You can't use this to excuse yourself from doing something that is sinful. 1 John 5:17 says that all unrighteousness is sin, so you can't have it both ways. Paul must not have been meaning you can do anything you want because he goes on to say that you should flee from fornication, so there are obviously limitations to what he meant. There seems to be a strong culture in Christian society though that holds the attitude that you can do nearly anything you want because "All things are lawful for me". I think it's misusing what Paul wrote to justify sin, when the Bible is clear otherwise about sin. I've been frustrated engaging about this because people will defend the things they do when they clearly raise concerns to me and at that point it gets personal and you're just asking for trouble bringing sin into the picture, I have not had any success and walk away from it feeling worse, wondering if I'm right about sin and what not, because people will hold onto their opinions about the things they do and try to argue you out of your position when they're the ones doing questionable things and you're just using what you know from the Bible. I think this is what has happened to me every time, so why bother, lol. Anyways, sorry for complaining, but I don't get the mentality that the people I've talked to about this hold, and had to get this off my chest.
"All things are lawful for me"
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(perspective)
1 Corinthians, Chapter 6:
12All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1 Corinthians, Chapter 10:
23All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
1 Corinthians 6 Commentary - Matthew Henry …
They were ready to say, even in the case of fornication, All things are lawful for me. This pernicious conceit Paul here sets himself to oppose: he tells them that many things lawful in themselves were not expedient at certain times, and under particular circumstances; and Christians should not barely consider what is in itself lawful to be done, but what is fit for them to do, considering their profession, character, relations, and hopes: they should be very careful that by carrying this maxim too far they be not brought into bondage, either to a crafty deceiver or a carnal inclination. All things are lawful for me, says he, but I will not be brought under the power of any, v. 12. Even in lawful things, he would not be subject to the impositions of a usurped authority: so far was he from apprehending that in the things of God it was lawful for any power on earth to impose its own sentiments. Note, There is a liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, in which we must stand fast. But surely he would never carry this liberty so far as to put himself into the power of any bodily appetite.
1 Corinthians 10 Commentary - Matthew Henry …
1 Corinthians, Chapter 10, vs. 23 thru 33:
In this passage the apostle shows in what instances, notwithstanding, Christians might lawfully eat what had been sacrificed to idols. They must not eat it out of religious respect to the idol, nor go into his temple, and hold a feast there, upon what they knew was an idol-sacrifice; nor perhaps out of the temple, if they knew it was a feast held upon a sacrifice, but there were cases wherein they might without sin eat what had been offered. Some such the apostle here enumerates.—But,
I. He gives a caution against abusing our liberty in lawful things. That may be lawful which is not expedient, which will not edify. A Christian must not barely consider what is lawful, but what is expedient, and for the use of edification. A private Christian should do so even in his private conduct. He must not seek his own only, but his neighbour's wealth. He must be concerned not to hurt his neighbour, nay, he must be concerned to promote his welfare; and must consider how to act so that he may help others, and not hinder them in their holiness, comfort, or salvation.
Sure all things are lawful. We need to also know that not all things are edifying. I believe Paul is talking about normal life things that are not sinful. Some like to watch TV a lot. The question is, what is the program doing to you spiritually? I've become much more sensitive to the effects of programs and movies on myself. My wife is even more sensitive, so we are really picky now.
There is nothing wrong with table tennis, for example. I played in a club for a while. I began to get obsessed, practicing and training often. I did get better, but I was also getting aggressive. So the Lord told me stop and I did. That was 40 years ago. Recently, I've played every now and again and there is no more aggression. If I sense it coming back, I'll quit playing.
There is nothing wrong with table tennis, for example. I played in a club for a while. I began to get obsessed, practicing and training often. I did get better, but I was also getting aggressive. So the Lord told me stop and I did. That was 40 years ago. Recently, I've played every now and again and there is no more aggression. If I sense it coming back, I'll quit playing.
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