A CBOQ Retiree Newsletter
August 2017
ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 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. 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. 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. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Romans 9:19-23 By Rev. Karen Lowe Clergy Care Associate When we follow Jesus there are many meaningful activities that we get to participate in as expressions of our devotion to him and in service to his Kingdom, such as, strengthening our local church body, serving our neighbours, providing care to those who are poor, sick, or homeless, and delving deeper into God’s word to be shaped more fully into the person he created us to be. Paul’s words remind us that underneath all of our activity there is one purpose that we are called to, inviting people to know the good news of Jesus’ saving grace. Every other good activity we can engage in becomes secondary to our calling of inviting people to know the transforming love of God.
Paul had a special calling as an evangelist to travel to diverse areas in order to preach the gospel to them in a way that would give each people group the best possible chance to turn from living their own way and follow Jesus. We see an example of this in Acts 17 when Paul is in Athens and starts explaining the gospel with the use of an idol labelled the ‘unknown god’ in order to connect with the people where they were so that they would be able to hear his message of God’s redeeming love. In this case Paul became like an Athenian in order to reach the Athenians.
particular community and connected to a particular local church that has a specific vision and mission on how to best preach the gospel in its context. On our own we cannot be all things to all people. I am so proud to be a part of the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec. We emphasize the autonomy of the local church and allow a diversity of expressions of the gospel that all together capture the heart of God for all people. On my own I can only bring the gospel to one small group of people but together we can “become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”
We do not all have the calling of Paul. Most of us are rooted in a 1