Will Vaus

Funny things sometimes happen in church. Many years ago, I served as the Assistant Pastor in a new church. We met for worship in the auditorium of an elementary school. One Sunday, the senior pastor was introducing Communion toward the end of the service, after the sermon, just like we do in our church here. However, on this Sunday there was someone in the congregation who was a new Christian. Honestly, I don’t even remember her name anymore. But she was an emotional young woman who had faced various problems in her life, and on this one Sunday she must have been feeling a bit distressed. Our pastor had no sooner finished introducing Communion when this young woman got up out of her seat, ran to the Lord’s Table, picked up some of the bread and ate it, downed some of the grape juice, then turned and ran out the door. We were all left speechless. We had never seen anything like it. I have never seen anything like it since. I don’t know if the pastor later gave some helpful instruction t...

I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.  But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man,   and the head of Christ is God.  Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.   But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.   For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head,  since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her...

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.   No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to...