In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 the apostle Paul makes a profound statement about winning the world to Christ. He says... "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under [h]the Law, as under [i]the Law though not being myself under [j]the Law, so that I might win those who are under [k]the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it."
To understand what the apostle Paul meant when he wrote, “I have become all things to all people,” we must keep the statement in context. Paul was explaining to the Corinthian church his motivation for submitting himself to a hard life. He had relinquished his rights to be married (verse 5) and to draw a salary from the church (verses 6–12). Paul had completely abandoned himself to the purposes of Christ and bore the marks of that decision in his own body.
Many Christians and church leaders have taken liberty with interpreting this passage and they twist the scripture to mean that we are to compromise with the world in order to fit in. This could NOT be further from the meaning of this passage. Context is king when reading and interpreting scripture.
Some have used Paul’s statement “I have become all things to all people” as an excuse to live worldly lives, assuming that unrepentant sinners will be impressed and want to come to Christ. But Paul never compromised God’s moral standards set forth in Scripture. Paul's ultimate goal was to win souls to Christ, not become like the world.
A misapplication of this scripture is happening in churches all across this country. Pastors and church leaders will create services and a church atmosphere that appeals to the world. You have probably seen it...It looks like a concert atmosphere with dim lights and fog machines. The preacher shortens the sermon and waters down the gospel to make it more palatable, all in hopes that people will come to Christ. It is a "get them there by any means necessary" mentality.
That is NOT what Paul is remotely talking about. Paul never compromised the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul never watered it down. Paul never violated God's perfect law so that he might win souls to Christ. He didn't become a sinner and participate in their wickedness in an effort to win them.
In Christ he was no longer bound to the ceremonies, rituals, and traditions of Judaism. Following or not following any of those things had no affect on his spiritual life. But if following them would open a door for his witnessing to Jews, he would gladly accommodate.
In order to witness of Christ to the Gentiles, Paul identified as closely as possible with Gentile customs. He ate what they ate, went where they went, and dressed as they dressed, but he never compromised his faith.
There are several ways we can become all things to all people. We can listen, we can be kind, we can be sensitive to any cultural norms, and put away any prejudice and judgmental attitudes, while we show the love of Christ. The goal of a Christian is to be inoffensive in every way except in the matter of the cross. The message of the cross of Christ naturally gives offense, but we cannot water it down. “The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18). Jesus warned us not to be shocked when the world hates us—it hated Him first (John 15:18). Our message is offensive to human pride and contradicts the sin nature, so our behavior and our attitudes should not give offense. When we strive to follow Paul’s example and become all things to all people, we must be willing to humble ourselves, let go of our “rights,” meet people where they are, and do whatever Jesus calls us to do. He died to save them. We must love them enough to tell them that in ways they can understand.
