Because of the Great Commission as set forth in Matthew 28:19-20, mission work is an important aspect in being a Christian. Those who come to a saving knowledge of Christ are commanded to spread that message to those around them, hoping and praying that their neighbors will also accept this amazing message into their hearts.
This had led to a number of mission projects over the years that have resulted, in spite of continuous opposition, Christianity spreading to the four corners of the globe, becoming the largest religion in our world today. Sadly, it is not the fastest-growing religion and there are still many people, places, and cultures untouched by the gospel truth.
This begs the question; how do we approach mission work in a way that will effectively reach those who are lost, especially those in differing cultures?
In 1 Corinthians 9:20-22, Paul lays out his strategy for winning souls, and it is one that we should be mindful to adopt. After a careful analysis of the verses, we can obtain a proper understanding of Paul’s tactics and his reasoning behind them.
What is he doing?
Paul starts off this passage by saying, “To the Jews I became as a Jew … to those who are under the Law, as under the Law.” There are a couple more examples in the text that follow the same premise, Paul conforms to the identity of those to whom he is witnessing. It is important to note that Paul is, in fact, a Jew, but he does not teach everyone he encounters according to Jewish traditions and does not expect them to participate in Jewish practices of religion.
This can be seen in Acts 15, where it was debated amongst Jewish elders and the Pharisees on whether Gentile converts should be circumcised according to the commandment given to Abraham’s descendants by God (Genesis 17:9-11). These men claimed that circumcision was a requirement for salvation; however, that argument was rebuffed by stating that salvation depends on belief in Christ, not the act of circumcision. Therefore, this reaffirms that circumcision is a Jewish practice not required for a Gentile believer to participate.
Instead of forcing the customs expected of his culture onto that of another, Paul left that behind as he preached the gospel, finding different ways to relate its message and its teachings to the culture of others, allowing for them to comprehend it better. Along with comprehension, this ultimately allows them to develop their own ways of worshipping the Lord and fellowshipping with each other.
Why is he doing it?
The world is made up of many cultures, each with differing worldviews and practices. What may work in spreading the gospel in one country might not work in another. It is vital that we remember that we are not told to share religious practices specific to our culture but are instead told to spread the message of Christ and the standard of living set forth in the Bible. Religion, faith, and worship mean different things to different people, and just because their religious practices might seem odd from our perspectives, that does not make it wrong in God’s eyes.
This is why, according to 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul says, “I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.” Instead of imposing the Jewish way of practicing faith, worshiping the Lord, and fellowshipping with each other, he learned and studied the cultures of others to better relay the gospel message in a way that they could understand. Essentially, Paul took on these roles in order to effectively witness. This method of soul-winning has proven to be more effective in missions than forcing others to adopt and learn a structure of living differing from their own. The point is to insert the teaching of Jesus into their lives not to uproot their day-to-day life with what we believe to be the proper way to practice religious faith.
As a side note, notice how the verse states to “save some.” Paul is not foolish to believe that he will save everyone to whom he is witnessing. Identifying with the host culture you travel to does not secure the salvation of every person you come across. It is simply a way to bring more people into the fellowship of Christ, making them more likely to hear, and understand, and accept the message in their hearts.
One of the best examples of Paul’s witness is in Acts 17. While in Athens, he preached about Jesus and the resurrection, which the Epicureans and Stoics believed to be strange gods. To clarify the message, Paul used their “UNKNOWN GOD” and related him to the God of the Bible. Their curiosity spurred them to listen to Paul’s message, and while not everyone believed in what they heard, a few did come to Christ because he was able to translate the message in a way they could understand.
What is he not doing?
Part of the verse in 1 Corinthians 9:21 says when Paul was preaching to those without law that he was “not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ.” While Paul was trying to engage in another culture, he stayed true to follow the law of the Lord, even if the law might not be embraced or understood. This also means refusing to commit acts that will go against that law.
Learning and adopting the customs of a differing culture does not mean a person takes an absence from their faith and morality. They should remain obedient to the Word of God even if it does not align to the culture’s customs. For example, if you were to theoretically witness in an area where it was customary to remove your shoes once indoors or to wear traditional clothing at ceremonies, you would follow these customs in order to fit in with the local culture. If that same area performed an annual human sacrifice, you would not even think about participating in the ritual due to the Bible’s stance against murder and might try to persuade the locals to refrain from continuing that practice.
While Paul does not stoop below his moral and spiritual principles, he still tries to find ways to connect with other people. As Christians, it is important to learn and adopt the customs and traditions of a certain culture to effectively share the gospel, however, the Lord also does not wish for us to compromise ourselves in the process.
