I Corinthians 9:22b: “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some people.” I believe this verse is the crux of what we have been talking about in class over the last weeks. Paul testifies to the missional obligation that comes with following Christ.
This is a challenging verse because it addresses one major concern I have with missionality. As my classmate Tim noted, “It can be very frustrating when we work so hard and care so much and see little to no growth.” The greatest challenge for me personally is not embedding myself into cultures, or developing friendships with people unlike me, or finding Christ in places outside the church. The hardest part for me is, like Tim, investing so much and not seeing change. I have many invaluable friendships that I wouldn’t give up for the world, that aren’t simply “friendship evangelism,” but no matter what, I simply want my friends to see Christ because I know with all of my heart that it would change their lives for the better.
What is interesting to me about this Corinthians passage is that Paul recognizes that he will not save “all men.” Yes, he has become all things to “all men,” but at the end of the passage he recognizes that “some” will be saved. I wonder if Paul felt discouraged by this as I think most of us do. I am sure he did, yet he continued to be faithful, and he continued to live a life of missionality, reminding us to do the same.
Danielle E
I think you’re right. It’s hard when someone that you care about so much doesn’t want to beleive in Christ. It almost makes me want to get more forceful in the things I’m saying to them about my faith, but then that would be counter-productive. In that case, it’s encouraging to know that even Paul, one of the most gospel-driven people in record, knew that there were some who either would resist or would take a little longer that we’d like.
I had a conversation with a friend about this verse recently, and we focused on the first part, what it means to become all things to all people. It’s odd that it never crossed either of our minds to think of the rather jarring second half of the verse.