Monday, June 25, 2012

Going Deeper for the week of June 24, 2012

Is it possible to be right and wrong at the same time?  I think so.  We can be "right" with respect to the content of truth, and yet be "wrong" because of how we apply it.   Paul speaks about this possibility and offers us a principle to consider with respect to it.

(Read I Corinthians 8:1-13)

"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."

Paul demonstrates with respect to "food sacrificed to idols" that there is knowledge and there is love, and he argues that love should trump knowledge in the application of truth.  This is the principle, and it carries through for lots of things.

In the knowledge portion, Paul is convinced of the truth and believes that understanding the truth enables us to live in freedom before God because of Jesus.  However, he does not concede that our freedom should be freely exercised no matter what, especially when it causes harm to others.  So if in the exercise of our freedom we cause others to sin, then we are "wrong" even though we are "right".

So this means that in applying truth there is no "black and white" because love trumps knowledge.

What do you think?  Do you agree with this principle?  Can you think of instances where the principle should be applied?  Also, is it true that in the application of truth there is no "black and white"?   Let's discuss.

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