For The Gospel's Sake
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NKJV
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
Paul was having to defend his position as an apostle of the Lord. Evidently, he had been called into question as to his ability to go without working. He spends the first part of this chapter explaining his position. But Paul also states that he is not going to use his authority to take any funds from the Corinthians because he does not want to hinder the gospel of Christ.
Paul constantly kept the gospel and the advancing of the gospel at the forefront of his mind and motivation. In our verses for today, he speaks of adapting to the culture around him so that he might win more to Christ. He says even though he is free from all men, he has made himself a servant to all so he may win more.
Paul does make it clear that he is not compromising his beliefs or his accountability to the Lord. He is relating to whoever he is with, not so that he may be liked, but in order to reach more people for Christ. When he is with the Jews, he is working inside the confines of Jewish laws. So instead of having bacon on his cheeseburger, he opts out. He knows pork is a no-go for Jews. When he is reaching out to the Gentiles, he does not observe the strict Jewish food laws. Neither does he engage in the ungodly actions of the Gentiles; he is still under the authority of the Lord. The key here is adaptability. Paul was looking for ways to connect with whoever he was with so that he might reach them for Christ. And he did all these things for the gospel's sake.
Application
It seems as if the church can often go into the ditch on either side of becoming all things to all men. Some refuse to adapt to the culture around them, claiming that they are not going to be worldly. The challenge is that they are often so counter-cultural in their modes of living and dressing that they present a difficult hurdle for unbelievers. The unbeliever is unwilling to adapt to their church culture, so they opt out. The other side of that coin are those who are so like the culture around them that there is no distinguishing difference between the world and the church. But the difference should show up first in heart and attitude. What's the right way to reach more for Christ?
Here is a simple example. When we started The Ark, the culture around us was changing. The business environment was embracing a more casual dress standard. We initially started with a coat and tie, more formal church wear. A couple of years in, we switched to casual summer, and we have been there ever since. By going more casual, we made it easier for people to come to church. No longer were they concerned that their clothes were good enough. No longer were single moms trying to put clothes on kids and have clothes acceptable for church. We adapted and reached more. If I go speak at a church that is a coat and tie church, then that's what I wear. If I am speaking out of the country, I am looking at what is appropriate in that area. Clothes are not the issue, but being willing to adapt for the gospel's sake is.
The bottom line is that we become servants to all that we might win more - for the gospel's sake.