Can we &be all things to all people&-

Russ Waldrop / News Virginian
Published: January 25, 2008

Imitating the Apostle Paul's description of himself can drain our energy and funnel it into so many directions and activities that we are emotionally and spiritually exhausted most of the time. Ask the single grandmother who serves as babysitter, nurse, counselor, dietician and referee to her children's children while she manages three part-time jobs and also sings in the choir. Or ask a minister who believes that evangelism means stripping one's self of all personal boundaries, committing each day of the week to visiting a different group, no matter how stressful - the Emergency Room on Mondays; the prison on Tuesdays; a psychiatric ward on Wednesdays (and prayer meeting that night); the alcohol and drug rehabilitation center on Thursdays; the maternity ward on Fridays; terminally ill patients on Saturdays; and, of course, church on Sunday mornings and Bible study that night. Granted, all of this seems justified by "being all things to all people," but really now, isn't that a stretch for most people (including ministers)-

How easy it is for someone in authority, or a persuasive friend, to use this verse as a spiritual "whip"! "You can do more," they say. "God wants us to 'be all things to all people.' " Many of us avoid this verse because we know that we can not literally be "everything to everybody" as some translations have it (Revised Berkeley Version). Does this verse have any meaning today other than as a "big stick" to manipulate people to do more, be more, give more, pray more, etc.-

Like any difficult Scripture, its context is important and may modify extreme interpretations. This is the Apostle Paul describing how his own life and service have been shaped by 20-plus years in the ministry ("I have 'become' all things to all people"). He is not cheer leading everyone else to go out there and serve like him, though some can and have done so. Even he encouraged church members not to conform to other people's standards; instead, to seek God's guidance for their service (Rom. 12:2). He would have appreciated the Biblical admonition: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Prov. 4:23 NIV).

If we don't guard our hearts against unreasonable demands dressed in the name of God, then who will guard them for us- One effective method of doing that is the simple word "no." It is easily understood and it can be repeated several times, as necessary.

Paul recognized that people differ in their abilities, personalities, and gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-31; Rom. 12:6-8); that some people are weaker than others (Rom. 14:1-23; 1 Cor. 8:7-13; 1 Thess. 5:14b); and that, in some situations, he was the weaker one (2 Cor. 13:9; 2 Cor. 12:7-10).

We may learn from Ira Stamphill, who based his hymn, "Follow Me," on Jesus' words in Matthew 10:42. Some of the hymn's lyrics are: "If just a cup of water I place within your hand, then just a cup of water is all that I demand." The key is to be sure that it is Jesus who is placing responsibilities within our hands.

The Rev. Russell G. Waldrop, D. Min., LPC, is a pastoral counselor and is chaplain of Western State Hospital. Contact him at 540-332-8004 or .

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