Methods and Message

1 Corinthians 9

19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To 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. 21To 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. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Do not confuse Paul’s teaching here with the notion of “blending in” with the culture, because those two notions are not one in the same! Paul stood out wherever he went, standing up for the Gospel of Christ. He is talking about using different methods to reach different people, but the message of Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We who want to follow Christ and make a difference in our culture today for His sake, would do well to remember this.