Faithful yet Flexible

Intro Perspectives Class, class up Sue and Gina

introduce the class

introduce Gina Brewster and Sue Sprunger

you both took the class—what kind of information did you learn?

why are you both passionate about this class—and why should someone here consider taking it?

we will help scholarship the class from the missions budget…normally $260 but we will offset it and offer $200 to help cover it, but we want you to be committed to it and have some skin in the game.

Intro:

(fill in the blank…____)

if you ever go on a missions trip to another country or another culture, you notice that you have to _________ (pray! be anxious!)...adapt and change.

whether it’s Kenya, Ecuador, Costa Rica, or Maytown, Kentucky.

one is language—if you are ever going to make an impact in another place that speaks another language—you have to learn the language—that takes time. and even if they speak the same language—they may use the same terms but mean different things—

how do you reach people with the good news of Jesus Christ—How do you adapt to the culture yet stay faithful to the Gospel?

if you visit other parts of the world, you will notice cultural differences. one of my mentors in the faith said that when he went to Great Britain—when you would talk with someone—you would have about 36 inches apart—that’s 3 feet, but then when he would visit a country in Latin America—the closeness for conversation is more like 18 inches.

that’s close for me — I have noticed that in some cultures—they get close, I step back, they get a little closer, I step back...

How do I do culturally change and be flexible for the sake of the Gospel? yet faithful even in something like this?

One of the most famous missionaries in recent Christian history was a man named Hudson Taylor. He was British and went as a missionary to China in 1853 and served there for 54 years!

and one of the groundbreaking practices that he adopted at the time…was that he began wearing native Chinese clothing—this was rare among missionaries to do that. and as part of his cultural adaptation—he would even let his hair grow down in a long braid—this shocked his European friends back home.

yet he was willing to do this to change his style of dress and hair...—to be flexible—to reach new people in China with the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ. while being faithful tot the Gospel.

he was willing to be flexible yet faithful to the gospel.

now that’s an extreme example for most of us...

but for you—if you are reaching out to your neighbor—who can’t read or write, vs. one who can—how do you adapt the Gospel message so as to reach them?

or if you are reaching out to a neighborhood family—and they have 3 kids 10 and under—doubtless the way you explain the good news of Jesus Christ will look different than someone who is single man who is 25?

if you are sharing the good news of Jesus with someone who comes from no background in Christianity—grew up in a non-believing home, non-religious home vs. someone who has a religious background—and some knowledge of the Bible, wouldn’t your method change?

The Apostle Paul was great at this!

In Acts 13, when he was sharing the good news of Jesus with Jews—he quoted a lot from the OT—b/c that was their Bible—proving that the OT pointed to Jesus.

but in Acts 14 when he is talking to uneducated Gentiles, he doesn’t quote the Bible, but appeals more to creation—how there is a Creator and God provides for them.

He is being flexible yet faithful. The Message is unchanging—but the methods and even the messenger is being flexible.

I believe — (main point) when it comes to outreach-- God’s Word has called us to be both faithful yet flexible to the Gospel

I will talk about: how we do this…and why...

turn to Acts 16. Acts 16. We are going to be in Acts the next few weeks, and then pause it. I plan to do a brief series on politics. what God’s Word says about it. and then after that, I will probably look for a new job after that...

This is the Apostle Paul getting ready for their 2nd missionary journey.

Acts 16:1–5 (NIV)

1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.

2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.

3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. (from chapter 15)

5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

This is the 1st time we have heard Timothy referenced. he is the one referenced in the NT books of 1 and 2nd Timothy.

we see that his mother was Jewish and his father a Gentile…so Paul has him circumcised as an adult—before they go on their mission trip..he has Timothy circumcised because he would not have been as a baby.

why would he do that? this is a little confusing —

b/c vs 4 references it—we learned in chapter 15—that the Church decided you don’t have to be circumcised to be saved.

if you will recall, circumcision was a big deal to the Jews. it was a symbol and practice that God gave Abraham and his descendants that all males on the 8th day must be circumcised as a symbol that sin has been cut off, they are to be committed to God—it was a sign of God’s covenant with them.

yet now that Jesus has come—they are no longer under that Old Covenant. so in chapter 15—it was decided that Gentiles coming to faith in Christ must not be circumcised so why did Paul have Timothy circumcised here?

before I answer it—turn to Galatians 2:1-5.

this is also the Apostle Paul talking...

