1 Corinthians 9:19-27

interesting thought here regarding missions and the like:

1 Corinthians 9:19-27

19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone,* to win as many as possible.* 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. 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. 22 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. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run* in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body* and make it my slave so that
after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

*9:19 = Gal 5:13 - You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

*9:19 = Mt 18:15 - If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

*9:20 = Ac 16:3 - 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.

*9:21 = Ro 2:12, 14 - All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,

*9:24 = 2Ti 4:7 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

*9:27 = Ro 8:13 - For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,

in verses 20-23, Paul says that he would become like the people he was trying to reach, assuming their appearance and attitudes to better understand their situation and to make the gospel more accessible to them through his living their lifestyle and pointing out how it applies to them personally...really, this makes perfect sense, and it causes one to wonder where it all got lost over the next few hundred years...

i wonder why the various crusaders, Inquisitors, missionaries & such all carried such an attitude of moral superiority when exploration and transporation allowed for a greater spread of God's message?...that whole concept would seem to be kinda pointless...and sadly, it continues in various forms today...

why can't we find ways to connect with people today in ways that they understand and that they will be open to while maintaining the standards of our faith and the life of Christ-like humility we are called to?...

anybody?...