March 20, 2026

It’s Not Authorized

1 Corinthians 6:12 – “Everything is permissible for me—but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me—but I will not be mastered by anything.”

In our individualistic culture, the concept of needing authorization for our choices feels almost foreign. We’ve grown accustomed to asking, “Why can’t I?” rather than “Am I permitted to?” This shift reflects a deeper change in how we view authority itself—from something external that grants permission to something internal that makes personal decisions.

The early church faced similar tensions. Emerging from Judaism’s clear boundary markers into the freedom of Christ, believers struggled with this new territory. Some, relishing their liberation from ceremonial law, adopted the slogan “Everything is permissible!” Paul’s response is revealing. He adds crucial qualifiers: “but not everything is beneficial” and “I will not be mastered by anything.”

This framework provides wisdom for navigating areas where Scripture doesn’t give explicit directives. Rather than simply asking whether something is prohibited, Paul encourages more nuanced evaluation: Is it beneficial? Does it build up? Does it potentially master me? Does it glorify God?

Where Scripture explicitly authorizes or prohibits actions, the discussion ends. We don’t need to debate whether lying, adultery, or idolatry might somehow prove beneficial in certain contexts—they are clearly unauthorized. But in matters where direct commands are absent, wisdom requires considering more than mere permissibility.

The early church demonstrated this principle when facing whether Gentile believers needed to follow Jewish ceremonial law. Their conclusion, guided by the Holy Spirit, distinguished between essential commands and cultural practices. They recognized that authorization for Christian practice comes from alignment with God’s revealed character and purposes, not just from absence of prohibition.

Today’s Prayer: Lord, guard me from presumption and help me approach decisions with humble submission to Your Word. Amen.

Reflection Question: What area of your life might are you approaching with “Why can’t I?” rather than “Has God authorized this?