Galatians 2:1–5 NIV

1 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

here we read that Paul did NOT have Titus circumcised.

some false believers were pressuring Paul to get Titus circumcised and he says “no.”

but in Acts 16:1-5 there is no pressure and Paul does have Timothy circumcised. why?

is Paul being wishy-washy—whatever he feels in each situation?

this gets into our outline—with outreach--faithful yet flexible—how can we be both...

One principle—how to be faithful yet flexible with Gospel Outreach

As long as the clarity of the Gospel message is NOT at stake, we are flexible to reach people. (Acts 16:3, Gal. 2:3).

think of Timothy—Paul and his team is NOT being pressured for Timothy to be circumcised. but look at Acts 16:3 carefully

Acts 16:3 NIV

3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

but Paul knew that they were going into Jewish territory—and Timothy was well known—he grew up there. Those people would have known Timothy’s past. They probably saw him run around naked as a young lad—they would have known if he was circumcised or not!

and so Paul, in order not to cause unnecessary offense or a stumbling block or hindrance to the Gospel on their mission trip—has Timothy circumcised before the leave. so the Jews they reaching can be more open to hearing the good news. in this particular situation, the clarity of the Gospel is NOT at stake. it’s not being questioned.

but in Galatians 2—with Titus—these people are saying that “You must be circumcised if you are really going to be saved and forgiven by God. and if you are not circumcised you are not really a Christian.” in that particular situation - Paul says “no.” We are not having Titus circumcised. b/c if he would—he would muddied the gospel. He would have added to the gospel.

The Gospel is the good news that God has sent His Son Jesus to save us through HIs life, death on the cross, and resurrection. It is by grace alone, a gift that we receive by faith alone. and if Paul would have had Titus circumcised it would have communicated that we are adding to that Gospel message. that the work of Jesus is not enough.

so here is the principle—as long as the clarity of the Gospel message is NOT at stake, we are flexible to reach people. we adapt—we change our clothes, like Hudson Taylor and wear our hair differently. we learn the language of that culture. we avoid unnecessary offense.

but if the message of the gospel is in danger of being confused, polluted, misunderstood—we don’t flex. we stand our ground—b/c it is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone we are saved.

I was trying to think of some modern examples of this b/c we are not being pressed on the issue of circumcision…it’s difficult.

say I was sharing the good news of Jesus with a friend who had a church or religious background. say they grew up used to being used to a certain Bible translation…if I was going to share the Gospel with them and knew this—It would probably make the most sense to use that translation. b/c the clarity of the Gospel is not at stake. but in order to help them understand I would use it.

but say that person or a group of people says that “true Christians only use a certain Bible translation...”, then I would challenge it. b/c that is adding to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Halloween? another example I thought of—at a recent conference I went to, I heard of a church trying to be more multi-ethnic—as they reach their neighborhood—at Avalon Missionary Church in Fort Wayne. They have an English speaking service and a Spanish speaking service—but are trying to be one church. one thing they talked about—they used to do at Halloween time something called Trunk or Treat—people would come to the church parking lot—cars with candy—and as a outreach do that. but the Anglo pastor—the white Pastor found out from his Hispanic/Latino congregation and their Spanish speaking pastor that trunk or treat and Halloween was a stumbling block and would cause unnecessary offense to the Hispanic/Latino population in the area; they wouldn’t come both within the church and those outside the church. so they got rid of doing trunk or treat and started doing a fall festival instead.

they flexed and adapted—the Gospel message not at stake—they were not saying “you can’t be a Christian and trick or treat—” but in order not to cause a stumbling block or hindrance to even hearing the Gospel, they adapted. and were able to reach more.

so this principle takes discernment, takes wisdom. takes an incredible understanding to try and figure out when is the gospel at stake in this vs. when is it just wise to adapt so you can gain a hearing.

we have talked about how to be faithful and flexible...

let’s talk about why...

we have looked at Acts 16 with Timothy

Galatians 2 with Titus.

and now turn to 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.

this is the Apostle Paul’s outreach strategy—faithful yet flexible—and really gets into why…he does what he does.

look at how flexible Paul is…yet faithful...

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. (that is win them to Jesus Christ)

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.

