Personal Flexibility
To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law – though I myself am not under the law – to win those under the law. To those who are without the law, like one without the law – though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ – to win those without the law. To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.
1 Corinthians 9:20-22 (CSB)
The apostle Paul recognized the significance of personal adaptability in how the Gospel is presented. His goal was to reach everyone with the message, motivating his efforts throughout his life. He aimed to meet people where they were instead of expecting them to come to him. To do this effectively, Paul would tailor his methods to align with different cultures. Brad Powell connected this concept to today’s church, stating, “It (the church) must communicate God’s truth and hope in the language of the culture in which it is situated.”
The apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of adaptability in sharing the Gospel by becoming all things to all people. His aim was not to make others feel uncomfortable or to impose a specific standard, but to prioritize Christ above all, then others, and finally himself. This mindset is somewhat unfamiliar in Western culture, which often focuses on the self. Paul aimed to live evangelistically with the mindset that it was not about him, but solely about Jesus.
The apostle Paul employed a variety of methods to share Christ. While he understood the importance of adapting his approach, he believed the message itself should stay the same. In Acts 17, for example, Paul evangelized to both Jews and Greeks, tailoring his message accordingly. To the Jews, he referenced Scripture and Jewish traditions, whereas to the Greeks, he engaged their own philosophers' logic to lead them to Christ. The core Gospel remained consistent, but his approach was flexible.
The ability to practice evangelism smoothly comes from developing an evangelistic toolbelt. This toolbelt includes different approaches to sharing the Gospel, designed to connect with people in various situations throughout life. By building this resource, we can draw on a range of methods to effectively communicate the timeless message of Christ.
QUESTIONS
What hindrances may exists in the ability to become all things to all people for the purpose of reaching them for Christ?
What evangelistic tools have you already established in your evangelistic toolbelt? What other tools do you need to develop further?
