To Do or Not To Do I Corinthians 哥林多前書 10:23-33 

Can't eat beef. mad cow Can't eat chicken…bird flu Can't eat eggs Can't eat beef.........mad cow  Can't eat chicken…bird flu  Can't eat eggs.........again, bird flu Can’t drink milk……some bad chemicals  Can't eat pork..........bird flu got into piggies swine flu Can't eat fish...........contaminated by heavy metals in the water  Can't eat fruits and veggies....... insecticides & herbicides 

Christian Freedom?

Clearly Wrong Gray Area Clearly OK

How do I make my decision? To Do or Not To Do How do I make my decision? (v.23-24)

How do I make my decision? I Cor 哥林多前書 10:23-24  23甚麼事情都可以作，但不是都有益處。甚麼事情都可以作，但不是都能造就人。24人不要求自己的好處，卻要求別人的好處 (新譯本) 23 All things are lawful (permissible) , but not all things are profitable (good). All things are lawful, but not all things edify (constructive). 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.  (NASB)

How do I make my decision? Acts 使徒行傳 21:25 But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. 至於信主的外族人，我們已經寫了信，吩咐他們要禁戒祭偶像的食物、血、勒死的牲畜和淫亂。

I Corinthians 哥林多前書 8:7-8 有些人直到現在習慣了拜偶像的事，因此他們吃的時候，就把這些食物看作是真的獻過給偶像的；他們的良心既然軟弱，就被污穢了。 其實食物不能使我們親近　神，我們不吃也無損，吃也無益。 Some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.  

Romans 羅馬書 14:2-3, 20 2有人相信所有的食物都可以吃，信心軟弱的人卻只吃蔬菜。3 吃的人不要輕看不吃的人，不吃的人也不要批評吃的人，因為　神已經接納他了。20 不可因食物的緣故拆毀　神的工作。一切都是潔淨的，但人若因食物絆倒弟兄，對他來說，這就是惡事了。 2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food.  All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.  

How do I make my decision? I Cor 哥林多前書 10:23-33 23甚麼事情都可以作，但不是都有益處。甚麼事情都可以作，但不是都能造就人。 23 All things are lawful (permissible) , but not all things are profitable (good). All things are lawful, but not all things edify (constructive).  6:12 甚麼事我都可以作，但不是都有益處。甚麼事我都可以作，但我不要受任何事的轄制 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable (good). All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered (controlled) by anything. 

How do I make my decision? I Cor 哥林多前書 10:23-33 23甚麼事情都可以作，但不是都有益處。甚麼事情都可以作，但不是都能造就人。 23 All things are lawful (permissible) , but not all things are profitable (good). All things are lawful, but not all things edify (constructive).  6:12 甚麼事我都可以作，但不是都有益處。甚麼事我都可以作，但我不要受任何事的轄制 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable (good). All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered (controlled) by anything.  Is it beneficial/edifying/constructive for yourself?

How do I make my decision? 23甚麼事情都可以作，但不是都有益處。甚麼事情都可以作，但不是都能造就人。24人不要求自己的好處，卻要求別人的好處 23 All things are lawful (permissible) , but not all things are profitable (good). All things are lawful, but not all things edify (constructive). 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.  32 無論是猶太人，是希臘人，是　神的教會，你們總不可使他們跌倒；33 ….不是要求自己的好處，而是要求別人的好處，為了要使他們得救。32 Give no offense (stumble) either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 … not seeking my own profit (good) but the profit (good) of the many, so that they may be saved. Is it beneficial/edifying/constructive for yourself? (v.23)

How do I make my decision? 23甚麼事情都可以作，但不是都有益處。甚麼事情都可以作，但不是都能造就人。24人不要求自己的好處，卻要求別人的好處 23 All things are lawful (permissible) , but not all things are profitable (good). All things are lawful, but not all things edify (constructive). 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.  32 無論是猶太人，是希臘人，是　神的教會，你們總不可使他們跌倒；33 ….不是要求自己的好處，而是要求別人的好處，為了要使他們得救。32 Give no offense (stumble) either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 … not seeking my own profit (good) but the profit (good) of the many, so that they may be saved. 2. Is it beneficial/edifying/constructive for other people around you? (v.24)

What have you ever done or what have you ever not done because of someone else?  

