“I have become all things to all men, that I might, by all means, save some.” (1Cor. 9:22).
In chapter one of Revelation, Jesus is seen dressed as the high priest, ministering to the seven churches of Asia Minor. The churches are portrayed as lampstands, casting the light and brilliance of Christ into the dark world. It was the priest’s duty to maintain their light, least it wanes or goes out. This is reassuring for God’s children, as it means they have heaven’s undivided support.
However, each church has different challenges and weaknesses. Ephesus lacks their first love experience, Smyrna is fearful as it faces persecution, Pergamos has fallen into spiritual comprise, Laodicea is self-sufficient and blind to its spiritual lack, and so on. Therefore, each church is unique, which leads Jesus to appear to each one in a tailored fashion.
He comes to Ephesus as the one walking among the churches. They have left their first love, but Jesus assures them that He hasn’t left them. To Smyrna, He comes as the one who died but rose from death’s clutches. They are facing a martyr’s death, but even if this should be, Jesus has the ultimate say, for He can resurrect them. To Pergamos, He comes with the sword, the word of God. Why? To bring them from comprising back to the word of truth. Laodicea is the only church that had nothing positive said about it. So, Jesus comes to them as the source of creation. In creation, something incredible was made from nothing. He can do the same for them.
Therefore, Jesus meets each church where it is at, in their weakness and need. He encourages them to look to Him, so He can strengthen them and meet their need. And from this, we can learn much about how to approach others. The gospel shouldn’t be brought to others in a rote and clinical fashion, with a one size fits all mentality. Each person is an individual, with a particular background and struggles. To be the light of Christ, we must meet others where they are at, not where we think they should be. This is to say, we must meet them on their own turf, addressing them in a personal fashion. We are to commiserate with their challenges, and then point them to the remedy, their Saviour and all-sufficient high priest.
The apostle Paul did just that, “I have become all things to all men.” He identified with those he sought to win for Christ. He took into account their background, culture, experience, and struggles. He never comprised with the gospel message, but he was flexible in its means of delivery. To do so, one must suspend personal judgments and biases. In other words, like Paul, we must meet each where they individually stand. Then we can walk with them to level ground, that of the cross. And from it, we can elevate their hearts and minds upwards, towards the resurrected and ascended Christ.
Therefore, be inflexible with the word of truth, but adaptable with how you address it to others. That you “by all means might save some”. Meet others as Jesus met you.
Image used by permission of SermonView
