Respond:
Give up your rights
The apostle Paul had every right to eat meat, travel with a believing wife, and receive financial support. But he gave up these rights so as not to hinder the gospel (1 Cor. 9:4–18). And we should be willing to give up our rights if exercising them could be a temptation or a hindrance to those to whom we preach the Good News.
Become a servant to unbelievers
Paul took the position of a servant toward unbelievers. He wrote:
«Though I am free from all, I have made myself subject to all, that I might win as many as possible» (1 Cor. 9:19).
Only by becoming servants to others can we use our Christian freedom for their good, not their harm.
Adapt to the cultural customs of others as much as possible without sinning.
Paul adapted to the cultural differences of those he served, as long as it did not conflict with the law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:19–23). We should do the same—without compromising sin or God’s truth.
Do not go beyond the boundaries of Scripture.
Although Paul was extremely flexible, he insisted on staying within the boundaries of God’s Word. In the midst of describing how he adapted to those to whom he preached the Gospel, he makes an important clarification:
«was not without the law of God, but was in the law of Christ» (1 Cor. 9:21).
In other words, Paul accommodated culture only as much as Scripture allowed, and no more. For him—as for us—culture and tradition can be flexible. But God’s Word is not.
