MPC
25th May 2008.May 25 - 1 Corinthians 9, 10 - "All Things to All Men"
MPC
25th May 2008.
Phil Campbell
Since 1927, Time magazine has chosen a man, woman, or idea that "for better or worse, has most influenced events in the preceding year."
The writer Michael Hart decided to go one step better. And wrote a book he called The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History. The top 100 of all time.
I wonder if you were writing a book like that, the most influential people in all of history, who you'd rank at number 1? Let me tell you. Number one spot went to the Prophet Mohammed. Number two spot went to Isaac Newton. And number three... was Jesus Christ.
And the reason for his choice, he said, and he was writing this in 1992, the reason for his choice, the reason Jesus came in at number three and Mohammed was ranked number one, was that he said he observed that Mohammed has far more influence over the lives of Muslims than Jesus Christ does over the lives of Christians.
I wonder if you're a Christian here today and you think about your life whether maybe he's got a point. I mean, how much, day by day, is what you do shaped by the example of Jesus? As much as by your own personal preferences. Your own convenience.
This morning we're going to be look at the challenge from the apostle Paul. 1 Corinthians 11 verse 1. Where we finished the reading. It's there in black and white. The Apostle Paul says to the Corinthians, and he says it to us, follow my example... as I follow the example of Christ. He says watch me. And do what I do. Because I for one at least am following the example of Christ. And here's what it looks like.
Follow my example... as I follow the example of Christ.
And I want to suggest as he says that, Paul's actually summing up some practical threads that run right back through chapters 8 and 9 and 10. Three chapters where Paul is showing in a very concrete way what it looks like... to be a follower of Jesus. Which he says is not about being right... but being loving. Which he says is not about standing on my rights... but about serving. Which he says is not about my own preferences and comforts. But about putting others ahead of myself.
I want to put the challenge this morning. Michael Hart said he looked at Christians as a whole and he couldn't see much evidence of that. So what would he say if he looked at you?
Let's take a look back at the Apostle Paul's example. Which if you were here last week, you saw with Derek in Chapter 8. It was the big issue in Corinth of whether Christians could join in feasts in the pagan temple. And more generally eating meat that had been sacrificed to an idol.
No big deal for us, I know. But it was for them. And Paul's bottom line is, I'm not going to do anything that causes my weaker brother to go against his conscience.
He says idols are nothing. But if the issue is going to cause a brother to stumble... even though I know that idols are nothing... I'm quite happy to never eat meat again.
I saw a car bumper sticker that said "I love animals. They're delicious." I'm a card carrying carnivore. I really love a juicy filet steak, medium rare with pepper sauce. As I'm sure Paul did as well. But can you see what he says in verse 13? I'm following the Lord Jesus who gave up his life for us. So if it's a problem for someone, if it's a matter of conscience for someone, I'm happy never to eat meat again. Verse 13 in chapter 8. If a little thing like what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again... so I won't cause him to fall.
Even though I've got the freedom to eat what I like... I'll put my freedom aside. For the sake of another. I'll put my rights aside. Rather than be a stumbling block for someone else's faith in the Lord Jesus.
Which is the idea Paul goes on to develop in chapter 9. From the first verse. Where he says am I not free? Of course I am. Am I not an apostle? Of course he is. Most especially to the Corinthians, because he's their apostle. The one who singlehandedly came to them with the news about this man Jesus. He says at the end of verse 1, are you not the result of my work in the Lord? And they are.
Paul is the apostle who brought their church into life. In that same book, The Most Influential Persons in History, the Apostle Paul comes in at number 6. Because of the way he spread Christianity around the first century world. And Paul starts chapter 9 with the words, Am I not free? He can do what he likes!
But look what he says down in verse 19. Here's the model we're meant to imitate. Here's our example. Remember, here's the guy who says, follow my example as I follow the example of Christ. And the example is this. "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone... to win as many as possible."
Now if you're here this morning and you're not a Christian, they're strange words, aren't they? That someone would be so keen to see other people won over to Jesus that he'd be prepared to make himself a slave to everyone. That he'd be prepared to put aside his every right. But the way he sees it, the Jesus he serves gave up everything in becoming fully human; and in taking that humanity to death on across.
He says, I'll put up with anything... so as not to get in the way of the message of Christ.
And if you're a Christian here today, again, I wonder if you can say the same. I wonder if your friends who are not Christians really get to see the example of Christ in you.
So here's another concrete example.
It's a point Paul labours. Because he wants to demonstrate that bringing the message of Jesus to the Corinthians had a personal cost attached. That the last thing he was doing was doing it for the money. Even though he had every right to be paid by them.
Now again, it seems to me these days that one of the biggest perceptions about the church that people have, one of the biggest turnoffs is that the church just wants people for their money.
And so in our growth group the other day I heard about one church where the Priest would count up the collection at the beginning of the service, and if there wasn't enough, he'd send the plate round again. And the countless church street stalls trying to make a few dollars selling scones and jam, and the fund raising; not to mention the guys like Benny Hinn who have raised it to a whole new level.
Benny was in Brisbane back in February. He came in his own $36 million dollar private jet. Benny was glorious in a white silk suit. And after an hour of songs at the Boondall Entertainment centre, according to The Courier Mail[1], Benny Hinn preached gold and silver. Silver and gold, non-stop. For 90 minutes. For 90 minutes he talked dollars. The words "gold" and "silver" were said 35 times in six minutes, said The Courier Mail reporter, who was obviously counting. The term "wealth transfer" was uttered 20 times in 10 minutes.
And of course the wealth transfer he was talking about was from the audience... to him.
"If God tells you to give $5000, obey him," said Benny. "If God speaks and says give $10,000, obey him. Do not argue with God."
Now I'm not telling you to argue with God. But I am asking the question, did God actually tell Benny to say that? Because the funny thing is, God told the apostle paul to say the exact opposite. As he does here.
Benny Hinn flew out of Brisbane $800,000 dollars richer. In fact, he took people's jewelry as well.
But look what Paul says to the Corinthians. Because it couldn't be more different. And it's a mark of his authenticity. And his commitment to the example of Jesus.
Paul lists off ten precendents. Ten reasons why he actually had every right to financial support from the Corinthians. And until he gets to the punchline, maybe you can imagine it's Benny speaking. But wait for the sting in the tail.
Take a quick look down the page at the ten precedents. Point after point, arguing the fact that he and his colleague Barnabas have every right to the Corinthian's support.
Point one is the precedent of the other apostles. "Don't we have the right to food and drink? Verse 4. Of course we do. "Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas?" Of course we do. "Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?," verse 6. Are we somehow second class apostles? Of course we're not. The other apostles are financially supported. Paul has the right to be as well.
Precedent number two. In verse 7. Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? You don't expect soldiers to pay themselves. Why expect it of me?
Number three. You plant a vineyard, you get to eat the grapes. I'm like the winegrower, says Paul. I'm entitled to the grapes.
And Precedent four. We're still in verse 7. You tend a flock, you get to drink of the milk.
Number five, the precedent of the Old Testament. And he cites the Old Testament law. Which says, verse 9, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Which was a principle that went way beyond just oxen and grain. When you're being productive, you get to share the product.
Which leads to precendent number six. When the ploughman plows, he does so in the hope of sharing the harvest.
Number seven. When the thresher threshes, the same thing. He's doing it because he's going to share the fruit of his labours.
Number eight. Verse 12. Others. If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?
Precedent nine, verse 13, he's really laying it on, isn't he? Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple?
And number ten. And those who serve at the altar get their food from the altar.
And so in the same way, verse 14, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
It's his right. Except for one thing. And here's the turnaround.
Verse 15. But I have not used any of these rights.
In fact, he's already said the same thing back in verse 12 as well. If others have the right of support, we have it all the more. But we did not use this right.
On the contrary, we - he's talking about himself and Barnabas - we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
Every right to their support. But he didn't use it. Worked nights instead making tents. So there'd be no question about his motives. So there'd be no question of personal gain. So there'd be no question he was preaching for his own advantage. As there clearly is with the jet-set evangelists like Benny Hinn.
When Paul came to Corinth... there was nothing in it for him. Just a desire to preach Jesus... to them. For their benefit.
We put up with anything... rather than hinder the gospel of Christ." Because we're imitating Jesus himself.
End of verse 18; same thing. He says when he came preaching the gospel to them, he did it free of charge. "What then is my reward?" Just this. "That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it."
So fitting, you see, because the gospel is about God's free forgiveness. So fitting because the gospel is the message about the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Who freely took on himself the sin and debt of the world. So that we can be freely forgiven.
I mean, how do you turn a message like that, how do you turn an example like that, into demanding your rights? And turning a tidy profit?
Which is again why Paul says the words we started with in verse 19.
Though he's free, he makes himself a slave to everyone... to win as many as possible. Because he wants to be just like Jesus.
It's a big ask, isn't it, if you're a Christian. But that's the goal. To be reaching out to the world at your cost. And not theirs.
And not just on the matter of money. Far more than that. In the matter of stepping into your discomfort zone and connecting.
See, we Christians I think so easily become comfortable and conservative. It's the other part of the popular paradigm, isn't it, if you did a street survey and asked people what came to their minds if you mentioned the words church or Christianity, number one is they just want you for your money. And number two is that mind numbing sort of crusty conservatism. As if all the rest of the world has changed and Christians are the ones who just stay the same. A century and a half behind everyone else. Or in a little kind of sub-culture off to the side.
