Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law…..so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the 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 men so that by all possible means I might save some.
(1 Corinthians 9:19, 22-23 NIV)
No matter how low I set the deck on my riding lawn mower, those pesky dandelions always pop right back up after I have mowed over them. Why? Because they have a flexible, rubbery stem which bends flat to the ground as the mower cuts, leaving them intact, ready once again to leap upright. As I considered what a nuisance they were, I also had to admire their incredible flexibility. No wonder they just keep multiplying.
The apostle Paul was also very flexible as a Christian, becoming all things to all men so that those committing their way to the gospel of Jesus Christ kept multiplying under his ministry. Paul never compromised the truth of the gospel, but by being flexible, by means of listening attentively to the views of others though very different from his own, being sensitive to other cultures and those different from himself, he also became accepted by them, motivating them to be open to the truth he preached.
Likewise, if we desire to see healthy growth within our churches we need to heed Paul’s example. We live in what is often termed a “melting pot” as people from all nations, faiths, races, languages and cultures move freely around the world, many of them coming to settle in our midst. The question we must ask ourselves, as Christians is: How open are we to being flexible enough to welcome them, by listening to and respecting their values, cultures, races and beliefs even if we may not always agree with them?
No one likes their beliefs, values, race, or culture to be disrespected, challenged or dismissed. To do so effectively slams doors to friendship and the hope of demonstrating the love of Christ to them.
Jesus died for all. Jesus respected all. Jesus calls us to be willing to do likewise as his servants: to die to self and our old inflexible ways, that we, like the apostle Paul, might become all things to all men so that by all possible means we might save as many as possible for Christ and eternity.
Prayer: Father God, may your Holy Spirit nudge and remind us daily to love our neighbour as ourselves and the things we need to do, to accomplish this goal you set before us. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Lynne Phipps
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada