David Bahn – Reflections

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I’m using the 49 Week Bible Challenge for these blog posts. I encourage you to join me in this discipline. Today’s readings are 1 Corinthians 9; Deuteronomy 20; 25; 1 Samuel 27;  Proverbs 12.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

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.

The bathroom sink in my room doesn’t have a stopper. That was the problem the customer presented to my mom. I overheard it and immediately sprang into action. I ran down to the utility room, and appropriated the stopper from that sink and took it to the man. I think I was 8 or 9 years old. My mom and the customer were impressed.

I have always been a problem solver. That’s a good thing most of the time. Don’t try it in a marriage relationship though. That is almost never what my Diane wants when she shares a problem with me. Sometimes she does, and I’m happy to solve it. Many times, however, she just wants a listening ear.

The same is often true in the church. Many times people just want to express their concerns, be heard, acknowledged, and understood. Sometimes they want a problem solved. But it’s important to know the difference.

Accommodating people’s requests and preferences can be challenging. But when those don’t conflict with Scripture or cause further conflict in the church, I have always tried to do it. I haven’t always succeeded, but I have tried. It’s the way God wired me from early on. Look for solutions to problems. Act when you can. Listen to the customer. Those motel lessons are hard wired in my brain.

Paul had some hard-wired lessons as well. From the time of his first missionary journey he did all he could to share the Gospel message of Jesus’ death and resurrection – that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior of all people. Here he writes about the flexibility and accommodations he made during his missionary work.

He would live as a Jew’s Jew among the Jews. He would reason like the best of the Greek philosophers when he witnessed to the Greeks. He knew how to relate to God-fearing Gentiles, kings and magistrates, and jailers and fellow prisoners.

Paul wasn’t duplicitous. He was committed. He was committed to saving as many as possible (though he knew that only God really saves!). And he did all he could to spread the reign and rule of Jesus.

Some people seem not to flex at all. They remain completely unchanged in the face of new contexts. A member of a church I served long ago one day said, “Can’t they (outsiders) come here and become like us?” That was definitely not the attitude of Paul. And I believe he was right. He never compromised the truth of God’s word, but he did all he could to relate to and save people according to their needs.

Next time something bothers you about the way things are going in your church, ask yourself, “Does this violate God’s word? Or is this my personal preference?” Guess what must bend and what must not?

Paul did that not only for the sake of those he sought to reach, but also for his own sake, that he could share with others the blessings of Jesus’ love and salvation. That’s great motivation for us all.