For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law. To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some. I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
A Mission Mindset
Paul the apostle was an extraordinary person. He went from persecuting and killing Christians to completely sold-out and surrendered to God and witnessing for His kingdom. He was passionate, yet humble and powerful in his ministry.
Why be all things to all people? Paul was free to do and be whatever he wanted, but he wanted to lead people to Jesus more than anything. He felt like doing anything else with his freedom, for him, would be selfish, and there was nothing he wanted more than to win souls to the Lord. He wanted to be all things to all people because he cared about them. He did not mind being inconvenienced a little if it led to someone’s salvation.
To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews – Paul participated in some Jewish religious ceremonies, not because they were necessary for his own life, but because he wanted to build a bridge of ministry to the Jews. He also acted like he had been a Gentile in order to connect with them to share the Gospel in hopes of bringing salvation to some. He was sensitive to their needs and by identifying with them, he had an avenue to reach people where they were. Many times that is a problem for us when it comes to witnessing. We don’t want to meet people where they are, we want them to change first, or at least come to us where we are. This is not how Jesus – or Paul - loved and witnessed to people, and not how we are supposed to either.
How Can We Have A Mission Mindset?
God wants to transform our minds from self-centered to Gospel-centered. There are steps we can take to be more intentional in “saving some.”
Create Spiritual Conversations – some will hear and respond, and some will hear and not respond. We cannot force response, but we can be obedient to our calling as Christians to spread the word.
Share What He Has Done For You – We can share the Gospel by telling what it did for us, how we have been changed.
See Every Person As Christ Would – See every person as someone to become “all things” to. Have a soft heart for those who are not Christians.
Be Committed To Reach People Where They Are
· To be available and accessible
· To be inconvenienced
· To build bridges and close gaps
· To identify with them – not crossing lines or compromising morals, no changing doctrine or watering down the Gospel, but being real and authentic to them in order to build relationships or trust so they trust what we tell them. Do not try to be so relevant that you lose the Gospel. Paul didn’t change the doctrine or the message of the Gospel, but he changed his behavior and his approach.
Why be all things to all people? So that by all means I may save some. Our salvation is important enough to God to give His son for us to have it. He leaves the 99 to go for the 1. Shouldn’t it be our desire as His church to do whatever it takes to save some? Jesus’ last words were literally Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus must have felt like that was a pretty important thing to leave for us to carry out.
To be all things to all people – that should be the motto of the church, especially when it is followed by so that by all means we may save some.
