Christian Liberty

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

In college, after the name of a course, you’ll see a number. For example, ENG 101 would symbolize an entry-level English class. The next year, you might take ENG 201. The two tell you that there is a prerequisite to this class. There’s information you need. This is an advanced course.

As we study first Corinthians chapter 8, I feel that this is an advanced course in being a follower of Jesus. Now, before you get scared or worried that you might not have taken the prerequisite, you have all that you need. The Holy Spirit of God living inside of you is the prerequisite information needed to understand and rightfully discern this truth. 

The church in Corinth had a lot of divisions. One of them, and the one addressed here in first Corinthians chapter 8, is whether or not it was acceptable for Christians to eat meat that was sacrificed to idols.

Now, to even understand this in our culture, we need some further explanation. The city of Corinth was full of temples to many different gods. It was common to offer a sacrifice to these gods and then eat the sacrifice. If whatever animal you brought was too much for your family or you to eat, it would be offered to whoever was at the temple that day.  Theologian NT Wright refers to those temples as the restaurants of the city. 

These sacrifices and a potentially free lunch have caused an argument within the church. There are those who think that eating this food is OK, and others who feel that it is participation in the worship of these idols.

Now, I doubt that in your church today, there are a lot of arguments about whether or not people can eat meat sacrificed to idols. However, this passage gives us insight into a greater argument around the topic of Christian liberty. 

Christian liberty is the understanding that Christians are free to do anything that God’s word does not teach as sinful. There are things that the Bible clearly defines as wrong. Then there are a lot of things that it does not say is good or bad. As a follower of Jesus, we have the freedom to pursue these things. 

Many Christians understand that we are free from sin, but we are also free to live the full lives that God has called us to. (See John 10:10) 

God’s Spirit means that we have freedom. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17). 

The church gets messy, though, when we misunderstand or misuse the freedom we have in Christ. It results in two bad things. Either people are bound in religion and rules. Or people use their freedom in a way that doesn’t put others first. 

So how do we live in Christian liberty? This is a balance. This is nuanced. Let me assure you, this is possible! 

First, we need to recognize our freedom. When I asked about eating food, sacrificing to idols, Paul tells the church emphatically that it is OK. (1 Corinthians 8:4-6) As followers of Jesus, we have the freedom to do anything. God’s word has not forbidden it.

Christ has set us free! Free to enjoy life. Free from the weight of pleasing God. Free from the law. 

God doesn’t have favorites. This is important because we don’t have to add to what Jesus has done to try to get God to like us more. Legalistic mindset is a burden, but following Jesus and a healthy way should feel like a joy, not a burden. (Matthew 11:28-30) 

Brothers and sisters, we have been set free by the work of Jesus. Let us live in freedom. Jesus’s life, death, burial, and resurrection have done everything needed for us to live as free sons and daughters of God. Free from shame. Free from condemnation. Free from the weight of perfectionism. 

IN JESUS, WE. ARE. FREE. 

YOU. ARE. FREE. 

While, it’s important that we recognize our freedom. Paul also encourages us not to weaponize our freedom. We have freedom in Christ, but our freedom is not about us. Our freedom to do or not to do must be paired with a great love for others. 

Paul tells the church at Corinth, “Yes, you can eat meat, sacrifice the idols. But Paul says if your eating is going to tempt a brother or sister to go back to worshiping idols, then don’t do it. If your eating that meat will tell the world around you that it’s okay to worship idols and Jesus, then don’t do it.” 

Healthy Christian liberty looks like us being willing to give up what we want to do in order to honor those around us. In Galatians 5:13, Paul argues the point of our freedom is to serve one another in love. 

Just because we can do something doesn’t mean it’s what’s best. This is why this is an advanced course in following Jesus. Healthy Christian liberty requires humility. It means that we won’t always get our way. And that we take the lead and honor one another. 

We are free, full stop! Our freedom is not about us. Just like everything in the Christian life, there’s more to it. Loving others and lifting high the name of Jesus, while enjoying the good gifts of God’s creation, this is the point of our freedom.