Paul says, “All things are lawful, but not all things build up” (1 Corinthians 10:23b). Unlike the first limitation we covered, this is not asking whether or not it will build us up. Instead, it focuses on those around us. We know this because of the following verse, which says, “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor” (1 Corinthians 10:24). If there is something we are permitted to do, but it will spiritually harm our neighbor if we do it, we should abstain.

Just because we are free to do something in the Christian life does not mean we should. There are limits to Christian freedom, but how do we know what those limits are? Paul is quite clear in 1 Corinthians: anything not deemed sinful by the Word of God is permissible. He says, “All things are lawful.” The freedom in this statement is profound. Many people speak of Christianity as a list of restrictions, but the “Thou shalt nots” appear regularly in Scripture because they are so few compared to the list of things we can do. Compiling a list of the things the believer is free to do would fill 100 Bibles. Christianity is a religion of freedom, but simply because all things are lawful does not mean all things are expedient.

Whether or not a Christian should abstain from something permissible is always a personal matter. When it comes to Christian liberty, the problem arises when a Christian decides he should refrain from something that is permitted and then begins to apply that restriction to every other child of God. The answer to someone doing that is, “All things are lawful.” But how can we decide whether we should abstain from something Scripture does not forbid? Paul gave us three criteria that we can use to help us determine if we should limit our freedom.  

1. Does It Hinder Me from Progressing with Christ?

Here is how Paul puts it. “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful” (1 Corinthians 6:12a). Another translation says, “but not all things are expedient.” The words “helpful” and “expedient” speak to making progress, specifically in your walk with the Lord. Maybe there is something lawful, but when you do it, it becomes like a weight that slows you down as you run the race. In that case, throw off every weight which so easily entangles you.

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