It's interesting, Mark Driscoll, the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, he very purposefully ten years ago set about starting a church that connected with a particular Seattle subculture. Because while Seattle is probably most famous for a little software company based there called Microsoft, it's also the home of grunge music. And the goths. And the world capital for body piercings and tattoos and whatever hairstyle took over from the fluorescent orange mohawk.
And Mark Driscoll asked the question, what's a church going to look like that speaks the language of that kind of culture. That people from that kind of culture are going to connect with.
It's the same question the missionary Hudson Taylor asked in China in the mid 19th century. And so became the first western missionary to take on wearing Chinese style clothes. And actually living the life of the people he was there for.
Well, listen to Paul. And again, it's a case of putting aside his rights; a case of putting aside his preferences. For the sake of other people. And the key words we're going to see repeated in the next few verses are the words I became.
Can I ask you, when's the last time you became something for the sake of somebody else?
See if you can follow Paul's logic. From verse 20. I make myself a slave to win as many as possible. To the Jews, he says, I became like a Jew to win the Jews. Though I'm not under all the Jewish laws and regulations any more, I became like I was. For their sake.
Verse 21, to those not having the law, to the gentiles, he says I became like one not having the law, to win those not having the law. Though he says, I'm still under the law of Christ.
Can you see what he's saying? He's saying, I'm not standing on my rights doing what I like. I'm bending. For the sake of saving others. I'm putting my own preferences aside. For the sake of other people. For the sake of the gospel.
Look, I've got to say I even find it hard when I don't get my preference when we order Chinese takeaway. They never want Honey Prawns. Paul's saying he'll give up his preference at every point. For the sake of other people. For the sake of the gospel.
Which is an idea that will absolutely transform a church. From being an inward looking club that does what it's always done. Into a something dynamic. And very engaging to the world around it. That it's always wanting to win. Verse 22 - Paul says to 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.
When so often these days we Christians become nothing to anyone. Servants of no-one. With the end result of saving none. Paul says he's the ultimate in flexibility... for the sake of the gospel... so he may share in its blessings. And see the harvest.
The funny thing is, says Mark Driscoll in Seattle, while Hudson Taylor is kind of a hero among other Christians for the way he took Christianity to China, it's other Christians who are so conservative that they're hugely critical of his church. And the fact that his deacons and elders have got body piercings and tattoos. And are very genuinely being like Jesus was to the people of inner-city Seattle.
Because if you're going to imitate Paul as he imitates Jesus, it means imitating this... "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible."
Chapter 10, that's the point Paul comes back to. When he comes back to the issue of the meat you eat. He says it's just like anything else. We're so conditioned to thinking about what's good for me. That we miss the point. That being like Jesus is meant to be the opposite to that.
So we say, I can do what I like. I'll advance my career. I'll make myself comfortable. I'll stand up for my rights. We say what the Corinthians were saying. In chapter 10 verse 23. Same words we saw back in chapter 6. everything is permissible for me. But Paul says not everything is beneficial.. Not everything is loving. And that's the main game. Because as Christians, Paul says in verse 24, nobody should seek his own good. But the good of others. When it comes to eating meat offered to idols, don't be bound by superstitions and food rules. But don't ride roughshod over someone else's conscience either. Don't cause anyone to stumble. Don't be offensive. Don't be the sort of person who has to be right all the time. Don't be the kind of person who makes everyone else bow to your preferences. Whether it's about food or about music or about dress code or about body piercings or about anything else.
Paul says, I so want people to hear about Jesus, I so want people to see the example of Jesus, that I'll bend over backwards not to give anyone any objection, not to give anyone any stumbling block, not to give anyone any excuse to not pay attention to the gospel. Verse 33, he says I'm trying to please everybody in every way... for I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many. So that they may be saved. Follow my example. as I follow the example of Christ.
Now friends, you might be a Christian today... because you know someone in your life who did that.
On the other hand, if Michael Hart was right, you might not be a Christian today... because you know Christians who did the opposite. Christians who were self serving. Instead of Christ like. Churches that were money hungry. Instead of generous. Christians who were so locked into doing things the way they were always done that they just never connected.
Not seeing that the example of the King of the universe dying for sinners translates down into the small details. Like how much I'm prepared... to put myself out for someone else. How much I'm prepared to put aside my rights... and even my right to be right. For the sake of someone else.
I'd love it if Michael Hart was wrong, you know. I mean, I don't care what number someone puts Jesus on a list. But I'd love it if he could look at Christians and say, they're the people who are really serious about following the example of their Christ. And it really makes a difference to our world.