Every Christmas holiday, my siblings and I congregate our families in one home to celebrate and fellowship together. During the 2011 celebration I overheard our children discussing an intriguing question: “Should a Christian listen to secular music?”
Of course similar questions may

 be posed such as: Is it right for me to drink alcohol? Can I watch blue movies? Why should pornography be forbidden? Does it matter how I dress? Can I visit a nightclub to jig a bit? What is wrong with unkempt hair?
Thereafter, I spent time with some of our children and mooted a discussion on 1 Corinthians 6.12:
“All things are permissible for me” but not all things are helpful. “All things are permissible for me” but I will not be enslaved by anything.” (ESV)
1 Corinthians 10.23 ends with, “But not all things build up.” I asked for their comments on this and we had an insightful discussion on ‘how Christians make their choices’.
Days later, the New Vision run an article on students using ‘mercenaries’ to do their coursework. It  claimed that the practice is widespread and easily accessible. They may score highly but in truth the results are not theirs; it is a form of plagiarism!
In 1 Corinthians 6.12-20, Paul does not deny that “all things are permissible”; he challenges its applicability. He points out that freedom comes with responsibility to choose right. This is the difference between adulthood and maturity.
Adulthood is the imaginary age given for passage from childhood to adulthood. Maturity is reflected in the choices we make in life and how we live. At 13 some are more mature than an adult of 20! A mature person chooses not because it is allowed but because it is right, it is helpful and it builds up.
Paul uses two examples of permissible things: Food and sex. Food is indeed meant for your stomach. When food is put before you, you know where to put it! But “Is it helpful to eat it?” It is common knowledge that many people die of food! And others die of sex, but not for lack of it!
The same is applicable to choice of music, use of your time, the books you read, choice of a movie to watch, what you read off the Internet, choice of dressing, use of alcohol, financial spending, speech, and list goes on. Is it helpful? Does it control you? Does it build you up?
In answer, Paul reminds us of our identity. The Christian has a destiny which is exhibited in your choices. The body you ‘wear’ is destined for the resurrection.
What you spoil is what you will wear! Treating the body badly is failure to understand the mystery of salvation.
“The eternal nature of the believer’s body should affect his or her present behaviour.” (ESV Study Bible note on v. 14).
Secondly, you belong to Christi an integral member of His body. You were bought with a price too dear to be named. Your body is meant exclusively for what He approves. You are a VIP, and this must be shown in how you live. Important people behave with dignity!
Finally, your body is a holy sanctuary, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. If you abuse it, you desecrate His residence. You were set apart exclusively for the Lord’s work.
Just as there are certain things that we are disinclined to do in church, even so we must loathe certain activities in our bodies.
The Lord’s chalice cannot be used at home for your tea. Hold your body holy for the Holy Spirit to dwell in without grief.
This is how to make your Christian choice about dressing, or pornography or blue movies or music. Is it helpful? Does it build up? Does it control you?

Dr. John Senyonyi is the UCU vice chancellor