Was Paul a Chauvinist?

Many people (mostly women) reading 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 conclude that Paul is a chauvinistic pig. But nothing could be further from the truth! Paul is clear that men and women are equal and is only stating the biblical truth that though they are equal, they have different God appointed functions in the home. Equality of the sexes is what Paul is getting at 1 Corinthians 11:11-12 where he writes, “Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.”

There are three basic teams you can be on in regards to the roles of men and women. Let me briefly describe each one:

1. The Feminist Team: This team says men are stupid. 

2. The Chauvinist Team: This team says women are stupid. 

3. The Biblical Team: This team says men and women compliment each other. 

In 1 Corinthians 11:11-12 Paul is clearly identifying himself with the Biblical Team. Anytime you're tempted to falsely accuse Paul of chauvinism just re-read Galatians 3:28 where Paul wrote "There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." That is, Paul believed in the equality of women. Paul understood that both men and women were created in the image of God and that as equal image bearers each possessed immense value. Paul never argues anywhere that men are superior to women, only that men and women have different God ordained functions in the home. And in that regard, he is absolutely correct. 

Husbands, at times you will be tempted to act as if you are superior to your wife. Wives, at times you will be tempted to act as if you are superior to your husband. Here's something good for both husbands and wives to keep in mind. God made woman out of man’s rib. She is not to be out in front of the man (feminism), nor back behind the man (chauvinism), rather right by his side (from where she came) as his equal in every way. Here's another way to think of it...God made woman out of man’s rib. She wasn’t made from the foot (chauvinism) neither was she made from the head (feminism), rather right from his side. 

The biblical view is that men and women are equal but have different God-given assignments in the home. This is what Paul taught, and if we want to avoid unnecessary conflict in the home, what we ought to live by. 

The Divine Order: Illustrated by Custom

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 11:3 that life works best with Christ in authority over man, a husband in authority over his wife (cf. Ephesians 5:22) and God in authority over Christ. This is the divine order. Now the apostle Paul knew that some of the Corinthians would get the wrong idea about the divine order, so he gave them five illustrations to make his meaning clear. In this post we'll look at his fifth illustration.

Illustration #5: Custom

Paul wraps up his teaching about the divine order in 1 Corinthians 11:16 where he writes, “If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.” By “we” Paul means all the other apostles. Paul is saying: All the other apostles (i.e. Peter, James, John, etc.) all teach the same thing - that God has instituted a divinely established order that we ought to recognize and fall in line with.

For example, the apostle Peter taught the same thing as Paul. Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:1, "...you wives must accept the authority of your husbands." Then in v.7 he says "...you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life." You see - men and women are equal but they have different roles according to God's divine order. So Paul's point is - I'm not the only guy teaching this! This is what all the apostles teach because this is what the Bible teaches so don't give me a hard way to go on this.

In light of the divine order being illustrated in 1) the Trinity, 2) Creation, 3) the Angels, 4) Nature and 5) Church Custom and Practice we ought not to rebel against God's divine order, rather embrace it and abide by it, for the Bible teaches it's the way life works best.

The Divine Order: Illustrated by Nature

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 11:3 that life works best with Christ in authority over man, a husband in authority over his wife (cf. Ephesians 5:22) and God in authority over Christ. This is the divine order. Now the apostle Paul knew that some of the Corinthians would get the wrong idea about the divine order, so he gave them five illustrations to make his meaning clear. In this post we'll look at his fourth illustration.

Illustration #4: Nature

In 1 Corinthians 11:13-15 Paul writes “Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.” Paul is saying that men and women are created by God to compliment each other, yet to be different. Therefore, there should be a visible distinction between a man and a woman which serves as a visible reminder that God has different roles for men and women.