What’s Paul’ saying? Paul is a former Jew—but he is a Christian now—he converted to Jesus.

yet in some situations when he is reaching out to the Jews, he will flex be flexible to win the Jews. for instance in chapter 21—of Acts—Paul will join in a OT Jewish, purification rite or vow. to show that he is not against his Jewish brothers and sisters—and yet—he still insists—he is faithful—that he is not under that OT, Old Covenant law system. He doesn’t participate in animal sacrifices anymore—because Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice. He can eat clean and unclean foods—because Jesus has made all things clean. but at times, he will eat clean food around his Jewish brothers and sisters in order to cause unnecessary offense.

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.

Paul is now talking about the Gentiles (the non—Jews). they don’t have the OT law—Paul will flex for them—but he won’t break God’s law—because He is now under the of Jesus Christ as a Christian—and what is Christ’s law?

Jesus summarized it in 2 commands... 1. Love God

2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

so there are certain limits to our flexing.

Paul would never say “to the alcoholic, I became an alcoholic. to the adulterer, I became an adulterer.” There are times we cannot flex. we must be faithful to the gospel in message and example.

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.

who are the weak? this is another category.

they are those in chapter 8—who have a pagan, idolatrous background of worshipping Greek and Roman gods. and b/c they came out of that background, if they do come to Christ, they would not eat meat in the local marketplace that had been sacrificed to a Roman or Greek God. b/c it bothered their conscience—they knew where the meat came from and it reminded them of their past life in paganism.

now, as a Christian, Paul would say, “It’s just meat.” “eat the meat.” “not a big deal.” but Paul says he will adapt, and flex and not eat the meat when in their presence, so as not to offend them and go against their conscience so he can win them to Jesus.

now over time, these believers needed to grow in learning that they could eat the meat, but for now, he would flex and not eat the meat around them…so as to win them to Christ.

23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

look at how flexible Paul is...

to those under the law (vs. 20)…the Jews

to those not having the law (vs. 21)....the Gentiles.

to the weak (vs. 22) (back in 1 Corinthians 8) - he would actually give up his rights!

as Christians we must be willing to give up our rights! (we are not good at that)

Part of a flexible yet faithful Christian is one who does not insist on his or her rights.

in your outreach, (even any relationship?) Are you willing to do that? or do you insist that people you reach have to be like you or accommodate?

and yet at the same time—you must be careful you don’t lose the gospel…in your flexing…in the giving up of your rights...

you can imagine extremes on both ends of this faithfulness and flexibility scale.

“I will be so faithful...” but such a person never adapts, or flexes; you have to change your style if you are talking to 7 year old versus 21 year olds about the Gospel.

or “I will be so flexible”—that they lose or dilute the Gospel, maybe even sin.

doubtless this faithful yet flexible approach by Christians will probably have each of us or groups of apply differently in situations...

this takes wisdom and discernment…from Jesus...

for instance—a couple of really controversial issues—that take more discussion than I can give now…but for you to wrestle with...

for example, if I have a non-Christian friend who invites me to a bar—do I as a Christian go? well certainly, I don’t want to go and get drunk — the Bible is against drunkeness b/c God wants us to be led by Him not alcohol or any substance. but if I as a Christian go, and I am endorsing them? some might say “no” I won’t go…b/c I don’t want to lead that non-believer into potential drunkenness…or I have a background in drunkenness and am predisposed or my family is so I can’t be around it.” that’s a very wise answer...

on the other hand, a Christian might say, “I will go…to keep building the relationship, but I will be honest and up front that I won’t get drunk nor do I want that person to get drunk, or I may just order soda or pop, but I will go to see if God opens up doors...” which one is right?

is it possible both are right—depending on the person you are reaching, your background, and sensitivities to these matters? is it possible that before you make that decision you should seek counsel and wisdom from a mentor or friend or a pastor? If you ask me, I will say “Ask Mike Wilson…he knows everything.”

another issue that is more common for us—what do you do if you get invited to a same-sex relationship wedding? do you as a Christian attend or not? what do you do? I get this question not often but every once in a while in our own church. what do you do?

on the one hand as Christians we believe that God has created marriage—only between 1 biologically born man and 1 biologically born woman to reflect the Trinity, the gospel and the church. it’s a big deal. so it would be wise to say “No, I can’t go. because that’s not a marriage or a wedding. I can’t celebrate what God and His Word is against. I will still love them, but I can’t go and will try to communicate this to the couple.” I think that’s a wise decision.

on the other hand thought—might you have someone here say, “Well if I don’t go, the nature of our relationship is such that it might hurt any chance I ever have of sharing the gospel with them. It will be difficult for me to attend, but I think have to go in the hopes of long term sharing the Gospel.” Is that ok?

what if the person is my brother or sister? or best friend? or son or daughter...

