{"id":973,"date":"2018-01-28T16:16:17","date_gmt":"2018-01-29T00:16:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=973"},"modified":"2018-01-28T16:32:02","modified_gmt":"2018-01-29T00:32:02","slug":"temper-your-freedom-with-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/28\/temper-your-freedom-with-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Temper Your Freedom with Love!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <o:OfficeDocumentSettings>   <o:RelyOnVML\/>   <o:AllowPNG\/>  <\/o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <\/xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   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\tfont-family:\"Calibri\",\"sans-serif\"; \tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-973-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Epiphany-4-01-28-18.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Epiphany-4-01-28-18.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Epiphany-4-01-28-18.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">January 28, 2018<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">I Corinthians 8:1-13<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Temper Your Freedom with Love!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">Now about food sacrificed to idols:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We know that we all possess knowledge.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But the man who loves God is known by God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many \u201cgods\u201d and many \u201clords\u201d), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But not everyone knows this.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol\u2019s temple, won\u2019t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">One of the things that set our country apart from so many others is the wonderful freedoms we enjoy\u2014 freedoms that many of our fellow Americans have fought and died to protect and preserve.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Part and parcel with the freedoms we enjoy are the rights that we have as citizens of this great country.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In fact, we even have a document entitled the Bill of Rights.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As Americans we guard and protect these rights with all diligence.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As Americans we have the freedom to exercise these rights and to invoke these rights as needed.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At the same time, as Americans we don\u2019t have the freedom to trample upon or infringe upon the rights of others.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now don\u2019t misunderstand me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As Christians we know that <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWe must obey God rather than men!\u201d<\/i> (Acts 5:29)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As Christians we know that no one can claim as their \u201cright\u201d something that God has expressly forbidden in His Word.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And yet, as Americans we strive to respect the rights of the people around us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I\u2019d like you to keep that thought in mind as we study this portion of God\u2019s holy Word.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Our sermon text for today focuses our attention on a dilemma which God\u2019s children have been dealing with ever since Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead for our justification.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On one hand, Scripture proclaims to us that because of what Jesus has done for us we are free!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We are free from the requirements of the Old Testament Ceremonial Law.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We are free to live our life in the light of faith.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On the other hand, Scripture proclaims to us that because of what Jesus has done for us we are to live our lives as servants\u2014 servants of God who gladly and willingly serve each other as brothers and sisters in the faith.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since our old sinful nature sometimes has difficulty balancing our freedoms and our rights with our desire and our willingness to serve, God\u2019s children have at times insisted on exercising their rights\u2014 even to the harm of their fellow believers.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">That was one of the situations which were causing so much difficulty in the Christian congregation in Corinth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since the difficulty that God\u2019s people were experiencing in the Corinthian congregation could replicate itself in our lives and in our congregation today let\u2019s study this portion of Holy Scripture under the theme:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Temper Your Freedom with Love!<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our goal for this morning is two-fold.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, let\u2019s strive to understand what was going on in the lives of God\u2019s people in Corinth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then let\u2019s strive to see how we can apply this portion of Scripture in our own lives today.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As Paul brings out in the opening portion of our text, the central issue that was causing so much trouble in the Corinthian congregation centered on food that was sacrificed to idols.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The ancient city of Corinth was a very \u201creligious\u201d city.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We\u2019re told that there were at least twelve different temples devoted to a variety of different \u201cgods.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every single day people would bring offerings of meat to these pagan temples.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Some of the meat would be burned on the altar.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Some of the meat would be used for a cultic meal\u2014 a banquet where people would gather together and give homage to a particular idol as their \u201chonored guest.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The rest of the meat was then sold to the public with the proceeds going into the treasury of that particular temple.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Many of the members of this congregation had actively participated in these pagan rituals.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They had brought their offerings to the various temples.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They had enjoyed these cultic meals with their families and friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They had purchased the leftover meat at the markets.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This was simply a regular accepted part of their life\u2014 <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">before<\/b> they were brought to faith in Christ as their Savior.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The issue now was this:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While they would no longer even think of offering sacrifices to these pagan idols, could a child of God conscientiously continue to purchase the meat that was being sold at these pagan temples\u2014 knowing that it was offered to an idol, knowing that the proceeds from that sale were going into that pagan temple\u2019s treasury?