Southern Standards

I COR 9:1-6

 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? ² Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

³ This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. ⁴ Don’t we have the right to food and drink? ⁵ Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas^[a]? ⁶ Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

Double standards.  I grew up with those.

This is an odd passage.  It seems like it came out of nowhere.  But honestly, I'm seeing the connection.  Just before, in chapter 8, Paul was saying we cause "OUR BROTHERS" to sin when we use our freedom inappropriately.  This is about Christians relating to Christians, not evangelism.

So then Paul goes into his own freedom.  He's frustrated.  Why?  Because the ones attacking him were the ones he invested in; the ones he led to the Lord, nurtured, taught.  Suddenly, instead of investing in others, they are nitpicking.

Double standards...

Being a Christian in the Bible belt had its pros and cons for sure.  The moral standards were for everyone, Christian and non alike.  But the Christian had to be above even good morals.   Because, you see, if the Christian fell it was justification time... the non Christian could say, "See!  I was right!  You guys are just like me!  You're not so perfect!" 

The problem is, they (the non Christians) were right.  The Christians were so much like them–even in pride that refused to allow them to admit their failure–that they looked no different.  Because they weren't. 

We're all just hot messes who desperately need a savior.  When we deny that "sameness" with non believers, we deny the work of Christ on the cross.  We can not behave ourselves into sainthood.  It is completely the work of Christ.     (tired perfectionist sigh...)

I've been watching reality shows of all kinds lately.   I know, I know.  "Reality" is a far cry from the produced and edited version we get.  But the deal is this... that person really did lose that weight, get that wedding, move in to that house.  I was intrigued by the process of transformation.

What is required for transformation–life changing transformation?

What they all share is a moment of turning.  They cry out for help, the "savior" comes and then they face THE MOMENT.

They have to yield control held in one hand while picking up personal responsibility with the other.

Oddly, the personal responsibility looks like taking control.  But it's always in the framework of doing exactly what the coach/decorator/planner says.  Is that control?

For sure, they've received and taken control over the circumstances, but by control do I mean they are totally in charge?  Nope.

This is such a new thought, I'm going to have to sit on it for a bit.  There are some areas of responsibility I need to go tend to.

Do I use my freedom to rebel against being judged...to prove I'm free?  If I do that, I'm still being ruled by their opinions... not really free yet at all...

So much to think about.