Everything is allowed to me
The Bible says that everything is permitted:
“Anything goes for me!”
1Cor 6,12
“Anything goes for me!”
1Cor 10,23
In both verses, the statement is repeated. Accordingly, it is written 4 times. These are words of the apostle Paul in his first letter to the church in Corinth.
Contradiction among believers
Not a few believers get into deep distress by such a statement. I spoke about this once in a home group and one participant had to go to counseling with the pastor the next day. She was deeply shaken.
Of course, I had put the statement in a larger context, balanced the statement, as Paul himself did. The text is not one-sided. However, this woman was no longer receptive to this. Only this one “Everything is allowed to me!” remained in the memory and it disturbed the image of faith sensitively. That was too much of freedom!
The pastor then, in his authority, calmed the situation and reintroduced rules of faith and legal thinking. Everyone needs guardrails in life, don’t they? Believers must abide by rules. In other words, the freedom from Christ was frighteningly free and the pastor immediately curtailed that freedom. This calmed the woman down again and she was allowed to nurse her own fears again. As quickly as possible, she returned to the familiar image of faith. I understand that, but still wonder if it can’t be done better?
I have experienced situations like this and similar again and again. When absolute freedom is spoken of, people in evangelical circles immediately think of gross aberrations, moral decay and the end of the known world. However, this also shows how little free many Christians are and how little is said about the meaning and impact of grace.
The text read in context
In direct context, both texts state the following:
“Everything is allowed to me,
but not everything promotes me!
Everything is allowed to me,
but I will not let anything
Have it placed under their power of attorney.”
1Cor 6,12
“Everything is allowed to me,
however, not everything is beneficial.
Everything is allowed to me, but not everything builds.
No one seeks his own,
but that of the other.”
1Cor 10,23-24
If one reads the text more completely, then in the same verses the statement is balanced. We haven’t even talked about the larger context and concern of Paul in these chapters yet. Also, we have not looked at the situation in Corinth, which Paul is addressing here. So there are still many unanswered questions. Even this small expansion of the context, however, shows that Paul was not concerned with letting believers drift into licentiousness.
Everything is allowed – but not everything is useful, not everything builds.
Let’s pay attention to the first part of this statement first. The apostle says it plainly: Everything is permitted. This is what grace does. There are no limits. The freedom is 100%. Just one verse earlier, Paul addressed believers as follows: “But you have been washed away, you have been sanctified, you have been justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11). Right after that he tells these people: “Everything is permitted to me! This is what is meant for these believers. It is just as true that believers are sanctified and justified “in the name of Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” as it is that they hear in the next verse that everything (without exception) is permitted.
Now, in the second part of the statement, several things are mentioned about how we should handle this freedom. While everything is allowed, not everything edifies, not everything is useful. Paul describes how he himself deals with this freedom.
Paul himself is the example
Paul does not say, “All things are lawful for you,” but “All things are lawful for me.” He leads by his example (cf. Phil 3:17). He shows how he implements this himself – with responsibility and a goal in mind. Readers of the letter could take their cue from this. The apostle does not seek an excuse for a moral lapse, but grace educates to a life pleasing to God. “Thinking like Paul” is an adventure of grace.
“Thinking like Paul” is an adventure of grace.
Freedom is not curtailed by Paul. It is communicated to the municipality without any deductions. He does not say: you are free, but please keep the 10 commandments (and all present nod eagerly and say that this is very useful and must be kept, otherwise the world will perish). Nothing of the sort happens. However, a few additions follow. It’s not rules, it’s not laws, it’s not closets, but Paul is talking about how he handles it himself and that not everything is for building. In other words, everyone should consider where their decisions lead.
- Is it to build up? Do it!
- Is it not to build? Let it be!
Paul does not give any laws. He does not curtail grace, but points out that believers should now think for themselves whether something is good or not so good. It places the responsibility with the individual. Graced, justified and blessed by God, they are equipped with everything to be able to decide for themselves now.
Paul places the responsibility with the believers themselves.
What serves the other
Those who are fear-driven believe that 100% freedom is a danger. Paul, however, has quite another thing in mind. He speaks of grace and a liberated life. This is not about selfishness. Paul says unequivocally and in the same breath:
“No one seeks his own,
but that of the other.”
1Cor 10,24
This is the alignment. Freedom is not available to be abused, but to be used positively. To Titus he writes:
“For the grace of God has appeared,
all people to salvation,
it educates us,
To deny impiety and worldly lusts,
so that we may be reasonable, just and pious
may live in the present eon.”
Titus 2:11-12
Deepening
- Imagine that in your faith community 100% grace is preached and lived, and everyone does not seek himself, but has in mind what serves the other. How do you think these believers would develop? I wonder what would become of this community?
- Imagine that in your relationship 100% grace is shared and lived, and each one does not seek himself, but has in mind what serves the other. How would this marriage or partnership develop? What would become of these people?
- Imagine that in your circle of friends you live 100% grace and have in mind what serves the other. I wonder how these friendships would develop. What would become of your relationships?
