"Paul Must Have Been A Liar!"

A great question was asked by a friend who responded to one of my responses on another blog.

Paraphrase of the question: “If Paul became like a Jew to the Jews, like one under the law to those under the law, like those not having the law to those not having the law, and like the weak to those who are weak, then how did he remain a practicing Jew, without disobeying his obedience to God’s instruction for the Jews?”

This question is based on 1 Corinthians 9.

The two criticisms that are usually posed, due to a misunderstanding of Paul’s Eastern context, is that he is either a deceiver or a chameleon.

Paul is neither.

To “become like” means to "empathize with."

When Paul is with the Jews who do not understand that Jesus is the promised Messiah, he understands that their “no” to Jesus, is a “yes” to God, in their thinking.

When he becomes like those “under the law,” which means “legalists” who follow God’s instructions as a means of payment for their salvation, he understands that they aren’t familiar with God’s intent of grace, and not “law.”

When he becomes like those “without the law,” meaning those who don’t know the “Torah” of God, which is God’s loving instruction for living a prosperous life, he understands that they are ignorant of God’s Word as Gentiles and non-Jews.

When he becomes like the “weak,” referring to those who are legalists with overactive consciences, he understands that they are missing the point of God’s instructions as a means of living well, rather than gaining God’s approval.

Paul does not join homosexual orgies to reach the homosexuals, steal from homes to reach the thieves, or worship idols to reach the Gentiles; he has compassion for their lack of ability to understand the ways of God, so that he can reach them, without telling them things like, "Homosexuals will burn in hell!"

Paul recognizes that most people who steal have a lack of good parenting or perhaps they are hungry, rather than telling them that they are good-for-nothing thieves who should rot in jail.

By understanding their perspective, Paul is able to have compassion and reach all people from a standpoint of love, rather than judgment.

Paul remained a practicing Jew until his death, to "behave" like Jesus, who did the same. And he shared the Good News with those who were offered the opportunity to be grafted into the root, Isra ‘el, through the Messiah.

“Becoming like” does not mean “behaving like.” “Becoming like” means “empathizing with.”

Forever learning,
Johnny