We move into a new chapter. Paul is not going off on a tangent. This is not a chapter about answering the critics over his apostleship nor is it about him not being paid for the gospel work. It is still about the food sacrificed to idols. It is still about not using your rights to do so for the sake of the love of others who may be hurt if you do. This is the number one problem within the divisions of the church. You have rights but you don’t have to use them. We will read soon these verses:-
“If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.” (v12)
“But I have not used any of these rights.” (v15)
The message Paul is speaking is that we must surrender our rights for other people. You may be entitled to something or you may be free to behave in a certain way but you don’t have to do that. If as a Christian you enter a lifestyle that others are being saved from what does that do to the Christian community you are part of? That is the message centred around food sacrificed to idols.
But before we go into Paul’s example for this teaching this message let us ponder the first few sentences.
“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.” (1 Corinthians 9 v 1-3)
You must be a hermit if you haven’t experienced the criticism of others. How do you respond when people doubt your validity of either your work or just being here! I have seen the crushing blows that suspicion brings. It becomes clear now that the divided Corinthian church were also divided over Paul himself.
So here are 3 helpful responses to when you feel you’re on trial from these 3 verses.
- Look at my relationship with Jesus. Paul is pointing them to his calling and story. They know the Damascus Road experience he had. You too were called. You have a story. Importantly you have a relationship with Jesus. Above everything your walk with Christ is your defence. Even if you are falsely tried and sentenced by man, their judgment is nothing compared to meeting Almighty God. What Jesus has done for you is your defence. His blood over your life is all you need.
- Look at my relationship with others. “Am I not free?” I am not a slave to anything. I am not mastered. Those are Paul’s words. Can people look at your life and even before there is evidence they say, ‘I can see it; it isn’t a surprise.” How can you be accused of being a bully when every experience of you and others is that of love?
- Look at my experiences with those who have brought the criticism about me. Paul was saying they had seen his work and the authenticity of his life. We know from the book of Acts how Paul worked hard amongst God’s people bi-vocationally. You appeal to what you have done and how you have worked. It doesn’t mean you are innocent but it reminds them to think about how they have experienced you. I remember sitting with one Pastor and asking this all important question, “Do you know how others experience you?” He didn’t and that was the problem.
Of course we all know people who have faked the above. But for you today you are not one of those people and these responses may just help you as you navigate a very difficult time of criticism.
Missions Paul 