I’ve been preaching that the book of Acts is a book about “Conversions.” Not simply about individual converts coming to faith such as an Ethiopian Eunuch, or a Roman Centurion named Cornelius, or even a Jewish Pharisee named Saul; but also a story of how the Jewish faith of the first century was also “Converting!” The Holy Spirit has now come upon all people, not simply prophets, priests, and kings. It was now kosher to eat bacon in Gentile homes! And recently, a called meeting of the synod of the church in Jerusalem has just declared that circumcision in no longer a requirement to be in full communion with God – These are all HUGE changes in the identity of Jewish believers now living in the Kingdom of their Messiah! Now layered on top of all of this is the fact that the Messiah’s Kingdom was now a missionary organization! Missionaries were not a part of the Jewish identity in the Old Testament. In the OT it was obey God’s commands and defend the Promised Land. Now the Christians are leaving the land and planting churches in pagan regions outside the boundaries of the lands promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This NEW emphasis of the church has great impact upon us today as we seek to be God’s people with His calling upon our lives. It raises some questions:
- How does God want us to go out into the world in order to advance His kingdom?
- What priorities are most important as we mix among a world ignorant of the Scriptures?
- What is the best way to honor God among unbelievers while at the same time, making sure that they don’t think we are crazy?
It seems that in Paul’s mind, and certainly, it should also be in our mind, that if we are in fact seeking conversions of individuals – WE MIGHT JUST want to think about CONVERTING a little bit of ourselves in order to remove barriers so that others might give us a hearing when we share the Gospel!
Let’s turn to the passage where Paul appeals to a missionary’s strategy in reaching the culture by “converting” certain behaviors in: 1 Cor 9.
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
–> Now we could have fun with this all day, and more…
–> Would you only wear ankle long clothing all the time if the culture only wore that fashion?
–> Would you give up eating beef and pork if the culture refused to eat that diet?
–> If you are a Young Earth Creationist, could you become a Theistic Evolutionist – for the sake of winning someone to Christ?
–> If you are a Republican…?
I. Here are some observations based on the missionary focus of our faith: In 1 Cor 9, the passage is riddled with parenthetical statements in order to remind us of what is most important to the Christian – we are NOT permitted to compromise proper doctrine and clear moral standards… There is never a time that we become “sinful” in order to proclaim Christ – we must be mature enough to understand this!
II. Secondly, there are areas of life that are Adiaphora – The Lord does not have an opinion about the model car you drive – there may be some principles related to a purchase during a mid-life crisis; but a Ford is a Chevy is a Honda is a Hyundai – but I will never buy a Dodge! IN areas which are indifferent, we must be sensitive to the culture – If you lived in Detroit in the 70’s and you bought a Datsun — Hey, God doesn’t judge you; but the local union might pay you a visit!
A. Paul knew that he was entering a region run by the Jewish union who were unbelievers. Why stroll into town with someone who was uncircumcised and certainly going to create a barrier to the hearing of the Gospel
B. (NOW< Parenthetically speaking, a young man being circumcised would be a profound discussion on what really changes a person’s standing before God. Really? Does a surgery on the flesh make you acceptable to God, or a heart of faith, as Jesus clearly stated in Matthew 8 – where outsiders will have table fellowship with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — but the sons of the circumcision will be cut off? In fact, isn’t this what circumcision represented all along – if you don’t keep the covenant, you will be cut off?! Israel was cut off and that’s why Gentiles kept ruling their land!! Jesus was ‘cut off’ as a sacrifice in order to unite us to the love of God – but these are parenthetical thoughts…)
III. Thirdly, Paul could speak of different settings in which he would match the culture in order to reach the culture in which he was set. What does this tell us? That culture changes over time and space!
A. One day the culture likes one style of music, the next day it won’t. What happens to the church if the culture does not like praying, or preaching, or the sacraments? Do we just give those up?
B. On the other hand, as individuals, as ministers of Grace, we must acknowledge cultural boundaries and not purposely try to violate them. If that is our game, then we only look like people who are trying to pick fights!
IV. Lastly, Paul begins his argument in 1 Cor. 9 with the phrase, “I have made myself a servant to all.” – Now who speaks like this in the Bible? None other than Jesus! Paul recalls the type of servant Jesus was in Philippians, chapter 2, and speaks eloquently of what Jesus “set aside” in order to please the Father!
A. In Paul’s discussion of ministry, he models the ‘servanthood’ of Christ! Consider what Jesus set aside in order to see people reconciled to God again!
B. There is a converting power in our lives! There is a Spirit of change that captures God’s people. At some point, we might just want to change a bit of our privileges in order to introduce others to the privilege of knowing Christ!
