By All the Means You Can

 "I have become all things to all people, so I could save some by all possible means." -- 1 Corinthians 9:22b (Common English Bible 2012)

Reel Mower (no motor)

I have two lawn mowers.  Okay, actually the church owns one, and I own the other.  Mine is one of the old-fashioned, self-propelled reel mowers.  I bought it once I realized that it might be possible to push the lawn at the new parsonage. As you can see from the picture to the right, I have had some fun cutting the grass with this mower.  When the grass is not too thick, when the yard is fairly smooth and weed-free, I enjoy using this mower.  I guess that I technically could mow all the grass with this mower, but the truth is that it cuts some grass  well and some it doesn't.

 

Power Push Mower

Enter the church's mower (stage left).  It has recently been replaced and does a fine job.  It's engine is strong and easy to crank.  It even has a bag to catch the clippings as I cut them.  I guess that I technically could mow all the grass with this mower, but the truth is that I don't.  It can be quite loud, uses gas, and gives me a lesser workout compared with the reel mower.

So, I am back where I started...I have two lawn mowers, and I plan to keep it this way.  There never has been the need in my mind to strictly choose one over the other.  Each has it's place; each has it's function.  I think that all too often we set up artificial win/lose scenarios when the answer was never "either/or," but it's "both/and."

The Apostle Paul understood the need for both/and. He never felt like he was confined to one way of sharing the good news with the world.  Paul used any and every method that he could to reach a hungry world.  In his words:

 I act like a Jew to the Jews, so I can recruit Jews. I act like I’m under the Law to those under the Law, so I can recruit those who are under the Law (though I myself am not under the Law).  I act like I’m outside the Law to those who are outside the Law, so I can recruit those outside the Law (though I’m not outside the law of God but rather under the law of Christ). I act weak to the weak, so I can recruit the weak. I have become all things to all people, so I could save some by all possible means. All the things I do are for the sake of the gospel, so I can be a partner with it.

 --1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (Common English Bible 2012)

He was willing to work within the long standing traditions of the Hebrew faith for those who found comfort in the familiarity of where their families had been for generations.  At the same time, Paul was quite comfortable reaching out to the "unchurched" who had never seen the inside of a house of worship.  His philosophy seems to be that he has to be flexible in being in all places since the gospel is already there.  Why else would Paul say that he does these things "for the sake of the gospel so [he] can partner with it"?  

The Holy Spirit is hard at work in the lives of everyone -- from long time Christians to people who have not yet responded to God's prevenient grace. (Prevenient grace is the United Methodist way of describing God's work in our lives that comes before we say 'yes' to God.  The Spirit tugs and leads, without compelling, each heart to turn to Christ.)  God works in our lives in the ways that we can most easily hear that still small voice speak to us.  Every person describes a unique journey of faith, a distinctive experience of guiding grace that led them from darkness and into God's light.  God doesn't choose one way to work, but works in many different ways. 

Too often in serving God, we set up a false dichotomies.  We act as if we need to choose between two options so that we dismiss one and cling to the other until the end of time. Sometimes it's not about doing either one or the other.  Sometimes we need to reach out with both.

Should our ministry include a web page or a Facebook page? Yes, both.  Should we share prayer concerns by email or phone tree?  Yes, both!  Should we look to our traditions or embrace new ones? Again, yes, both!  Our God is big enough to celebrate our past and our future faithfulness.

Should the pastor visit the sick and homebound or the laity? Should we care for those within the church or reach out into the community? Should we develop maturity of faith and learning or should we focus on mission and outreach?

Yes, Yes,  and ... YES!!!

We must "become all things to all people, so [we] could save some by all possible means."  This is how we make disciples for the transformation of the world.  It's not one way or the other. It's the right tool at the right time in harmony with the Holy Spirit...and in every situation, that may look different.

Or, to quote the founder of Methodism, John Wesley:

 

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

I have two lawn mowers.  Each serve a purpose and have a function.  I plan to keep, and use, them both.

Grace and Peace,