8/9/26 “Participation, Association, Identification”
“Participation, Association, Identification”
1 Corinthians 10:13-33
I’m guessing that a lot of you have one of these with you today,,,
(A driver’s license)
For those of you who do hold a valid driver’s license, you know that obtaining one is quite an involved process, right?
The first thing you have to do is find a certified instructor to teach you...
It used to be...back in the day....you learned how to drive in school...
....but – at least for a majority of school districts – that's not the case anymore
Then....after you find someone to teach you how to drive....you sign up for lessons...
This is the first true step in obtaining a driver’s license...
You officially begin to participate in the process of acquiring your state-issued license.
Well...after a few months of training behind the wheel....
You take a written exam....
Then... you take the dreaded road test....including everyone’s favorite skill.... parallel parking!
Things were done a bit differently 38 years ago when I took my road test....
....my examiner never made me parallel park....in fact, he didn’t make me do much of anything...
We got into my vehicle...which was an old stick shift....remember those?
He said “I’m really tired....I’ve had a long day....If you can actually operate this old 4-on-the-floor rust bucket...I’ll pass you right this minute.
We just drove up a few roads.... we didn’t really talk a lot about my driving...or the rules of the road...
It was mostly about the Packers....and how this new young quarterback by the name of Don “Magic-man” Majkowski was going to lead Green Bay to the promised land!
To top it all off, before we returned to the DMV, he had me drive him to McDonalds for a burger....
It was weird....
Well...anyway...assuming you pass your driver’s test...
You are now ready for the second step in the process....
You get your official picture taken...
You know, that unflattering photo that makes you look 10 years older than you really are....
This step of the process is important because it means that you are now visually associated with the state of Wisconsin as a registered driver.
You’ve chosen to include your face in the state database of legal drivers....
....It’s a way of declaring that you are now associated with the governing body responsible for granting you the privilege of getting behind the wheel of a motorized vehicle...
Then....After your picture is uploaded....a DMV representative calls you up to the desk and says, “Congratulations...here’s your new license”
This is the 3rd and final step in the process.
This piece of plastic represents your new identity...
First, you were participating in the process...
.....then you became associated with the process...
...And now....the acquisition of a driver’s license...means that your identity has changed from an unlicensed, non-driver....to that of a licensed - driver.
Our passage for today also deals with participation, association, and identification....but in a more negative sense than that of obtaining a driver’s license...
The apostle Paul is continuing to instruct the believers in Corinth about what it means to use their liberties in Christ in a constructive way....rather than a destructive way...
And one of the issues that continues to come up has to do with the extent to which Christians should be involved in gatherings where someone – or something - other than the one true God is receiving honor and glory.
Let’s pick up at verse 16 (1 Corinthians 10:16) where it reads, “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?”
The teaching here is that when believers unite together around the Lord’s table of communion...
That by participating in this ceremonial act...
....we are also becoming associated with the significance of the ordinance of communion....
And then – if that association continues through the regular practice of observing communion –
....then our identity is such that we are now completely aligned with the savior to whom the ordinance points....
Communion is a very positive, very constructive alignment for us to base our identity upon...
But there can also be very negative options & experiences as well...
Paul talks about one such negative case beginning in verse 19 (1 Corinthians 10:19) where he writes, “Do I mean that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.”
Paul is clarifying a teaching he made back in chapter 8 concerning food offered to idols.
If you recall, Paul’s message in that chapter was that the simple, isolated act of eating food that may have been sacrificed to an idol is of no real consequence...
....since demons cannot inhabit food....
.....and since idols are really nothing more than wood or stone...
...and that mythical gods are nothing more than imaginary beings...
But here in chapter 10, Paul draws a line in the sand regarding the moment our participatory liberty in Christ crosses over into sinful behavior...
...and that line has to do with being involved in a ceremony where sacrifice, honor, or praise are being lavished upon something – or someone – other than the one true and living God.
There’s a very powerful spiritual component involved when people gather together....for any purpose....
...but especially when individuals gather for a formal, religious ceremony of some kind.
The bible speaks to that truth in verses such as Matthew 18:20...where Jesus says, “For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.”
Jesus isn’t saying that God isn’t with us when we are alone....
But he is saying the Holy Spirit is present in a heightened - or amplified - way when people come together to worship or pray...
Spiritual involvement – however - isn’t always a good thing...
This is what Paul is referencing in verse 20 when he talks about ritualistic, pagan ceremonies that are – ultimately – glorifying Satan and his legion of demons...
....Created beings who also inhabit the spiritual realm....
The point is - when there is a gathering of people coming together to offer praise to anything other than God himself...
...demons....the text says....are the recipients of that praise...
Did you catch that?....Whenever the one true God of the Bible is not at the core of our worship and adoration....
Then demons automatically receive our praise.
....This is because demonic forces lie behind everything that is not of the one true God revealed to us in the Bible...
At this point you might be saying to yourself....ok, Pastor Andy...but what does this have to do with me?
I mean....I don’t hang out at the local witches’ den....
....or participate in any Satanic ceremonies....
Well...first of all....praise God for that....
Make sure to keep it that way....right?
But let me ask you this....
Have you ever been a participant in a ceremony of some kind that included elements that are contrary to God’s Word?
Sometimes it's difficult to see these things coming...
Quite a few years ago, I was asked by an acquaintance if I’d be willing to sing a song at her daughter’s wedding...
Well....I made the mistake of assuming the ceremony would be a God-honoring service....so I said, sure...I’ll do it.
Well....A few weeks after I initially agreed to participate – and be associated – with the service....I was informed that the wedding was going to be a handfasting ceremony...
