I have no idea where I got this. All I know is that it is from D.A. Carson. If someone knows where it is from please leave it in the comments. This really puts contextualization into perspective:
UPDATE: As Barry Wallace pointed out in the comments I think I originally got this quote from Justin Taylor's blog. I should have assumed that.Paul refuses to circumcise Titus, even when it was demanded by many in the Jerusalem crowd, not because it didn't matter to them, but because it mattered so much that if he acquiesced, he would have been giving the impression that faith in Jesus is not enough for salvation: one has to become a Jew first, before one can become a Christian. That would jeopardize the exclusive sufficiency of Jesus.
To create a contemporary analogy: If I'm called to preach the gospel among a lot of people who are cultural teetotalers, I'll give up alcohol for the sake of the gospel. But if they start saying, "You cannot be a Christian and drink alcohol," I'll reply, "Pass the port" or "I'll think I'll have a glass of Beaujolais with my meal." Paul is flexible and therefore prepared to circumcise Timothy when the exclusive sufficiency of Christ is not at stake and when a little cultural accommodation will advance the gospel; he is rigidly inflexible and therefore refuses to circumcise Titus when people are saying that Gentiles must be circumcised and become Jews to accept the Jewish Messiah.
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6 comments
Comment by mike fox on March 31, 2009 at 3:48 PM
only problem is that budweiser is the worst! go with something dark
Comment by Jeff on March 31, 2009 at 4:39 PM
I liked the post so much, I thought I would try and help track down the quote. I found another blog that referenced it at http://jonathanlowery.com/surfing-and-its-consequences/
According to him, this is from an email sent by D.A. Carson to Mark Driscoll.
Your post hits an excellent point. Paul was absolutely opposed to giving anyone cause to add to the gospel, but was absolutely supportive of winning people where possible without compromise. Not an easy task.
Comment by Mike Leake on March 31, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Mike,
I have never been a fan of beer. And honestly, unless it were in a situation like Carson speaks of I don't imagine I would ever drink much of any alcohol. But thanks for the suggestion :-)
Jeff,
Thanks for the info. I still have no idea how I got this quote. It might be in a Carson book, or perhaps something posted online elsewhere.
Comment by barrywallace on April 1, 2009 at 6:37 AM
Great quote, Mike. I'm going to see Carson next month and am looking forward to it.
According to Justin Taylor, Mark Driscoll cites that email in his chapter ("The Church and the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World") in the book, "The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World."
Comment by Maddy on May 31, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Further, see: http://www.christianity.com/gospelcoalition/
Click on:
D.A.Carson "That By All Means I Might Win Some: Faithfullness and Flexibility in Gospel Proclamation" I Corinthians 9:19-23
where you can watch and listen to D.A. Carson making that comment in his address at The Gospel Coalition 2009 National Conference
I had googled a particular subject and thus encountered that website, which is where I first encountered D.A. Carson's words refered to in the "Pass the Budweiser" blog.
Comment by Maddy on May 31, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Further, see: http://www.christianity.com/gospelcoalition/
Click on:
D.A.Carson "That By All Means I Might Win Some: Faithfullness and Flexibility in Gospel Proclamation" I Corinthians 9:19-23
where you can watch and listen to D.A. Carson making that comment in his address at The Gospel Coalition 2009 National Conference
I had googled a particular subject and thus encountered that website, which is where I first encountered D.A. Carson's words refered to in the "Pass the Budweiser" blog.