Living Rightly

"And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus, he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." - Mark 7:14-23

Jesus was making a spiritual distinction. Our natural "bent" is to look at the physical and impose it on the spiritual. Jesus said instead we should consider the spiritual and impose that on the physical.  The Jews has strict dietary laws that, if not followed, were considered to be sinful. Jesus "debunked" that thinking - making it clear that God judges the heart and not the stomach. The Apostle Paul expanded on that teaching. 

"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall." - Romans 14:19-21

However, even though it is lawful or OK to do something, it may be better to refrain if a weaker brother might stumble by you doing it. When Cain was asked where his brother Abel was, after Cain had killed him, Cain responded with, "Am I my brother's keeper?" The answer is "Yes" in light of the second greatest commandment.

"Teacher [Jesus], which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." - Matthew 22:36-40

Consider that with Jesus' admonition recorded in John 15

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." - John 15:12-13

Willingness to set your own life aside for the good of others. If the question rises up in your heart - "Why should I not be able to do what I want if it is not wrong or sinful?" I would counter with this.

"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." - James 4:17

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone