1 Corinthians 9:20-22 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law… 1. St. Paul was a cosmopolitan in the best sense, the world was his country, mankind his brethren, truth his business, the church his family, and Christ his Lord. His catholic impartiality credited alike Jew and Greek with whatever amount of truth they severally held. 2. Love is the true expositor of the text. It is the sterling politeness which gracefully bends itself into "all things" within the perpendicular of truth and equity, "to all men" in order to their profit and salvation. Like a tender mother, lisping to her babe, reading with her boys, sympathising with the early trials of her girls, following with her wistful prayers the absent ones, nor ceasing a maternal interest in the elder branches settled in life, and so in her motherly heart is all things to all members of her family so the earnest Christian has a large-hearted family power of interestedness in whatever concerns the soul of every fellow-being. Being "all things to all men," only to gain them to Christ, implies a sacred uniformity of purpose, which — I. SANCTIONS NOTHING INCONSISTENT WITH DIVINE CONFORMITY. "All things to all men" — 1. Sanctions no versatility which is evangelical with low church, sacramental with high church, indefinite with broad church, and indifferent with no church; though it does imply a courteous, loving, conciliatory tone of address to every church, always with a view to gaining them for the Church of Christ. 2. Implies no sinking the Christian to meet the worldling. The Christian is no chameleon, taking his hue from every incident he feeds on; but rather like the sunlight of his heavenly Father — the evil and the good are the better for his shining. Apply the rule to places of amusement. Can we imagine ourselves meeting Christ there, as He sat at the festival in Cana, &c.? We can realise His presence on occasions of innocent festivity; but there are others at which, if we could suppose His eye falling upon us, as it did on Peter in the hall of his denial, we should be ashamed to meet Him. I noticed in France pictures of the Crucifixion in streets and public galleries, in Hotel de Ville and Palais de Justice, but never one in a Cafe Chantant or the opera. As believers, you are Christ's living images, and would be as much out of place in a Casino or a playhouse. There is a rubicon between the carnal and the spiritual man which needs no Caesar to cross it from one side (that is, from the church to the world); but it requires a Christ to ford it, from the world to the church. Attempt it alone, and like Peter on the lake, you would sink in the act, unless His mighty hand bear you through. 3. Is no text for the pusillanimous concessions implied in the maxim, "When you are at Rome, do as Rome does." Paul did not; he was as much "Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ" in Caesar's household as in his own. Still he who gave Roman officers their respect, and magistrates their titles, who gathered sticks with the barbarians, and received the grateful courtesies of Publius, taught us to eschew rudeness or eccentricity in circumstantials, and to be peculiar only in essentials. In whatever shape you are gratuitously singular, you will be unpopular, and therefore the less useful. Hence, cultivate a conciliating not a litigious tone — suggest, rather than challenge. A well-oiled and tempered blade cuts deeper than a hacked or rusty one. Be as much at home with people as you can, that they may be at their ease with you. Let things indifferent be indifferent, that none of your earnestness and usefulness may be spent on trifles, but all concentrated on the main thing — saving souls and glorifying their Saviour. II. JUSTIFIES ANYTHING BECOMING A MANLY CHRISTIANITY. By this is not meant a Christianity indigenous to man; but a robust, open-hearted, large-minded view of sinners, and of the means to be employed for their salvation. "All things to all men." 1. Means religious toleration having "proved all things, hold fast that which is good." Stand out for your own convictions. "Be strong and quit you like men." At the same time, fidelity to your own opinions is perfectly compatible with the most respectful toleration of those of others. You believe in election; another man sees only open universal salvation. Be it so. You both believe in Christ and in His Holy Spirit: then work and pray together on those grounds in which you agree, and you will get nearer to God and to each other than by incessant debate upon your points of difference, 2. Implies the use of all lawful means of "preaching the word in season and out of season," e.g., if a Romanist won't listen to our translation of the Bible, converse with him out of his own. The Douay version obscures some doctrines, but it can't extinguish Christ. On the same ground controversy is justified. Let the obvious love of souls, and loyalty to Christ so distinguish the spirit ill which you wield controversial weapons that men may see "they are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds." 3. Suggests a gentle forbearance with men's tempers, infirmities, and even sins. Much self-denial is needed for the duty of reproof, both as to the mode of doing it, and the doing it at all. "Bearing one another's burdens, and so fulfilling the law of Christ" is not the least self-denying form of taking up the cross. To bear with the magnanimity of Christian love the irritating annoyances and petty insults of an ungodly circle is no easy trial; but its effect upon those around us, though imperceptible, is real. 4. Imports the diligent use of many means, notwithstanding few results. There is a noble contentedness in expending all our means on the prospect of only "some" return.Conclusion — 1. Neither "all things to all men," nor anything to any man, is either safe or possible without God. You dare not be "all things to" some men, lest, burning incense with Korah, you be swallowed up with his company. "Evil communications corrupt good manners." Your life must be your testimony, where direct association would only compromise or quench it. 2. Make Christ your model. "Set the Lord alway before you." Let your first question be, "What would He have done?" He was in the best sense, and ever will be, "all things to all men," "the fulness of Him that filleth all in all." And He would be nothing to any man except to save him. (J. B. Owen, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; |
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