Vintage21 Church

Pastor Tyler · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 93 Location: Downtown Raleigh

Our passage this week -3/2/08- is I Corinthians 10:23-33 with verse 31 as the main point. Paul says do all things for the GLORY of God! Now glory is just not a word that we use today, so my question is --What do you think glory is? Please reply to this topic and take a stab at GLORY...

Here it the passage so you can see it in context:

I Corinthians 10:23-33

23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
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Pastor Tyler

KionaWilson · Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Downtown Raleigh

To me glory means celebration. I think this is because the with the Dutch 'happy birthday' song you sing something along the lines of 'may you live a long life in glory'. That's really the only time I've come across that word outside of the bible, except maybe as a adjective, like 'that's a glorious view'

So I guess aside from celebration I would also associate it with beauty, purity, and goodness.

So when I hear the sentence 'do all things for the GLORY of God' I assume this means that whatever we do has to be in honor of the beauty, purity, and goodness and celebration of God and the things he's created for us.

I am really looking forward to knowing really what glory means, it's obvious I've only made assumptions as to the meaning of the word, and it's important to know what really it means so that we can correctly grow to live life in the glory of God.

Pastor Tyler · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 93 Location: Downtown Raleigh

Kiona...that is actually a very good answer! You are a theologian...who else will give it a go?
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Pastor Tyler

Whitney Chambers · Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 24

I let my mind wander about the word "glory," and I ended up thinking of how often it's used in sports, especially around tournament/championship times. The whole "road to glory" kind of idea where glory comes to mean the pinnacle, the absolute best, highest place of honor, etc. And while there might be lesser "glories" along the way (an undefeated season, lots of nail-biter wins, or even lots of blow-out wins), they are not considered greater than the final "crown of glory" of the championship win. Stretching this metaphor just a little more, if a team ends up completing enough "road to glory" journeys in a row, they become a dynasty.

Just thought that was an interesting aspect of how we use glory outside of scripture. I'm looking forward to learning about it WITHIN scripture. I'd say the usage in sports very much resembles how we should try to really pursue and go after giving glory to God in our lives. So I envision it as a journey of intense pursuit with a clear end goal that is magnified by the steps that lead to it, but not overpowered by them--that way it's the glory of God that always outshines everything else. (Oh, that's another thing, I always sort of associate glory with bright, shining light. We even give sports champs blingin' trophies that emulate this idea.)

Sunday ought to be pretty good in hearing about this more. Verse 10:31 has been one that I've liked for a long time, and knowing deeper truth from it would be... y'know, good. :-)
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Eric Butler · Joined: 09 Feb 2008 Posts: 56

I decided to take a look at how else the word was used.

In Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts it is used to refer to kingly glory - it is the property of angels, kings, the Transfigured and Resurrected Christ, and is term for the awe-inspiring splendor of God.

In John it generally holds connotations of honor or approval - the Pharisees seek glory from men, people are urged to give glory to God. The first usage also seems present.

In the Epistles both usages appear, along with a telling phrase in which glory is used as the opposite of dishonor, and another in which it is translated into English as "majesties".

If I attempt to tie these uses together I would say that glory is the quality of provoking awe in others, and their approving reaction to that awe. That glory is perhaps best expressed in Old Testament passages. Several spring to mind.

When the glory of the Lord envelops the Mountain of Sinai the people fall down and say to Moses that they are so scared that they would like God never to do this again, and could they please just hear the word from someone else?

When Moses comes down from Sinai God's majesty has burned into him so deeply that he glows, and he has to wear a veil so people don't freak out.

When Isaiah sees the Lord in the Temple surrounded by cherubim the massive stone structure shakes at the sound of their voices and Isaiah cries, "Woe to me, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips!"

When Ezekiel sees the Lord at the banks of the Chebar river the vision so incapacitates him that he sits by the river for seven days, overwhelmed.

When an angel comes to Daniel to deliver visions to him Daniel collapses.

If we are to act to give glory to God then it must be that we are to act in a way that people are left in awe of God, and that their response is one in which they express that awe.

Pastor Tyler · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 93 Location: Downtown Raleigh

Who is Eric? We need to use last names and such so we know who is who! So far, we are 2 for 2 on glory. Great answer Eric! I love how you defined it with Scripture. A bunch of people have viewed this post, more should jump in the conversation. There are no dumb answers...
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Pastor Tyler

Eric Butler · Joined: 09 Feb 2008 Posts: 56

KionaWilson · Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Downtown Raleigh

Tyler, what's sillywhitney, chopped liver?

Pastor Tyler · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 93 Location: Downtown Raleigh

Whitney did such a good job at owners night I did not want to give her a big head! Actually, I skipped it. We do usually use the word glory in regards to things that really are not glorious, i.e. sports. I think this just makes our understanding of glory that much more cloudy --great point Whitney. Also, look at Eric figuring out how to post a picture.
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Pastor Tyler