I have had many mentors in the faith, all of whom I think about, often. One such man, George Weston, always gave a warning: “What you win people with is what you win them to.” I thought about that on my way home tonight. I have seen, over the years, many preachers, churches and ministries use the “go big or go home” methodology. I have seen Churches, Ministries and Bible Colleges close their doors, or worse, fall away from Sound Doctrine because they were more concerned about attendance than salvation. And, to be honest, I am more than a bit sad when I see the “go big or go home” used more than the “Become all things to all men that by all means I might save some” methodology.
When the Apostle Paul made that statement, he never once compromised the Gospel; in fact, in all things, he endeavored among everyone to speak and seemingly say nothing more than “Christ and Him crucified.” Jesus, (God in the flesh, living perfectly as one of us, dying because of and for us, and rising again that we might live, though our bodies perish) is enough. Jesus is the reason for it all, and if we forget that, or make it a part of our ministries instead of the reason for them, then we’ve lost or are losing our way. Give people the Gospel. Get people to Jesus. Seek the things that are above, and try to, as Jesus did, walk in holiness, righteousness, mercy, and love. Seek out the lost, and do whatever it takes to get them to Jesus, but never compromise on the Gospel or the Authority of Scripture. Remember this warning: what you win people with is what you win them to. The Gospel is always more than enough to save someone; it is the only way to save someone. Share it liberally.
Galatians 1
Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son toe me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.
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