1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV)
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 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. 21 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. 22 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. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Reflection:

America is commonly referred to as a ‘melting pot’ but others think of it more as a ’salad bowl’. A melting pot implies that people who come into the society assimilate and readily adopt that society’s standard. A salad bowl suggests that you hold onto your culture even after you arrive, and don’t take on the characteristics of the new society, so that you have a mixture of a lot of different things, but you can still tell them apart like each vegetable in a salad. So it’s not uncommon to have ‘China Towns’, ‘Korea Towns’, ‘Little Italy’s’, and etc. in many of our larger cities.

During the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys, he ventured into many cities in various lands and encountered people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. During each visit, he did not simply repeat the Gospel message the same way over and over again; but was willing to change whatever was necessary so that each people group would be able to hear and understand the message clearly.

Responding to the Transmission:

The gospel message can be hindered by our own perceived limitations- i.e. fear of failure, peer expectations, intimidation of situations. The Apostle Paul ministered in the freedom of the Gospel, free from these limitations, and was able to change so that others may hear the message. Likewise, let’s also minister in this same freedom. Let’s spend time in prayer asking for the Holy Spirit’s empowering to free us from our limitations and preferences, so that we can become “all things to all people.”