Day: June 1, 2012

A Bat fell to the ground and was caught by a Weasel, and was just going to be killed and eaten when it begged to be let go. The Weasel said he couldn’t do that because he was an enemy of all birds on principle. “Oh, but,” said the Bat, “I’m not a bird at all: I’m a mammal (Look at me, I look like a mouse)” “So you are,” said the Weasel, “now that I look at you”; and he let it go. LOOK AND SEE WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS BEFORE YOU COMMIT YOURSELF (Reference: Adapted from Aesop’s Fables)

Just as the Bat was, we as Christians ought to be truthful and adaptable. The Apostle Paul states he became all things to all people, for the sake of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:18-23), so that by all means, he might save some. For example, though Paul (i.e., Saul of Tarsus) was a Jew, he used his Roman citizenship to his advantage in his defense of the gospel (Acts 16:37, Acts 22:25-29, Acts 25:16). Even with his companions, Paul expressed the need to adapt. He circumcised Timothy (whose mother was a Jew and whose father was a Greek) for the sake of the Jews so that Timothy may join him in his mission (Acts 16:3), but since Titus was a Greek and not a Jew, Paul did not compel him to be circumcised (Galatians 2:3). For the promotion of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in like manner, we must use our situations, conditions, and background and adapt accordingly.

1 Corinthians 9:18-23 (KJV)
¹⁸ What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
¹⁹ For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
²⁰ And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
²¹ To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
²² To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
²³ And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.