19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law,[d] I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 1 Corninthians 9:19-27)
This is part of our study tonight at Men’s Bible Study. We are on the chapter of 1 Corinthians 9. I am leading tonight, which is the first time I have led a Bible study in over a year! The scripture above really impacts me. Paul says I become all things to all people so some may be saved. That is my heart right now. It seems in main line Christianity we want to fit in this nice little box. But if Paul becomes all things to all people what would that look like today? Would Paul go into a Bar? Would Paul go to an AA meeting and talk like they talk? Would Paul go to the streets and do what they do? This blows our mind. Paul would not get drunk or use drugs, that’s my guess but he would go into those places. Would he be welcome in our churches if he did that? And what about Jesus. Who did He come to save? He can to save those who most of us would cross the street to avoid. As I am relearning what the Bible really teaches, I am seeing that our idea of a pretty little church is not really what Paul or Jesus thought or lived. Am I so concerned what others think that I will just “play Church”, or will I truly live a life that Jesus and Paul lived. This stuff really makes you think if you read what the word says and not what you want it to say. Just saying, not judging!
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