Who Did You Choose?
In chapter 3 of his book “Cultures in Conflict,” Ray Vander Laan introduces the topic of “Turning Weaknesses into Strengths” through a discussion of a common childhood experience. Almost all of us can recall the day when we were the last person chosen for the team. What is even more heartbreaking is the realization that you weren’t chosen, you were simply all that was left! There’s an enormous amount of anxiety that accompanies the beginning of the game when teams will be selected. What are the characteristics that are most desirable— the fastest, the tallest, the strongest, the smartest, the most popular, etc?
As Paul begins to shift his strategy when he leaves Athens and goes to Corinth, he again studies the culture and determines that it isn’t most important to impress his audience with his intellect. Instead, he seeks to demonstrate his appreciation and valuation of their culture. He not only speaks their language and quotes their poets, he strategically and sincerely emulates them (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).
Corinth was an important and prosperous crossroads colony of the Roman Empire that had been populated by freed slaves, the poor and retired soldiers. Corinth was also a city of wild partying. Vander Laan noted that “the immorality associated with idol worship was so common in the Roman Empire that it often wasn’t even thought of as being ‘immoral. ’The immorality of Corinth, however, acquired worldwide notoriety. The display of excessive wealth, drunkenness, and indulgence in every kind of human pleasure-seeking made Corinth a cesspool of human vice(p. 136).
Emulating the people of Corinth required the calculated skill of a surgeon. Paul embraced them as a way of winning them over. He could have selected easier “targets” for evangelism, but his calling was designed to demonstrate that God chooses those who are rejected to demonstrate his undeniable strength and grace.
We are the frail fragments of clay chosen by God. We are also given the humbling privilege of also having occasions to choose. In recalling our experiences of rejection, we can be more compassionate when we are given the opportunity to choose. Frequently, those who are chosen first seem to always be chosen first. This leads not only to arrogance, it also can lead to the denial of the presence, mercy and power of God. Billy Graham once noted that he is kept humble by the knowledge that “the same God who gave him the gift of preaching can also take it away.”
Everyday we have the opportunity to choose—who we will follow, who we will love, who we will hate and who we will forgive. Choose wisely, choose compassionately and choose carefully because we have all experienced the pain of being rejected because of things we did not choose.
We are looking forward to sharing, learning, laughing and growing with you in worship and in class. We’ll see you Sunday morning.
In Christ,
Jon McCoy