I remember going to Centrum Camp in West Springfield as a kid and wondering why this one guy was always hanging out with the girls. Several days into camp we found out that the reason this guy was always with the girls was because he was actually a she. But my goodness - even after someone told us she was a girl, we all had trouble believing it. I remember another time at a youth event in Maryland, tI met a new kid named Cade (C-A-D-E). But when I was told his name I heard Kate (K-A-T-E). Since I thought he told me his name was Kate and since he looked just like a girl at that point in time, I called him Kate all night. No one picked up on it. I don't remember exactly when or how I found out, but eventually someone informed me that Kate was Cade and a boy, not a girl. But man alive - it's getting harder and harder to tell now a days!

And this is exactly why it's important to take steps to clearly identify your gender in your appearance. It's a visual reminder that men and women are different and have different God-given roles. Now in our American culture, a man wearing his hair long is no longer considered distinctly feminine as it was in Paul’s day so I don’t personally believe you need to run out after service and get a haircut if you have long hair. But I would definitely say that if you’re a man don't wear a dress, don’t wear make up, don’t wear high heels and don’t wear a purse. These things are distinctly feminine. In the same way - Do women have to have long hair? I don’t believe they do. In our American culture you can clearly be identified as female even with short hair. And that's the goal. For men to clearly appear as men and for women to clearly appear as women.

I think a man honors God when he takes steps to appear distinctly masculine. I think a woman honors God when she takes steps to appear distinctly feminine. It’s a small way we can show God that we are embracing his divine order in the universe. When a man dresses like a man and a woman dresses like a woman, a pleasing message is sent to God that says: I am ok with who You made me to be. I have a different role to play than someone of the opposite sex - and I want to reflect that difference in my appearance.

So men - embrace your masculinity. Be a man and look like a man. Women - embrace your femininity. Be a woman and look like a woman. It’s a testimony to the different roles God has for us in his divinely established order.

The Divine Order: Illustrated by the Angels

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 11:3 that life works best with Christ in authority over man, a husband in authority over his wife (cf. Ephesians 5:22) and God in authority over Christ. This is the divine order. Now the apostle Paul knew that some of the Corinthians would get the wrong idea about the divine order, so he gave them five illustrations to make his meaning clear. In this post we'll look at his third illustration.

Illustration #3: The Angels


In 1 Corinthians 11:10 Paul writes “It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels.” That is, as the women in Corinth would wear a head covering to demonstrate they were under their husband's authority, so the angels also wear a covering in the presence of God (Isaiah 6:2) to show they are under his authority.

I personally don't understand why some women get so upset when they hear a passage of Scripture like the one we're studying today. Wives - let me remind you that everyone is under someone's authority...

• Children have parents in authority over them. 
• Students have teachers in authority over them. 
• Athletes have coaches in authority over them. 
• Employees have employers in authority over them. 
• Enlisted soldiers have officers in authority over them.  
• Husbands have Christ in authority over them. 
• Christ has God in authority over him. 
• And even the angels themselves are under authority. As Psalm 103:20 says “Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.” 

If there's a need for order in the classroom, order in school, order in sports, order at work, order in the military, order in the Trinity and order among the angels - how could there possible not be a need for order in the home?

Using the angels as our example, let's consider what happens when we defy God's divine order. According to Hebrews 2:6-7 God put the angels right where he knew they would be happiest - higher than man but lower than God. But Lucifer didn't like his God-ordained place in the universe so he rebelled against God and his divine order. You can actually read about his rebellion in Isaiah 14:13-15. Lucifer said in his heart: I'm not happy where God's placed me so I will ascend to the heavens, I will raise my throne above the stars of God, I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights. I will ascend above the top of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High. And what was the result of this rebellion? Lucifer became Satan and the angels who followed Lucifer became demons, and according to Matthew 25:41 hell itself was created as a place of punishment for Lucifer as well as those who follow in his footsteps. What was Lucifer's sin here? He wanted a more elevated position than the one he was given. Instead of accepting his lot in life he instead aspired to be greater than God. But what disaster we bring on ourselves when we do this. As God said to Satan in Isaiah 14:15, "But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit."

