Let me explain with an analogy.

In ancient days before Christ came to earth to dwell as the Son of man, the children of God followed particular food regulations, eating this, and avoiding that.  The Jewish nation placed great emphasis on adhering to these rituals, and over the course of several generations, these rituals to the Old Covenant served them well.  SERVED them.

Consider Freedom as an act of Service to another.

To those living in the city of Corinth, the apostle’s words written to them within this first letter must have been astonishing.

1. It is lawful to partake of all things.
2. Nonetheless, it is not always profitable or edifying to follow all ritualistic regulations.
3. Do not be selfish, seeking what is good only for you.
4. Live unselfishly, doing and living and serving your neighbor, even though you are Free to do as you please.
5. Do not abstain because of the ritualistic practices you have followed since your birth but eat anything that another person shares with you to eat.
6. Remember above all else:  THE LORD IS THE MASTER OF EVERYTHING & we who profess to be His children, are Free to Serve only Him, the King of kings.

Truly, this letter was baffling to those who grew up in households where following the Mosaic Law was just what you did.  Now as adults, while free to make life decisions, they still obeyed as they always had in the past.  In was ingrained who they were as people.  To change now, to eat as they pleased, to live among those Gentiles who were not raised Jewish, who did not understand the ways of the Old Covenant, and who ate and drank as they pleased—Well, it must have been difficult.

Nonetheless, the apostle Paul instructed them to do so anyway for one solitary reason.  In living Free of their set dietary restrictions, they would reach the lost for the cause of Christ.

Unselfishness is Beautiful.

Let me further explain with a modern-day analogy.

Many people are not offended by the thought of consuming a glass of wine with their meal while others do find the action unpleasing and even sinful.  To say that I did not know this is to lie, so I won’t lie about what I am about to describe.  The truth is this—I DID WHAT I WANTED TO DO & NOT CARING WHO I OFFENDED.

I had entered my runners in a race in North Carolina, a race that every runner did not choose to attend, but some did.  So, we headed out on a Friday afternoon, driving hours east to reach Charlotte.  We were a tight-knit group of parents, runners, and me (their coach).  The evening went well with pizza shared, a good night’s rest in the hotel, an exciting race on Saturday morning, and a pleasant drive back toward Kentucky.

This is where my story turns to the way I allowed my Freedom to eat and drink as I please, which led to offending my brothers and sisters-in-Christ & the uncaring way I approached my witness to the lost, the unbelievers sitting at the table.

In typing these words, I sense the conviction of the Holy Spirit because I have never asked them for forgiveness for my actions that day (now several years later).  Thus, I am convicted today; therefore, I will make this my top priority in the coming days—to seek their forgiveness for my actions that day.

Let me first describe how I offended them.

• See the caravan of a few cars stop at an Italian restaurant to eat a late lunch.
• See those in attendance (parents, runners, and me) take our seats around the table.
• See the waitress approach our table to take our orders.
• Hear us place our orders.
• Hear us order our drinks.
• Hear me order a glass of red wine to drink with my pasta, something I always did.
• See the astonished looks directed toward me as the glass of red wine was placed in front of my plate.
• Hear their questions.
• Hear my Selfish replies.
• See me drink my glass of red wine.
• Sense the way my brothers and sisters-in-Christ were offended by my actions that day.
• Sense the way that I did not seem to care that they were—offended—and drank the wine anyway as we sat together at our Shared Table.