1 Corinthians 9:21-23: Becoming All Things to All People
In 1 Corinthians 9:21-23, the apostle Paul writes:
"To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." (NIV)
In this passage, Paul explains his missionary strategy, which is to become all things to all people in order to save some. This approach is not about compromising the gospel but about being flexible and adaptable in order to reach people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Becoming Like Those Without the Law
Paul says that to those who do not have the law, he became like one who does not have the law. This does not mean that Paul disregarded God's law or compromised his own faith. Rather, he was willing to set aside his Jewish heritage and cultural traditions in order to reach those who did not have a similar background.
Paul's approach was not to impose his own cultural norms on others, but to identify with them and communicate the gospel in a way that was relevant to their context. This is an important lesson for Christians today, who often struggle to relate to people from different cultural backgrounds.
Becoming Weak to Win the Weak
Paul also says that to the weak, he became weak. This does not mean that Paul pretended to be weak or helpless. Rather, he was willing to identify with those who were struggling or marginalized, in order to win them over to Christ.
In our efforts to share the gospel, we often focus on convincing people of the truth of Christianity, rather than taking the time to understand their struggles and concerns. Paul's approach was to empathize with those who were weak and vulnerable, and to demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ to them.
I Have Become All Things to All People
Paul's statement "I have become all things to all people" is a key principle of missionary work and evangelism. It does not mean that we change our message or compromise our values, but that we are willing to adapt our approach to communicate the gospel effectively to different people.
This principle is as relevant today as it was in Paul's time. Whether we are sharing the gospel with people from different cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, or age groups, we need to be willing to adapt our approach to reach them effectively.
Conclusion
In 1 Corinthians 9:21-23, Paul models an approach to missionary work and evangelism that is still relevant today. By becoming all things to all people, we can reach a wider audience and share the gospel with those who need to hear it. This requires a willingness to adapt, empathize, and communicate in ways that are relevant to different people and contexts. As we seek to share the gospel with others, may we be inspired by Paul's example and become all things to all people, that by all possible means we might save some.