Husbands, we are to voluntarily place ourselves under the authority of Christ. But every time we disobey we are saying in our heart "I want to be my own god! I want to live my own life how I want to live it." When we do this we're no better than Satan (and we sound like him too). Recall that Lucifer said "I will ascend, I will raise my throne, I will sit enthroned, I will make myself like the Most High." How different than Jesus, who rather than saying "I" said "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). After studying this point I had to tell God "I'm sorry for all too often making myself god by living how I want to live instead of how you say I should. Please forgive me." Maybe you need to do the same?

Wives, the Bible says you are to voluntarily place yourselves under the authority of your husband. But when you have an attitude that says in your heart "I aint nobodies helper. I aint serving him" that is actually a Satanic and demonic attitude. It's the very attitude of the heart that turned Lucifer into Satan and many of the angels into demons. If that's you today I would encourage you to repent and adopt a Christlike submission that says "God, you know best. So if that's what the Bible teaches that's what I'm going to do. I might not like it just yet, but I'm going to do it in faith and trust you with the outcome."

The Divine Order: Illustrated by Creation

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 11:3 that life works best with Christ in authority over man, a husband in authority over his wife (cf. Ephesians 5:22) and God in authority over Christ. This is the divine order. Now the apostle Paul knew that some of the Corinthians would get the wrong idea about the divine order, so he gave them five illustrations to make his meaning clear. In this post we'll look at his second illustration.

Illustration #2: Creation

In 1 Corinthians 11:7-9 Paul writes, “A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.” When Paul says that man is the glory of God that simply means that Adam came from God (Genesis 2:7). And when Paul says that woman is the glory of man that simply means that Eve came from Adam (Genesis 2:22). Paul is saying that the creation account in Genesis 2 illustrates the divine order that he stated back in verse three. That is, God is in authority over Adam because Adam came from God. In the same way, Adam is in authority over Eve because Eve came from Adam. You could follow his logic by adding that children are under the authority of their parents because children come from their parents. It's as if Paul is saying: You are under the authority of whoever you came from. Adam came from God so Adam is under God's authority. Eve came from Adam so Eve is under Adam's authority.

Now in referencing the creation account Paul brings to mind another great example of the disastrous consequences that come when husbands and wives rebel against their God ordained roles in the family. Let me explain...We read in Genesis 3:1-6 that "...the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.  

In this passage Eve shows no respect for her husband as the God appointed leader of the home when she goes ahead and makes an independent decision regarding the eating of the fruit. But Eve isn't the only one to blame. We also observe in this passage a passive Adam who failed to lead his wife and himself in the ways of the Lord. Here we have complete role reversals! Instead of Adam leading Eve in godliness with her supporting him, we find Eve leading Adam in sinfulness with him supporting her! And what are the consequences? Sin enters the world and along with it sickness, suffering and death - for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). 

Friends - in keeping with the divine order the husband is to lead his family according to God's will and the wife is to follow him as he follows Christ. When the wife tries to usurp her husband's role as leader (as Eve did) the consequences are disastrous. Look at it this way...

• How many CEO's does a company have? 
• How many Lead Pastors does a church have? 
• How many Captains does a boat have? 
• How many Head Coaches does a sports team have? 
• How many Popes does the Catholic church have? 
• How many Presidents does a country have? 

What am I getting at? Only that anything with two heads is a monster! It seems to me that our culture recognizes the value of having a point person in business, in the military, in sports and in politics as well as every other arena of life, but for some reason not in marriage. May it be different at New Day. I pray God gives us the grace to see and understand his wisdom and to accept his divine order. Those who are Christians say "God knows best" but do we really believe that and live like it? If not, what changes do you need to make? 

