Christian Chameleon

1 Corinthians 9:16-23 New International Version (NIV)

16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

As a person who is a complete people pleaser, I loved, loved ripping Paul’s words from their context.  I was all amped and ready to justify some Christians being called hypocrites.  I mean, you heard it right?  Paul says, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”  The people pleaser in me is ecstatic upon reading those words.  You mean, I have justifiable means to do whatever it takes to help spread the message of Christ?  Yep, Christians can no longer be called hypocrites because whatever they are doing falls under the category of “becoming all things to all people.”  BLAMO! One Christian dilemma solved for today, what do ya got next?  

That is all well and good until I read this: “Taken out of context, today’s epistle reading may sound a bit off-putting. Paul’s chameleon-like behavior seems to be changing based on whomever he is around at the time. To our twenty-first century ears, this may ring inauthentic, a mere flattering way to appease people. Ripped out of context, this passage could be dangerous -- especially to those prone to be people-pleasers already. But is Paul really advocating inauthenticity or pleasing others for one’s own sake? Perhaps, there is more to this passage than initially meets the eye” (Carla Works, WorkingPreacher.com).  Aw, snap.  She was right.  My people pleasing ears didn’t like to hear what she had to say but she was right.  Living that way in today’s world does smell of inauthenticity.  

So, back to square one.  As I thought more and more about Paul’s words... I thought wait, Paul was in prison, he was run out of town and beaten by mobs during his time in ministry.  So, technically, we can safely say that there were definitely people that Paul did not connect with for whatever reason.  Within his wisdom and striving to be all things to all people, Paul himself fell short.  After making this realization, my mind wanted to run rampant with the “why’s” and “where does this leave us” questions.  In fact, it’s safe to say that Jesus falls under that same category as Paul (see: Easter Sunday).  I mean, if Paul and Jesus couldn’t get the message through to some people, what hope is there for us?  I mean, really, why even try.  Some folks just have to be such a lost cause that they aren’t even worth the effort (see: Patriots Fans).  

As much as we sometimes would like there to be, there are no such things as “lost causes.”  There are so many self-help books today that pitch you the techniques needed to be the best version of yourself.  I have read a few of them and you know what I keep finding?  That a relationship with God is a good way to make you the best version of yourself.  You see, the books I was just referring to don’t say that.  Not at all.  They say things like “find a purpose”, or “seek your inner strength”, or “help others” or “figure out your passion”, you get the idea.  As I read all this great advice, I see these words as little puzzle pieces that point directly to a relationship with God that is generates love for neighbor, love for self (in a good way), and love for God.  I think our relationship with God gives us a purpose, it helps us to realize our inner strength, it drives us to help others, it helps to organize our thoughts in ways that help us figure out our passions.  Sure these things are all possible without this relationship, but they are not eternal.  They eventually lead back to emptiness without this relationship.

We will undoubtedly fall short in our quest to be all things to all people.  However, there is one person that will not fall short of that goal: God.  Seems obvious, I know... But how do people ever get exposed to the one who can be all things to all people if we do not make the effort.  Sure, in that moment, we may fall short but how often do we get to see the rest of the moments that we impact in a stranger's life?  Not very often.  And really, we don’t even get to see the impact we have on our closest family members in every moment of their lives.  For example, my children are sometimes difficult but seem to be well-behaved at school.  If I were to judge my children solely on my personal interaction with them, I would have to rethink my parenting skills.  But when I do get those glimpses of seeing them help someone else without me prompting them, I know it is sinking in.  This past week, a group of HS girls from Colfax allowed a special needs girl from Melcher to score her first two points.  As I read the Coach’s post from Colfax, he did not tell them how to handle the situation.  In fact, the group of girls on the court from Colfax were girls that do not get to play much either.  And yet, in that moment, they put aside their own excitedness, they put aside their own desire to get some points and allowed that young woman to score.  Incredible.  

Hypothetically, let’s say that the relationships between those teenage girls and their parents are strained like most, and yet they made an incredible choice.  We don’t get to see every moment to know the impact we may have.  There may be aftershocks of the impact that carry into hundreds of other lives that we may never know about... That is why we set out to be all things to all people despite knowing we will fail.  That is why we strive to live, not just speak of, a mission that matters; that is why we treat everyone as if they matter to us and to God; and that is why we seek to embody a better way.