Prelude:
Praise the Lord family, I received some GREAT Questions, so instead of the same devotional as usual, I have a question and answer devotional. Below you will find the questions, the scriptures and then the answers.
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Scripture:
1 Cor 10:23-29
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
1 Cor 11:1-16
CHAPTER 11
1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
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Explanation:
Question #1
What does it mean when the food is offered to idols?
In Paul's day, the Greeks were pagans. They worshipped a variety of Gods(pantheon). They would sacrifice animals on altars. After the ritual of sacrificing the meat, they would sell the meat in the markets.
Some Christians who had turned away from paganism and were starting their new life in Christ were offended by the meat being offered at meals. They believed that if the meat had been offered to idols that it should be thrown away. Other Christians felt that meat was meat and that as long as they didn't believe in paganism anymore that they should eat the meat. This became an issue of contention in the early Corinthian Church.
The important word for everyone to keep in mind is "conscience". Not just your conscience, but the conscience of those around you. If you are going to offend those around you, then even if you are FREE in Christ to partake in certain activities, you should restrain yourself for the good of your fellow brother or sister in Christ.
Let me give you an example. Even when I was in the world, alcohol was never a problem for me. Alcohol is not a sin either. Drunkenness is the sin. I am free to drink a beer or a wine cooler. I would never and have never drunken alcohol while in Christ though(other than communion). Why? There are two reasons: 1.) Alcohol is a problem in America, we culturally don't know how to take just one drink. I don't want to contribute to that. 2.) While I am free to drink one drink, most people are ignorant of my freedom. If anyone saw a Pastor drinking alcohol, they would say, "owwhhhhhhh look at Pastor Tony". So like the meat sacrificed to idols, I abstain from drinking not because of God but because I love my brother.
If this doesn't make sense then please email me at marshillministry©aol.com
Question #2
In verse one, it says keep the traditions just as I delivered to you. What traditions is it speaking of. I thought traditions were not good overall. I know it has to be good to some extent if God says keep them just not sure what he's speaking of here.
God does not have a problem with traditions. Jesus Christ had a problem with the traditions of men. Sometimes men establish traditions that do not align with the precepts or principles of God.
Let me give you some good and bad examples:
BAD TRADITION
The Baptist Religion(some) often time has a tradition when Pastors die. When Baptist Pastors(some) die or pass away, the Baptist Religion(some) drapes a black tarp over their doors and over the Pastors Chair. That tradition testifies against Christ overcoming the grave. We who are mature in Christ, should not be scared or overcome with the concept of death. Death for the disciples of Christ is a victory...so why would we drape everything in black? That tradition of men does not align with the Word or it's principles.
GOOD TRADITION
The ordination ceremony is a good tradition. It demonstrates how God has called people for certain missions. It gives a congregation an opportunity to have faith in the calling of the minister. In the Bible, the "ordination" of Paul and Barnabas was much simpler. Still, the current ordinations that I have seen highlight the universal principle of being "called out".
Remember what we teach at the Hill, it is the principle that matters. When you have a tradition or routine the question to ask yourself is this; "Is my tradition backed up in the Word of God or the principles of God?"
Mark 7:8
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
II Th 3:6
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
If this doesn't make sense then please email me at marshillministry©aol.com
Question #3
Going further it says a woman with her head uncovered dishonors her head. And if a woman is not covered let her be shorn. In short are we suppose to cover our heads like muslims?
Couple of things to remember regarding this text:
-Paul's audience, Paul was speaking to an immature Corinthian Church dealing with many pagan traditions and carnality.
-The Corinthians had a specific gender related custom regarding hairstyles and hats. This custom was common place throughout the region.
- That custom reiterated a universal biblical principle; Christ is the head of man, man is the head of the family
-We should never deal with any scripture in a vacuum. We understand Scriptures by the Scriptures. In Paul's general epistles to the Ephesians and the Romans, the commandment of "covering" is not reiterated.
I believe that we would all be well served by focusing on the PRINCIPLE of what Paul was saying rather than the Corinthian custom. I have seen women who have the Jezebel Spirit but they wear the funny little hat on their head. My wife doesn't wear a physical cover but she honors me as the head of our family. Her covering is spiritual and can be seen thru her fruits. Remember that carnal people focus on clothing and physical things but spiritual people focus on the eternal and internal principles.
If this doesn't make sense then please email me at marshillministry©aol.com
Posted at: 01:01