The Divine Order: Illustrated by the Trinity

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 11:3 that life works best with Christ in authority over man, a husband in authority over his wife (cf. Ephesians 5:22) and God in authority over Christ. This is the divine order. Now the apostle Paul knew that some of the Corinthians would get the wrong idea about the divine order, so he gave them five illustrations to make his meaning clear. In this post we'll look at his first illustration.

Illustration #1: The Trinity

1 Corinthians 11:3 says "...the head of Christ is God" but don't think that means in any way that Jesus is inferior and God is superior. On the contrary - the Trinity is comprised of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit and they are equally God. But though they are equal they do not have the same function. 

For example, when mankind needed to be saved from his sin, God sent Jesus into the world (John 3:17) to die on the cross in our place for our sins. Jesus, though he was equal with God the Father (John 10:30) voluntarily placed himself under God's authority so that man could be saved (Luke 22:42). Once Jesus died on the cross for our sins, resurrected from the grave and ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit came to earth to be our "Helper" (John 14:26, NKJV). Though the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are equally God, they have each played a different part in the salvation saga. 

But let's pretend for a moment that Jesus was offended at the thought of placing himself under God's authority. Let's pretend he argued with God, saying "Have you forgotten that we are equal? Going to earth is too lowly of a position for me to serve in so I'm not going." And let's pretend the Holy Spirit said "I don't want to be anyone's helper! I'm too important for that! No thank you!" Let me ask you - What would've happened if Jesus and the Holy Spirit responded that way? We'd still be dead in our transgressions (Ephesians 2:5) for without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). Friends - if Jesus and the Holy Spirit didn't play their part, even though they are equally God, we'd all be facing an eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). Keep that in mind as we move on...

Now not only does 1 Corinthians 11:3 say "...the head of Christ is God", it also says "...the head of the woman is man..." and we know from Ephesians 5:22 that this is referring to a wife being under the authority of her husband. But don't think that means in any way that a wife is inferior and a husband is superior. On the contrary - a marriage is comprised of a husband and a wife who are equal. Genesis 2:24 says once a couple gets married the two become "one flesh". However, though they are equal, they do not have the same function. 

For example, in the home the husband is to lead the family according to God's will as revealed in the Bible. And the wife is to be his helper. In Genesis 2:18 God said “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Just as Jesus allowed himself to be led by God, so a husband needs to allow himself to be led by Christ. And just as the Holy Spirit serves as our Helper, so a wife needs to serve as her husband's helper. The word "Helper" in John 14:26 comes from the Greek word "paraclete" and signifies one who consoles or comforts, one who encourages or uplifts; and one who intercedes on behalf of another as an advocate in court. That is, the Holy Spirit helps us by consoling us, comforting us, encouraging us, uplifting us, refreshing us and praying for us. And that's exactly what a wife needs to do for her husband - console him, comfort him, encourage him, uplift him, refresh him and pray for him. Though a husband and wife are equal, they each play different parts in creating a peaceful home. 

But let's pretend the husband is lazy and doesn't want to lead his family and let's pretend the wife is proud and doesn't want to be anybody's helper. What's gonna happen? There's going to be conflict! And this is exactly what we see in many marriages today - the conflict that results when husbands and wives don't want to play the part that God has assigned for them to play. Remember, if Jesus and the Holy Spirit weren't willing to play their part in the salvation process, we'd all be dead in our sins right now. In the same when, if a husband and wife aren't willing to play their part in the marriage relationship, that's the death of the marriage! 

I know this is hard to do, but husbands need to lead their family is accordance with God's will revealed in the Bible and wives need to help their husbands by consoling, comforting, encouraging, uplifting, refreshing and praying for them. This is how the family works best for this is God's divine order. 

The Divine Order: Defined

In 1 Corinthians 11:3 Paul writes, “...I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”

God says life works best with Christ in authority over man, a husband in authority over his wife (cf. Ephesians 5:22) and Him in authority over Christ. This is the divine order. 

