“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”

Freedom in Christ gives the opportunity to “become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.” What a wonderful truth! So much evangelism falls short because of our own hang-ups as Christians about right living. To be “free from all men” means we are not controlled by what others think of us and whether they approve of our lifestyle practices.

To be sure, some have criticized Paul for continuing to honor some Jewish customs: he had made a Jewish vow that included cutting his hair (Acts 18:18, 21:23–26), and he had Timothy circumcised (Acts 16:3). Though Paul adamantly asserted that circumcision was not required for salvation, and that anyone seeking circumcision as a means of justification would fall short of salvation, he understood that in Christ “neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything…” (Gal. 5:6). Therefore, when the truth of the gospel was not being threatened, he could easily have Timothy circumcised, who was half Jewish, so as to not be a stumbling block in reaching the Jews in those areas.

On the other hand, Paul was criticized for consorting with Gentiles:

“But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.” (Gal. 2:3–4)

The apostle simply was not constrained because of anyone’s attempts to put him in their theological box. When reaching out to the weak, he did not present himself as strong, but identified with them in their weakness. He did not use his freedom to live life any way he pleased, nor did he flaunt his freedom for personal benefit. But freedom in Christ from laws for religious living of any kind gave him the ability to become all things to all people so that he might freely preach the good news of Jesus Christ.

Lord, show me how my “religious” or legalistic tendencies hinder my ability to be all things to all people so that by all means I might save some.