E5

I think we are all guilty at one time of another of trying to get around rules. In the movie "The Firm", young lawyer Mitch McDeere (played by Tom Cruise) is in discussion with his mentor, Avery Tolar (played by Gene Hackman) about a client they are about to meet. As the discussion goes on Hackman asks Cruise, "you think I'm talking about breaking the law?" to which Cruise replies, "no, I'm just trying to figure out how far you want it bent." Then Hackman replies to him, "As far as you can, without breaking it."

What does the Bible have to say about this conversation? The Bible is not a rule book, it is primarily a book of principles. Instead of us trying to get around the rules we should look at the principle of the situation. I am so glad the Bible is not a rule book. If it were it would be so big that no one could carry it. The Bible does not give a rule for every situation but it does contain principles that we can apply to whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. There are 5 principles that, if we apply them to our lives, will help us in our decision making. To make them easy to remember, I am going to let them all start with the letter "E", hence the title of 'E5".

The first is the principle of Expediency. When I think of expediency, the word expedition or journey comes to mind. I am on a journey. The scripture reference is from the book of Corinthians.

(1 Corinthians 6:12) - All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

There are lots of things lawful for us, but do they bring us closer to God. Good things can be hinderances if they keep us from the best things. Before doing anything, we should think does it bring us to our appointed goal or is it an anchor that keeps us out of God’s harbor.

The second is the principle of Enslavement.

(1 Corinthians 6:12) - All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

The Bible talks about how we are slaves to sin. While it is true we are all sinners, the question is do you have sin or does sin have you? Some examples of things that enslave people are lust, pornography, appetite, alcohol, TV, sports, and nicotine. Now there is nothing wrong with watching TV, liking sports, or even alcohol if those things are done in moderation and they do not take 1st place in your life ahead of God. However, anything that enslaves you other than Jesus Christ is wrong.

The third principle is Example. There are several scripture references

(1 Corinthians 8:8-13) "But meat commends us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we don't eat, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world stands, lest I make my brother to offend."

(Romans 14:13) - Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

(Romans 14:21) - It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak.

What does this mean in practical terms. Lets use alcohol for example. Suppose I like to drink alcohol and I am always around my impressionable nephew who watches what I do as a Christian. If he sees me drink, he may be encouraged to drink. He starts to drinks, gets addicted to alcohol and becomes an alcoholic. No one knows who is going to become an alcoholic, it just happens. The principle of example says that, yes it is lawful for me to drink but not if my drinking will cause someone else to stumble. The phrase that comes to mind is "Lead by example."

The fourth principle is Edification. To edify means to build up. Everything we do either builds us up or brings us down. The scripture reference is (1 Corinthians 10:23)
"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not."

Think about what you watch on TV or what music you listen to. The content of the programming may be lawful, but is it relaxing and refreshing us or is it putting bad thoughts in our minds. I like recreation as much as anyone else but I am careful to guard what I take in. I want to watch and listen to things that encourage, refresh and build me up, not poison my mind. It goes back to the old expression, "Junk in.... Junk out"

The fifth principle is Evangelism. We are all given the ministry of reconciliation so in that sense you could say we are all ministers. The scripture reference is 1 Corinthians 10:32-33.
"Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." No matter what things we may do for the sake of the Kingdom, if we are not earnestly trying to bring the lost to a salvation through trusting in Jesus Christ, we are not doing our ultimate Christian duty.

We all sin and come short of the glory of God, but the next time you find yourself in a sticky situation, try not to think simply about the rule of law, think about handling the situation using Christian principles that God teaches us in His word.