If you're from New England (Massachusetts in particular) you're familiar with these crazy things called "rotaries". If you're not from New England, a rotary is an intersection of roads coming together from several directions. It allows you to continue through without stopping at a stop sign or a traffic signal. When coming onto the rotary you must yield to those already in the rotary. These are the rules of the road. This is how those in authority set things up and how traffic works best. When people follow the rules of the road there is harmony. You not only get to your destination, but arrive there safely. But when you break the rules of road and approach the rotary however you want instead of how you ought to, you become a danger to yourself and others. 

In the same way, when we embrace God's divine order, even if we don't fully understand it, there is harmony and peace in the home, in the church and in the world. But when we rebel against God's authority and approach life however we want instead of how God says is best, we invite trouble into our lives. I realize how unpopular it is in today's culture to talk about a husband being in authority over his wife. But it's no coincidence that the further our culture has moved away from God's divine order, the higher the divorce rate has risen. And as we continue moving away from God's divine order it will continue to rise.

Would you like your marriage to last? Would like to live in harmony and peace and avoid needless conflict and pain? Those who have the best possible chance of doing so are those who embrace, not resist, God's divine order. 

Disputable Matters: Consideration #4

In order to make a God-honoring decision concerning a disputable matter, we must subject ourselves to four checkpoints:

Checkpoint #1: My Creator. "Can I do it?"
Checkpoint #2: My Character. "Should I do it?"
Checkpoint #3: My Conscience. Will it allow me to do it?
Checkpoint #4: My Companions. Will it lead them to Jesus?

In this post we'll look at Checkpoint #4: My Companions. Will it lead them to Jesus?

You may have checked a certain activity with God’s Word to determine right or wrong (checkpoint #1)...you have thought through the implications of how this activity might affect your character (checkpoint #2)...you may have cleared the activity with your conscience (checkpoint #3)...but the Bible says there’s still another consideration...the consideration of OTHERS! Look what Paul wrote...

1 Corinthians 10:24, “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” NIV
When you’re deciding whether or not you should do something - you also need to consider it’s affect on the Christian and non-Christian community. Will this help Christians grow closer to Jesus? Will this influence non-Christians to become followers of Jesus? Paul says if your freedom (or liberty) is a detriment to another believer’s spiritual growth, you need to give up your freedom when you’re with them. This is what he means in 1 Corinthians 9:12 when he writes, “... we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.” NIV That is, Paul gladly would rather suffer the restriction of his liberty than exercise his freedom and in so doing lead someone away from Jesus.

If we don’t take the personal convictions of others into account we risk hindering their walk with Christ, which is the opposite of what you want to do! Paul says as much in 1 Corinthians 8:7 when he writes: By exercising your liberty you could “defile” another believer’s conscience. He tells them in 1 Corinthians 8:9, “...you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.” NLT (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:32)

You may have “the right” to do something, but your Christian responsibility is to forgo that right in order to build up fellow Christians and positively influence those that are not. In chapter 9 Paul mentions a number of rights he had as an apostle but he goes on to say in v.15 “But I have not used any of these rights.” Why did Paul voluntarily give up doing things that were technically 100% ok for him to do? Because he didn’t want his freedom and liberty to become a stumbling block to anyone. Paul said in chapter 8 verse 12 that when your liberty becomes a stumbling block to another believer that you have sinned against that believer AND against Christ! And Paul didn’t want to be guilty of that.

This is why Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:19, "Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ." Paul's saying: There are many things I’m free to do that I don’t do so that I can better influence people for Christ. When Paul was with the Jews he observed Jewish convictions so as to influence them for Christ. He knew that if he ignored their personal conviction regarding ceremonial hand washing, he would lose any influence with them for the cause of Christ. So when he was with the Jews, he would wash his hands like they did. And when he was with Gentiles he certainly wouldn't eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols in front of those who felt that eating such meat was wrong. Why? If he had, he would've lost his ability to influence them for Christ. This is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 9:22, where Paul writes "When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ." 