I had no idea what a handfasting ceremony even was....
So....after doing some research....and learning that it was something primarily used today in pagan & wiccan services....
I had to inform my friend that I could not – in good conscience – participate in her daughter’s wedding...
She asked me why....and I explained that the Bible makes it clear that Christians are not to take part in religious services that include elements derived from something that is contrary to God’s moral law...
Our scripture for today is an example of one such passage that makes this mandate very clear...
The same can be said for our participation in cultish ceremonies...such as a Mormon wedding...or a Jehovah’s Witness service....
...or even a civic organizational meeting that may invoke a prayer offered up to a generic, universalist god of some kind...
....But not – specifically – the God of the Bible...
As a pastor, I often get the question of whether or not it’s acceptable for a believer to participate in a homosexual – or LGBTQ - wedding ceremony of some kind which may include a religious component to it....
Well....Today’s chapter from 1 Corinthians is one of many passages of scripture that speak to the danger of associating ourselves with any service that glorifies something contrary to God’s immutable (Unchanging) moral law....
...And - because the Bible is clear on its stance regarding homosexuality as a lifestyle contrary to God’s original design for marriage...
I take the position that a believer’s presence at such a ceremony would not only conflict with Paul’s teaching here in this passage....
...But it would also send a message to others that our association with such a ceremony would be indicative of our spiritual identity....our theological worldview.
In far too many progressive churches today, the straightforward teachings regarding the biblical definition of marriage have been altered to fit the cultural narrative of the day....
....or...the teachings of scripture are simply ignored altogether.
This practice has – unfortunately – persuaded many professed Christians to believe that our liberty in Christ gives us the right to support religious ceremonies that celebrate an unbiblical morality....
Our participation, association, and identification with ANY gathering that dishonors God by celebrating something contrary to Him....or His moral law.... is a violation of our liberty in Christ.
Verse 21 (1 Corinthians 10:21) reminds us that we, “cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too....”
If you think about it....It’s impossible to ride the fence regarding our allegiance to Christ....
....if we aren’t serving Jesus....then - by default – we are serving the Devil.
There is no middle ground.
Jesus even says in Matthew chapter 12 that, “He who is not with me is against me....” (Matthew 12:30)
And if we are not worshipping Jesus....then – by the law of the excluded middle - we are worshipping the evil one and his army of demonic forces...
Paul says to those who find themselves in this category, “Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?” (1 Corinthians 10:22)
The passage for today goes on to describe how our freedoms in Christ are permissible - up to a certain point....
In verse 23 (1 Corinthians 10:23) Paul speaks of things that are not specifically condemned in the Bible - as being permissible....but they’re not always beneficial.
What is he saying here?
In a nutshell, Paul is warning mature Christians who understand what freedom in Christ entails...
....that if the expression of their liberties causes another brother or sister in Christ to be offended....to be adversely affected in some way...
Then – in Christian love for them – the best decision is to voluntarily give up our liberties in order to preserve that believer’s faith...
It is always better to voluntarily give up our own prerogatives....than it is to flaunt our Christian liberty before others who may have a conscientious sensitivity to those specific prerogatives...
Over the years, I’ve come to realize that movies often fit into this category.
Obviously, there are movies out there that no Christian should watch...ever.
They’re filled with profanity, nudity, and extreme violence.
Watching these kinds of movies is a choice to participate...and associate....with an ungodly and immoral form of communication...
As believers in Jesus Christ....We need to stay away from this sort of filth.
There is no reason why any Christian should view a movie containing an R or X rating...
In fact....put these letters together...you get RX....
In medicine RX means ‘a prescription’.
In the world of movies....these two letters are a prescription for depravity....
It reminds me of the last verse in Romans chapter one, where Paul has just written an exhaustive list of blatant sins....and then, in verse 32 (Romans 1:32) says that not only are the people indulging in these sinful things going to perish spiritually....
....but also people who “approve of those who practice them.”
Folks, when you willingly choose to submit yourself to a piece of visual art that only glorifies Satan....
....this verse puts you in the same boat as the creators of that content.
...let that sink in a bit before you decide to click on that streaming content...or that movie... that is an RX (A prescription) for spiritual death.
Participation in these works of godlessness can easily turn into an identity of godlessness if we aren’t vigilant in staying away from them...
But...what about those movies that tell a story without featuring any blatantly sinful scenes....
In my 54 years on this planet, I’ve known plenty of believers who have no issues with watching certain PG-13 movies....
....and...I’ve known plenty of believers who – for them – watching any PG-13 movie would be a sin.
I think we can apply the teaching of today’s passage to this kind of situation....
If you have your Christian brother or sister over for a movie....and you know their conscience doesn’t allow them to view any PG-13 rated flicks....
Then – according to this passage of scripture - it’s simple....don’t watch it.
Be content with leaving “Top Gun Maverick” on the shelf....ok?
....Just select the latest “Minions” movie...sit back...relax...and take great satisfaction knowing that you were obedient to today’s passage of scripture...
Or...better yet...watch a Christian movie that leaves both of you with a greater appreciation of God’s faithfulness and love.
If you have the opportunity to give up some of your Christian liberty for the sake of another believer...Paul says there is great reward in that.
Even those things that are permissible...may not always be beneficial.
Paul begins to wrap up this chapter with a statement in verse 24 (1 Corinthians 10:24) that really encapsulates everything we’ve looked at in the previous three chapters...
Verse 24 reads, “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”
Let’s remember this verse whenever we have a choice of using our freedoms in Christ to build others up.....rather than tearing others down.
For it is building others up that must be prioritized in our own lives over that of satisfying our own desires...
Let’s Pray.
