)

3.4-5 - OT vs NC Sacraments and Idolatry - Idolatry, immorality, putting the Lord to the test, and grumbling sum up the Hebrew experience in the OT.  Their story is a warning for us.  Paul sums up our "Partial identification" vs "no identification" with three options for identification -  "All things to all people" "Some things to some people" and  "Nothing to anyone"

Christ fingerprints of freedom and responsibility are all over our camp.  I am honored to experience His freedom with you all and walk in the responsibility He has invited us into.  Glory to God in all things! 

-Reid   

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