Paul observed the personal convictions of those around him, in order to best influence them for Christ. And that’s what we should do to. We may have the freedom to participate in this or that. But if our liberty will cause another person to stumble in their faith - then we must voluntarily give up our freedom when we’re with that person. As Romans 14:15 says “If your brother or sister [in Christ] is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.” NIV

Here's the 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 principle: LOVE SETS LIMITS ON LIBERTY Paul would rather die than fail to act in love towards a fellow believer. Paul would rather die than become a stumbling block that would prevent someone from coming to faith in Christ. And that’s how we should feel too!

Disputable Matters: Consideration #3

In order to make a God-honoring decision concerning a disputable matter, we must subject ourselves to four checkpoints:

Checkpoint #1: My Creator. "Can I do it?" 

Checkpoint #2: My Character. "Should I do it?" 

Checkpoint #3: My Conscience. Will it allow me to do it? 

Checkpoint #4: My Companions. Will it help lead them to Jesus? 

In this post we'll look at Checkpoint #3: My Conscience. Will it allow me to do it?

In order to make a God-honoring decision concerning a disputable matter, you'll want to check the decision with your conscience. In Romans 14:2 Paul writes “...one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.” NLT He goes on to say in Romans 14:14, “I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.” NLT From these verses we learn that even if the Bible doesn't expressly condemn a certain action, if someone feels convicted in their conscience about participating, then for that person, the action is sinful. The person who feel convicted over a certain issue can't justify participation by saying "The Bible doesn't say it's wrong" because Paul is clear - If you feel in your conscience that it's wrong, then for you, it is wrong.

During my freshman year of Bible college I personally felt that having the internet in my dorm room was wrong, because it only served as a temptation to internet pornography. So I got rid of the internet in my dorm room and instead used the internet in the library where I had the built in accountability of other people present. Should everyone have gotten rid of the internet in their dorm room? No! This was a personal conviction - something wrong for me- not something that was universally wrong for everyone. I could've tried to justify keeping the internet in my dorm room saying "The Bible doesn't say it's wrong" but that wouldn't have made it any less wrong. I was convicted by it, so for me it was wrong.

We all have what Paul refers to as “a sensitive conscience” in certain areas - and they are different for each person because we’re not all the same and we don’t all struggle with the same things. God knows exactly where we are weak and where we are prone to give in to sin, so he gave each of us a conscience that will lead us to stay clear of areas where we're prone to give in to sin.

Where has your God-given conscience been leading you lately - and are you following its leading? Are you heeding its warnings? Are you staying away from the areas its telling you to stay clear of?

Our third consideration when making a God-honoring decision concerning a disputable matter is: My Conscience. Will it allow to do it? For the final consideration click here. 

Disputable Matters: Consideration #2

In order to make a God-honoring decision concerning a disputable matter, we must subject ourselves to four checkpoints:

Checkpoint #1: My Creator. "Can I do it?" 

Checkpoint #2: My Character. "Should I do it?" 

Checkpoint #3: My Conscience. Will it allow me to do it? 

Checkpoint #4: My Companions. Will it lead them to Jesus? 

In this post we'll look at Checkpoint #2: My Character. Here we're asking "Should I do it?"

If you're going to make a good decision concerning a disputable matter, you better not stop at "Can I do it?" You must go on to ask "Should I do it?" The Corinthians made the mistake of thinking that just because they could do something (i.e. eat meat sacrificed to idols) that they should.

But Paul writes to them in 1 Corinthians 10:23, You [Corinthians] say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but [I Paul say] not everything is good for you. You [Corinthians] say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but [I Paul say] not everything is beneficial. NLT

You cannot evaluate every matter by asking "Does the Bible condemn it?" There are many things the Bible doesn't expressly condemn that might not be good for you. After asking "Can I do it?" you have to also ask "Should I do it?" For example, when deciding what shows to watch on TV I don't ask "Can I watch this?" because the Bible doesn't give a list of acceptable and unacceptable TV shows. Instead I ask "Should I watch this?" and "Is this good and beneficial to my spiritual development?" If I find the show to be counterproductive to my character development, I do not continue watching that show. 