Who is right in that situation? Is one flexing too much or not enough?

might Christians answer differently on this as long as they are keeping a clear definition of what Biblical marriage is?

this would be a great SS class or small group discussion...

I want to finish our time by thinking why we do what we do.

why we are faithful yet flexible.

b/c of our stable--new identity in Christ (1 Cor. 9:20-22)

in other words—Paul says--we are no longer under Old Testament Law Covenant—b/c Jesus has come and we are under His covenant---the new covenant. there is tremendous freedom in following Christ—where we are inviting into loving Him fully and our neighbor as ourselves. so we can flex b/c we are no longer under the OT law—it’s not about rules, BUT we can be faithful b/c we are under Jesus’ law. this new position—not like the Jews, not like the Gentiles—is so helpful and so freeing—and the Holy Spirit lives within us.

so the more you understand your identity in Jesus Christ under His covenant—the more you can flex and are willing to. b/c you have a stable identity.

being flexible needs a stable ground—a stable fixed point—and it’s your identity in Jesus. the more stable you are in Christ - the more you can adapt. we can be flexible because we know our firm identity in Jesus as new covenant Christians.

to win others to Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 9:19, 22)

1 Corinthians 9:19 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.

1 Corinthians 9:22 NIV

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.

and it’s important to note that as he wins people—he wants to win them to Jesus. as He wins Jews under the law, though he adapts, he doesn’t want them to stay there and just a Jewish Messianic group that follows some of the OT law—no he wants to win them to his position—he is not under the law—but is sensitive to help them. he wants them to understand their freedom from the OT law—but that will take time.

nor does he want the weak to become Christians and stay misinformed about if they can eat meat or not.

he wants them to be free like him—in Christ—eat the meat. under Christ’s law now.

our motivation is for people to experience the fullness of being under Jesus Christ now. (better way to say it)

and one way you know if a person who comes to Christ is really getting this—is as they start to do outreach—do they have the ability to be faithful to Jesus yet flexible to win others different from them?

one of my mentors in the faith says it like this —and he is talking about Muslims coming to faith in Christ: “In fact, you might begin to test whether or not a Muslim has really learned something of that flexibility if you send them to go after Hindus.”

or a Hindu to reach a Muslim person. or an Amish person to reach a secular liberal progressive person.

to reflect Jesus and His glory Himself...

I listened to one of my favorite theologians on this passage—DA Carson—He says this:

In other words, the gospel in its core is about the one who identified with others for their salvation. (that’s Jesus_ That’s what the gospel is about. He was God’s own agent in creation, one with God from eternity, with the Father loving the Son perfectly, the Son loving the Father perfectly, in spectacular glory before anything was, utterly content, utterly holy.

In this fallen, broken, damned world, he becomes a human being. He identifies with us. Then he stands in the line of sinners to be baptized by John the Baptist. The whole New Testament testifies that he was without sin, but he identifies with sinners. It’s part of the whole pattern of how he’s identifying with sinners.

He identifies with Israel. He repeats some of their experiences: abandonment in the desert, temptation to trust something other than the Word of God. Reread the temptation narratives, picturing again the experience of Israel. He identifies with Israel. He identifies with sinners so utterly that in the extreme, he takes their place. He dies my death. He rises again, and I have his life.

My sins are reckoned to him. His righteousness is reckoned to me. How could his identification be any more complete?

...

Now Paul says, “I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may be a participant in it. Not just that I might share his blessings but that I might do the same thing: that I might be a participant in the way I go about ministry, in the way I evangelize, in the way I cherish people, the way I identify with people, and that I might be, myself, a participant in the gospel. Doesn’t that principle come through in many, many biblical texts?

What does Paul say in Philippians 3? Yes, he says, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection …” Amen. Except the text goes on to say, “… and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.” That’s what Paul wants. He wants to be a participant in the gospel. It’s as if he is saying, “I am not only preaching the gospel, I am living it. I not only want the power of Jesus’ resurrection, I want the fellowship of his sufferings. I want to follow Jesus.”

So Paul has to flex not only to win some but to participate in his very existence in the gospel, dying to self, taking up his cross, identifying with others, so that in the very style of his ministry, in his care for others, he is living out the gospel.

when we are faithful yet flexible—we reflect Jesus and His Glory Himself. and experience that Joy, too.

final plug?