All Things to All People
I grew up in the Dallas, Texas metro area. If you did not know this, Texas is quite proud of itself (though it has had a difficult last few weeks).
Texas likes its BBQ — beef, not pork. Texas likes its Mexican food. Tex-Mex is a given. And, no, Covington’s El Charro’s does not count as Tex-Mex. Texas loves its state flag. It flies big and proud besides the U.S. Flag (and sometimes instead of the U.S. Flag). And, when I say “big,” I mean BIG. Huge Texas flags line the interstate through major cities.
And, Texas does like its football teams. High School, College, Pro, doesn’t matter. If it’s football, Texas is all in.
That being said, growing up in the Dallas area, there is not one predominant college that people root for. Some are Texas fans, others are Texas A&M fans, still others are split between Baylor, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma, and to a lesser degree TCU and SMU. No one team dominates the conversation in the college football realm. So, I did not grow up rooting for any particular college football team.
Since I went to a small Baptist college in Oklahoma, my football allegiances were really up for grabs. Then, I moved to Columbus, Ga.
where Auburn has quite a following. Finally, we settled in the Mansfield area where UGA and to a little lesser degree Georgia Tech are the teams of choice. Again, my allegiances have never been settled.
While in Columbus, I learned to pull for Auburn and still do. While in Mansfield, I enjoy pulling for UGA and Georgia Tech. Church is a happier place on Sunday if UGA wins on Saturday. And, I still like the Texas teams to do well…all of them, with Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor and Texas Tech leading the pack.
So, it boils down to this: what team do you want me to pull for? I don’t mind rooting for your team as well. When it comes to college football, I can become all things to all teams.
Paul says something similar as he speaks of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 9:22, God’s word says: “…I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some” (CSB). Paul is willing to connect with different people in different ways so that through his relationships he can share Christ with those who don’t know Him yet.
This does not mean that Paul will condone or copy people’s sin. It does not mean that Paul will promote untruths or unholy living. But, it does mean that he will try to connect on whatever level someone is able to connect.
Are you able to connect with people in that way? Are you willing to become all things to all people so some will be saved? That’s Paul. It should be us, too.
(Questions/Responses? jeff.perkins@mbclife.org)