Let's pretend someone is trying to decide whether or not drinking alcohol in moderation is right or wrong for them. They would have to ask is it beneficial for my spiritual growth? Is it good for me? For some the answer will be yes, and for others the answer will be no. For some, drinking alcohol habitually leads to drunkenness. For this person, drinking alcohol isn’t good or beneficial because it continually leads them to sin. But for the person who can drink in moderation, alcohol might be a nice compliment to a tasty meal, or a pleasant way to relax in the evening, or a nice addition to a romantic dinner with your spouse. For this person, drinking alcohol isn’t leading into sin, so there’s no problem.

But everybody is different, which is why God doesn’t make blanket statement rules for disputable matters. God allows freedom for those whose indulgence doesn’t lead to sin while requiring restriction for those whose indulgence does lead to sin. And God has given us a conscience to help us know the difference between when we should indulge and when we should refrain.

This leads nicely into our third checkpoint, which you can read by clicking here. 

Disputable Matters: Consideration #1

In order to make a God-honoring decision concerning a disputable matter, we must subject ourselves to four checkpoints:

Checkpoint #1: My Creator. "Can I do it?" 

Checkpoint #2: My Character. "Should I do it?" 

Checkpoint #3: My Conscience. Will it allow me to do it? 

Checkpoint #4: My Companions. Will it lead them to Jesus? 

In this post we'll look at Checkpoint #1: My Creator. Here we're asking the question "Can I do it?"

If you're going to make a good decision concerning a disputable matter, you better take the time to read your Bible so you can better understand how your Creator feels about whatever it is you're considering doing. This is what the Corinthians did in 1 Corinthians 8. They searched the Scriptures to see if eating meat sacrificed to idols was right or wrong. They told Paul "...we all have knowledge about this issue" (8:1). That is, they did a Bible study and learned that it wasn't a sin to eat meat sacrificed to idols. They reported to Paul their findings, saying "...we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God" (8:4) and "we can't win God's approval by what we eat" (8:8).

We would do well to follow their example in searching the Scriptures to learn how our Creator feels about something. If you find the activity you're considering participating in is expressly condemned in Scripture, you'll want to stay clear of it. Here's some lists found in Scripture to help you determine right and wrong.

• The 10 Commandments List found in Exodus 20:3-17
• The 7 Deadly Sins List found in Proverbs 6:16-19
• The Acts of the Sinful Nature List found in Galatians 5:19-21
• The List of Activities Practiced by Those Who Aren’t Going to Heaven, found in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Revelation 21:8

Another tool you can use to discover how God feels about something is a topical concordance, which will share all the Scriptures related to any given topic. If you want to know about suicide, greed, pride or anything else - you just look it up and read all the related verses. 

If you find that the activity you're considering participating in isn't in conflict with the teaching of God's Word, you're ready for the second consideration. 

What are Disputable Matters?

Romans 14:1 says, "Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters." NIV 

If the Bible neither condones nor condemns a certain activity, it falls under the category of a disputable matter. Here are several examples of disputable matters: drinking alcohol in moderation, smoking a cigarette, watching an R rated movie, listening to secular music, going to a beach where there's mixed bathing, playing cards, getting a tattoo, getting a piercing, buying a lottery ticket or participating in Halloween. 

If the Bible specifically condemns a certain attitude or action, there's nothing to dispute - it's wrong. Here are several examples of activities considered universally wrong: murder, adultery, stealing, lying, coveting, gossip, pride, sorcery and drunkenness. 

Concerning disputable matters, a Christian may or may not feel at liberty to participate, depending on his/her personal convictions (which may change over time). But a Christian should never feel at liberty to participate in something the Bible expressly condemns as sinful.