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Or, did purchasing this meat from one of these pagan temples mean that God\u2019s people were indirectly participating in idol worship?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">How did God the Holy Spirit have the apostle Paul address this very serious concern?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He had the apostle Paul lay down some guiding principles for God\u2019s people to follow.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, look at verses 4-6 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul starts by stating an objective undeniable fact:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>there is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">only one true God!<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He is the God who created all things.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He is the God through whom we live\u2014 both physically as well as spiritually.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>All the so-called \u201cgods\u201d to whom people were bringing these sacrifices were <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">nothing!<\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They were simply figments of mortal man\u2019s imagination.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therefore, the meat that was offered to these idols was no better and no worse than the meat that was still walking around out in the fields around Corinth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For the child of God who knows this, there was no problem buying the meat that was once offered as a sacrifice to an idol.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The problem arose when some of the members of this congregation <u>insisted<\/u> that in their Christian freedom they had the right to continue purchasing their meat wherever they wanted no matter what anyone else might think or say.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Now look at verse seven of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul states yet another objective undeniable truth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He writes, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBut not everyone knows this.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There were people in this congregation who were so concerned about making a clean break from their pagan past that they couldn\u2019t imagine purchasing and eating meat that had been offered to an idol.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>To them this meat was indeed \u201cdefiled.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>To them eating this meat would make them \u201cunholy\u201d in the eyes of the one and only true God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>To see a member of their own congregation purchasing this meat knowing it was once a part of a pagan ritual, to hear a member of their own congregation <u>insist<\/u> that in their Christian freedom they could eat whatever meat they wanted, well, that was deeply troubling to their soul.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What was the Holy Spirit\u2019s solution to this problem?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>His solution is found in two key verses in this text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verse nine and verse thirteen.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul writes, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBe very careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak\u2026Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>My understanding of what the Holy Spirit is teaching us here is what led me to our theme for today:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Temper Your Freedom with Love!<\/i><\/b> <\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Even if your faith in Christ gives you the freedom to do something, that doesn\u2019t mean that you can <u>insist<\/u> on your \u201cright\u201d to do it!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even if your knowledge of Scripture leads you to understand that participating in some particular action is permissible in God\u2019s eyes, that does not mean that you can <u>insist<\/u> on your \u201cright\u201d to participate!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You need to temper your freedom with love\u2014 love for a weaker brother or sister in the faith, love for someone who doesn\u2019t understand the freedom that Christ died to secure for us (Pointing to the cross), love for someone whose faith can be either harmed or perhaps even destroyed by your actions.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s precisely what Paul was warning about when he said to the Corinthians, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cFor if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol\u2019s temple, won\u2019t he be embolden to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We do not want to take the chance that someone whose faith is weak will see us doing something that in their heart they think is \u201cimproper\u201d for a child of God to do and then say to themselves, \u201cWell, if they can do it, maybe I can do it too.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But in the end what was not dangerous for our faith turns out to be deadly for theirs.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">I honestly do not think that we have an exact modern-day parallel to this meat that was being sacrificed to idols.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therefore, I honestly do not think that we can imagine what it was like to be a member of this congregation in this culture at this time.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Does that mean that there is no way to apply this portion of Scripture to our hearts and to our lives today?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not at all!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We would all do well to keep in mind those two key verses from this text.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Look once again at verse nine.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul writes, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBe very careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i>The Greek word that is translated here as <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cstumbling block\u201d<\/i> very literally refers to \u201csomething sticking up in the road that causes a person to stumble and fall.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What the Holy Spirit is telling us here is that even if we have the freedom to do something, if exercising our \u201crights\u201d will cause someone <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cfor whom Christ died\u201d<\/i> to trip, to stumble, to fall in their walk with the Lord then out of <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">love<\/i><\/b> for that person we will not exercise our \u201cright.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">A similar principle is placed before us in verse thirteen of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul writes, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cTherefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Greek word that is translated here as <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ccause to sin\u201d<\/i> is the Greek word <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cskandalizo.