Christians not bullet-proof
JOE MILLER JR.
1 Corinthians 10:1-11:1

Nearly half, of our military fatalities in Iraq have been from devices set up to destroy vehicles carrying military personnel. The Marines have developed a new vehicle that will cost about $1 million, a lot of money, but the value of a human life is priceless.

Security and safety are important. I am glad that our law enforcement officers have bullet proof vests, and I wish they could have full body armor. It is an unsafe world that we live in, and we are concerned about our safety and the safety of others.

However, there is another "safety" issue that we may take for granted… that is our eternal safety. Paul is writing to the Corinthian church to remind them about their eternal safety. It seems that people had come to the conclusion that since they were baptized and took communion that they could continue living like they did before they became Christians.

They were practicing idolatry and sexual immorality. Many Biblical scholars agree that their argument against Paul's teaching was: "I am a Christian and I do not have to follow any laws. Christ has set me free from sin, and I can do whatever I want. I know that those old gods are not real, and I have spiritually transcended the importance of any so-called bodily sin." In other words…"I am bullet proof."

Paul's reply is magnificent! He reminds them that Moses' people also had a special relationship (the covenant) with God, and God rescued them who promised them a land flowing with milk and honey.

In spite of that, they went astray by worshipping a golden calf and engaging in sexual immorality. They paid mightily for their sin, and only two of them survived to enter the Promised Land. Paul told the Corinthians that they were not "bullet proof" either.

That was true then, and it is true now. We are not "bullet proof." Christians are still subject to God's (Christ's) laws, and how we live matters.

We can worship Christ, or we can worship "idols" such as success, power, money, prestige, and personal satisfaction. I would like to be able to say that I always choose Christ, but the powers of this world interfere constantly. I pray we will be able to choose Christ. When we are tempted, Christ is always there to rescue us, if we would just let him. Email me at newtonumc@valornet.c om with your thoughts.

Joe Miller Jr. is pastor of First United Methodist Church in Newton.