by Don Ruhl

Disciples of Christ cannot allow themselves to be brought under the control of anything.

 12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any (1 Cor. 6:12, NKJV). 

 There are things that are perfectly allowable for us to do, but that does not mean that we have to do them! They may not be helpful to us or they might be a stumbling block to someone watching us. For example, we are free to eat all food, but if I have a health problem, such as diabetes, then I should not insist on eating what is harmful to my body, because my body is supposed to be for the glory of God. I cannot say that God allows me to eat whatever I want. Again, take food for an example. If there are Jews around me who believe that eating pork is not right, I cannot demand on my God-given right to be able to eat that food. I must restrain myself in the presence of that Jew for the sake of his soul that he might see how Christians think of others and perhaps he will give consideration to converting to Christ. 

 I cannot be so under the power of something that I like that I refuse to give it up, whether permanently or temporarily, according to the situation. Interestingly, in the next verse (13), Paul uses food as one of his examples. Food is necessary for life, but even food cannot have power over us, and fasting is a good way to prove the point to ourselves, to God and to others. 

 Whatever we do, let us do it for the glory of God, the salvation of lost souls and the edification of our fellow-Christians.

Don Ruhl 441 Damont Street Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601-2311