To Do or Not To Do How do I make my decision? (v.23-24) Real Life Examples (v.25-30)

Real Life Example I Corinthians 哥林多前書 10:25-27 25肉食市場所賣的一切，你們只管吃，不要為了良心的緣故問甚麼，26 因為地和地上所充滿的都是屬於主的。27 如果有不信的人邀請你們吃飯，你們也願意去，凡擺在你們面前的，都可以吃，不要為了良心的緣故問甚麼。 25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 26 For the Earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 

Real Life Example I Corinthians 哥林多前書 10:25-27 25肉食市場所賣的一切，你們只管吃，不要為了良心的緣故問甚麼，26 因為地和地上所充滿的都是屬於主的。27 如果有不信的人邀請你們吃飯，你們也願意去，凡擺在你們面前的，都可以吃，不要為了良心的緣故問甚麼。 25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 26 For the Earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 

I Corinthians 哥林多前書 10:28-30 28 但是如果有人告訴你們：“這是獻過祭的食物。”那麼，為了那告訴你們的人，也為了良心的緣故，就不要吃。29 我說的良心，不是你的，而是他的。為甚麼我的自由要受別人的良心論斷呢？ 30 我若存著感恩的心吃了，為甚麼我因著我所感恩的食物被人毀謗呢？ 28 But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake;29I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?

Real Life Example I Corinthians 哥林多前書 10:25-27 25肉食市場所賣的一切，你們只管吃，不要為了良心的緣故問甚麼，26 因為地和地上所充滿的都是屬於主的。27 如果有不信的人邀請你們吃飯，你們也願意去，凡擺在你們面前的，都可以吃，不要為了良心的緣故問甚麼。 25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 26 For the Earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 

I Corinthians 哥林多前書 10:28-30 28 但是如果有人告訴你們：“這是獻過祭的食物。”那麼，為了那告訴你們的人，也為了良心的緣故，就不要吃。29 我說的良心，不是你的，而是他的。為甚麼我的自由要受別人的良心論斷呢？ 30 我若存著感恩的心吃了，為甚麼我因著我所感恩的食物被人毀謗呢？ 28 But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake;29I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?

To Do or Not To Do How do I make my decision? (v.23-24) Real Life Examples (v.25-30) III. The Reason behind my decisions (v.31-33)

I Corinthians 哥林多前書 10:31-33 31 所以，你們或吃喝，或作甚麼，一切都要為　神的榮耀而行。32 無論是猶太人，是希臘人，是　神的教會，你們總不可使他們跌倒；33 就好像我所作的一切，都是要使大家喜悅，不是要求自己的好處，而是要求別人的好處，為了要使他們得救。  31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense (stumble) either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.

I Corinthians 哥林多前書 10:31-33 31 所以，你們或吃喝，或作甚麼，一切都要為　神的榮耀而行。32 無論是猶太人，是希臘人，是　神的教會，你們總不可使他們跌倒；33 就好像我所作的一切，都是要使大家喜悅，不是要求自己的好處，而是要求別人的好處，為了要使他們得救。  31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense (stumble) either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.

"Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought."  -- Pope John Paul II  (1920-2005)

Guidelines: 1) Is it good for myself? 2) Is it good for ppl around me?   Motivation/Reason:  Is it glorifying God? Does it bring people to Christ?

The End

How do I make my decision? Matthew 馬太福音 15:11, 17-18 進到口裡的不能使人污穢，只有從口裡出來的，才能使人污穢…難道不知道一切進到口裡的，是進到肚腹，然後排泄到外面去嗎？但從口裡出來的，是發自內心，才會使人污穢 It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”… Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.