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This is where we get the English word <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cscandal.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Originally this Greek word referred to the piece of wood that held open a trap for animals.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The picture here is both simple and graphic.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even if it is perfectly clear to us that Scripture gives us the freedom to do something (for Paul it was eating meat that was sacrificed to an idol) if our actions could result in someone <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cfor whom Christ died\u201d<\/i> getting caught in a \u201ctrap of sin,\u201d then out of <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">love<\/i><\/b> for that person we will not exercise our \u201cright.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">I hesitate to try and give you a litany of specific concrete examples as to where you need to temper your freedom with love in your own personal life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because while these words of Scripture apply to each and every one of us, the specifics of how they apply will vary from one child of God to the next.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I will, however, give you two examples from my own personal life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, I have learned from experience that I need to be very careful when it comes to things like drinking.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Scripture does not say that it is wrong to drink\u2014 as long as it is done in moderation.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But, if I am in a situation where I don\u2019t know the people very well but they may know me and what I do for a living, or if I am in a situation where I know that someone does indeed think it is wrong for a Christian to drink, or if I am in a situation where I know that someone has a problem with alcohol \u2014 I always opt for either pop or water.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>To me, that\u2019s tempering my \u201cfreedom\u201d with love\u2014 love for someone <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cfor whom Christ died.\u201d<\/i> (Pointing to the cross)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Secondly, I have learned from personal experience that not every faithful child of God is thrilled with our traditional Lutheran liturgy.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I have attended worship services that were very very different from the worship services I conduct as a pastor.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Instead of an organ or a piano there was a Praise Band.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The pastor did not wear a robe and a stole.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He wore a nice suit.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The congregation did not follow the church year (for example, today is the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany) and the pastor did not follow the lectionary, the three pre-selected Scripture readings for each Sunday.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He \u201cpreached through\u201d a particular book of the Bible.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And yet, while many things were \u201cdifferent\u201d from what I do, the message was the same Biblical message that I strive to share with God\u2019s people.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Is the traditional Lutheran liturgical service the \u201cbest\u201d way to worship our Savior God?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That depends on who you ask!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Personally, I think it is.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I love the depth and the richness and the beauty of our traditional Lutheran liturgical service.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At the same time, however, can we say that the traditional Lutheran liturgical service is the only \u201ccorrect\u201d way to worship our Savior God?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No we cannot!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since our Christian freedom includes our worship style we need to make sure that when necessary we temper our Christian \u201cfreedom\u201d with love\u2014 love for someone <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cfor whom Christ died.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">How you apply these inspired words in your own life, my friends, may be different from how I apply them in my life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The key to applying them correctly, however, is quite simple.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First and foremost, we need to see everyone\u2014 especially our fellow Christians\u2014 as someone <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cfor whom Christ died.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Once we have that perspective on people then we need to ask ourselves some very basic questions.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Could my actions result in putting a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cstumbling block\u201d<\/i> in someone\u2019s walk with their Lord?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Could my actions cause someone to get caught in a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ctrap of sin\u201d<\/i>?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If that is the case, then out of love for Christ and out of love for that person <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cfor whom Christ died\u201d<\/i> I will not insist on exercising my \u201crights.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As Americans we do indeed enjoy freedoms that people in other countries can only dream about.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Those freedoms do indeed give us certain inalienable \u201crights.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While we do indeed have the freedom to exercise those rights, we also understand that we do not have the freedom to insist on exercising our rights if it results in harming others.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As the children of God we have been given a freedom that this world cannot even begin to comprehend.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This freedom\u2014 which Christ won for us on the cross (Pointing to the cross) \u2014 does indeed give us certain \u201crights\u201d\u2014 rights that we do not deserve.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>May God grant that while we enjoy the freedom Christ won for us, we will <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">always<\/i><\/b> strive to temper our freedom with love!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<p> <\/font><\/p>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Epiphany-4-01-28-18.mp3\">Epiphany-4-01-28-18.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany January 28, 2018 I Corinthians 8:1-13 Temper Your Freedom with Love! &nbsp; &nbsp; Now about food sacrificed to idols:&nbsp; We know that we all possess knowledge.&nbsp; Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.&nbsp; The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.&nbsp; But the man [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=973"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/973\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}