1 Corinthians 7:17-24

1 Corinthians 7:17-24
¹⁷ Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. ²⁰ Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

Circumcision was part of Jewish law.  There were Jews who were trying to require Gentile converts to Christianity to become circumcised.  Here Paul corrects that false requirement.  Which as an adult male, I would have been very happy to hear this was not a requirement.

The application we can take from this to add nothing to scripture.  Don't add your personal experience or church traditions to others.  God may have convicted you to give something up for your personal growth.  However that does NOT mean giving up that item, hobby or habit is a a requirement of Salvation and is NOT something you start requiring others to give up as well.  YOur church may like music A and another likes music B and yet at third likes music C.  None are wrong and none should look down on the other.  Follow Christ's commands to the best of your knowledge and understanding.  Allow the Holy Spirit to convict you of what you need to do.  Others are not there for you to fix.

²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. ²² For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. ²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 

We don't have slavery as a legal institution here in the USA.  (Though human trafficking is still in business.)  I am confident that most reading this are not slaves.  When Paul says, "...the Lord's freed person;", what does you have been freed from the bondage of sin.  You are free to love and free to forgive.  One of the greatest gifts I have received in the past too years is greater understanding of grace and it has set me free from the bondage of bitterness and anger.  No matter what your going through freedom in Christ is true freedom.

Now those who are free men have become slaves to Christ.  And this is a good thing!  Our freedom in the US has lead us to where we are today.  No one is accountable to anyone and each man is a slave to his own selfish desires.  We have become slave to our "freedom".  I'd rather be Christ's slave because in him I find true freedom.

²⁴ Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

Don't try to reinvent the wheel when you come to Christ.  Be who you are and let Him bring you to where He wants you.

I close with this song.