1 Corinthians 10:23,33 (NKJV) All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].… just as I please everyone in all things [as much as possible adapting myself to the interests of others], not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, so that they [will be open to the message of salvation and] may be saved.
There are many things that the Bible doesn’t address directly, such as whether Christians should tattoo their bodies or eat food offered to idols, what food and drink they should refrain from, and how they should dress. Is it wrong for Christians to follow the culture of the world? As Christians, we must not be legalistic. Yet, we must also not abuse the grace of God in our Christian living. Instead, we should have a balanced view between law and grace, and avoid stumbling others because of our actions.
The Apostle Paul taught the believers in the church of Ephesus not to walk according to their past lifestyles in the futility of their minds, and be influenced by the ruler of darkness impacting the course of this world. Similarly, we once lived without God and hope. Therefore, the lifestyle of our “old man” is very different from the Christian lifestyle that the “new man” in Christ is expected to live, and believers’ minds need to be continually renewed with the Word of God until we enter heaven.
Unbelievers have very different lifestyles from Christians, regardless of whether they are idol worshippers or atheists. Their values, principles, and identities are of the world. Their identities are built around their job titles, salary packages, assets, looks, and social status. Therefore, they will have different ways of thinking, behavioural patterns, and speech from what the Bible advocates. Typically, they value how people see and value them more than anything else. Having adopted the culture of the world, their worldviews are very different from Christians’, including how they deal with rejection, stress, loss of identity, mid-life crisis, grief, loss, pain, sorrow, suffering, and death.
As Christians, if we have a firm identity in Christ, we should only value how God looks at us and not let things of the world define us. We have a very different worldview and lifestyle from the rest of the world. Being secure in Christ, we won’t be bothered by other people’s opinions of our new lifestyle in Christ, nor will we have rejection issues because we are fully rested in God’s unconditional love. We don’t have to prove our worth to the world because we know that we are priceless in the sight of God. We have the wisdom of God, and our thoughts and actions are guided by the Word and the Holy Spirit.
Sermon Series： Not All Things Are Beneficial
只看重神怎么看我们
哥林多前书10:23,33 凡事都可行，但不都有益处；凡事都可行，但不都造就人 …… 就好像我凡事都叫众人喜欢，不求自己的益处，只求众人的益处，叫他们得救。
有很多事情圣经没有直接论述，例如，基督徒是否应该纹身？是否应该吃祭拜偶像的食物？什么样的食物和饮料是不应该吃喝的？应该如何穿着？基督徒遵循世界的文化是否是错误的？作为基督徒，我们绝不能墨守律法，也绝不能在我们的基督徒生活中滥用神的恩典，而应该在律法和恩典之间有一个平衡的观点，避免让我们的行为绊倒别人。
使徒保罗教导以弗所的信徒，不要像过去那样，在虚妄的心思中行事，也不要被这世界的黑暗势力所影响。同样地，我们曾经在没有神和盼望的情况下生活。因此，“旧人”的生活方式与在基督里的“新人”所期望的基督徒的生活方式非常不同，信徒的心思需要通过神的话语不断更新，直到我们进入天堂。
不信者的生活方式与基督徒非常不同，无论他们是偶像崇拜者还是无神论者。他们的价值观、原则和身份都来自这个世界。他们的身份建立在他们的工作头衔、薪水待遇、资产、外貌和社会地位上。因此，他们的思维方式、行为模式和言语表达都与圣经所倡导的有所不同。比起任何的其他东西，他们通常更看重别人如何看待和评价他们。 接受了世界的文化后，他们的世界观与基督徒的世界观截然不同，处理拒绝、压力、身份丧失、中年危机、悲伤、失落、痛苦、苦难和死亡的方式等都与基督徒不同。
作为基督徒，如果我们在基督里有坚定的身份，我们唯一需要坚守的就是神如何看待我们，而不让世界的事物来定义我们。我们的世界观和生活方式与世界上的其他人截然不同。我们在基督里全然安稳，不会被世人对我们新生活方式的看法所困扰，也不会恐惧被拒绝，因为我们在神无条件的爱中得到了完全的安息。我们的价值无需向世界证明，因为我们知道在神的眼中我们都是无价之宝。我们拥有神的智慧，思想和行动都为神的话语和圣灵的引导。
讲章系列：凡事不都有益处
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