Many churches
today seek to be all things to all people. Does that sound familiar? Didn’t
Paul say something similar in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23? Shouldn’t the church be
willing to meet people where they are and to first address their felt needs in
order to win them to Christ? Biblically the answer to these questions is an
emphatic, No!
When Paul said, “I
have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some”
(1Cor. 9:22b), he was speaking of his willingness to adhere to cultural
standards when doing cross-cultural evangelism insofar as those standards were
consistent with the law of Christ (1Cor. 9:21). In other words, Paul did not
demand kosher food when preaching in Gentile communities, nor did he exercise
his liberty to eat bacon when ministering in a Jewish context. But this
willingness to personally accept limitations the apostle might otherwise have
ignored in no way redefined the mission or strategy of the church.
The church
exists to glorify God by exalting him in worship (Psa. 95:6-7), edifying the
saints (Eph. 4:11-12), and evangelizing the world (Matt. 28:18-20). But these
functions must be carried out under God’s authority and instruction. He has
told us how to worship him, how to build up his people, and how to reach the
lost, and he has warned us in every age not to disregard or modify his
instructions (Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:5-6; Luke 6:46). We dare not compromise what
God has said in order to accomplish what God intends.
The apostle
Peter exhorted his readers and us all:
As each has
received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied
grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one
who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God
may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever
and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11)
God’s will, done in God’s way, as a
stewardship of God’s grace, gives God glory. We must constantly bear this
simple principle in mind as we plan, pray, and perform the ministry which God
has given us. Am I serving as a steward of God’s grace? Am I speaking according
to his word? Am I serving in his strength? Or am I instead trusting in and
promoting my own agenda? May God help us to do his will. -JME
