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I hate spin, for the very fact that it’s often based in truth; slanted to suit the perspective and purposes of those doing the spinning. Making it extremely difficult to grasp the truth of situations demanding critical consideration of the “facts” to address properly. Politicians often come to mind as the most egregious prectioners of spin, with even the best of them manipulating the truth to accommodate their message, but some in the church do the same thing; all of us at times hearing and seeing things that resonate differently for us than others. (Making Pilate’s question of John 18:38 perhaps something more than a cynical retort to Jesus’ claim of possessing the “truth.”) Jesus lending credence to the critical nature of truthfulness when he declared that if and when we discovered it, at least concerning Him and his purposes – but equally applicable to most other topics and circumstances – that truth would set us free. (John 8:32)

All of which brings us to Paul, a man who – like most of us – did and said contradictory and even controversial things. An Alpha male, he was headstrong and hard-charging. And yet, capable of expressing a heart-felt willingness to trade places with his disbelieving Jewish brothers if it would see them saved. (Romans 9:3)

Paul’s contrariness was on display from the beginning of his interaction with the early church, being present at Stephen’s “hearing” and approving his subsequent execution. From there, he enthusiastically persecuted others of this fledging movement, only to be converted himself on the way to Damascus; where he was ironically going to round up more “lawbreakers.” As a result, he became the church’s foremost proponent, writing much of the New Testament while establishing and encouraging numerous congregations throughout the Near East, Italy and Greece. In the process, creating the philosophy and theology of the Christian faith. (The gospels obviously written by others, Paul defining what that story meant to individuals drawn to Christ as a restful of His life’s story and consequently, His death.)

That’s why, despite Paul’s strenuous advocacy of a “righteousness that comes from faith” and his adamant refusal to alter his message to placate his detractors, his statement to the Corinthians, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”; puzzled me. (1 Corinthians 9:22) Was he admitting to a plasticity of thought and action, becoming whatever the crowd of the moment expected – or spinning – figuratively and literally from person to person to gain their support and belief? Which everything else I knew about Paul – or thought I did – seemed to disprove.

For example, Paul was the essence of a good Jew before a council in Jerusalem – which included Peter – reporting on the success of his mission to the Gentiles and respectfully accepting the recommendations of the council members; the next day, studiously observing the purification rites for entering the Temple and arranging for the offering on behalf of himself and his associates. On another occasion, however, at which Peter was again present, but in the predominantly Greek setting of Antioch, Paul publically criticized Peter for hypocrisy in his behavior toward the Gentile believers. (See Galatians 2:11-16, possibly exacerbated by a bit of “professional” jealousy between the two if Galatians 2:1-10 is taken into account.) So which was it? Was Paul a good Jew? (Philippians 3:4,5) Or was he causing trouble all over the world – turning it upside down – by his new interpretation of Hebrew scripture? (Acts 1i7:6 – KJ, NIV) Therein lay the crux of the problem, as it wasn’t just orthodox Jews following Paul around complaining of his apparent disavowal of Judaism in deference to Gentile sensitivities. This was in large part a dispute within the church, which at its inception was entirely Jewish; still relying on Old Testament scripture for its rule of law and guidance for life – a sect of Judaism. Peter initiating the Gentile outreach of the church (Acts 10), which was almost immediately fraught with difficulty. (The first dispute within the church sadly occurring earlier between Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking believers.)

The whole debate finally centered on the law of Moses presented by circumcision, that which physically identified a Jew as a Jew. Luke writing in Acts 15:1 that, “Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved. (Verse 5 identifying these men as believers – Messianic Jews – who still held to many of the dictates of the Pharisees.) Unbelieving Jews wouldn’t care whether a Christian was circumcised or not, but many Messianic Jews struggled to separate their faith in Christ from their observance of Jewish culture and tradition; believing you had to become a Jew first to be a Christian. (Even though Peter, in one instance in particular, emphatically sided with the Gentiles. See Acts 15:6-11 & Galatians 2:1-10)

Finally, the “harassment” became so time-consuming and contentious that Paul exclaimed in exasperation, ‘Circumcision, circumcision! I wish they’d just go all the way and castrate themselves!’ Galatians 5:12 (My paraphrase – some translations reading mutilate or emasculate – but you get the picture.) In fact, Paul went so far as to warn in verse one of this passage that, “…if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all.”

So why then did Paul himself circumcise Timothy, a young apprentice whose mother was Jewish but whose father was Greek as they were about to embark on a mission to a predominantly Jewish area? (Acts 16:1-3) Didn’t that repudiate what he had been saying about grace, mercy and faith up to this point?

Not necessarily. I believe Paul was willing to let the Jewish Christians live within their cultural community and traditions, he just wasn’t willing to allow them to impose that culture or tradition on the Gentiles in particular and possibly others Jews – like himself and Barnabas. (Especially since leaders of this community had admitted that the law of works had been a , “…yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear.” Acts 15:10)

Paul and his fellow evangelists were trying to unlock the mysteries of the gospel message – both old and new – for Jews and Gentiles alike. If some continued to observe the trappings of culture and tradition, that was fine with him, as long as it didn’t take precedence over the gospel message itself. But while accommodating cultural sensitivities as far as he could, he lambasted equally the Jewish insistence on circumcism as well as the Gentile proclivities for disorderly conduct and the “license” to do whatever one pleased. The real issue being the faith of both. Paul advancing this idea by writing of a circumcism that is “…of the heart, by the Spirit,…” in Romans 2:29,30 (See also Romans 3:29,30) A not altogether unfamiliar reference for orthodox Jews who seriously studied – and applied – their own scripture. (See Deuteronomy 10:16 & 30:6; Leviticus 26:41; Jeremiah 4:4 & 9:25,26; Exodus 44:7 & 9 A familiar refrain alluded to by Stephen in his rebuttal of the accusations made against him; “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears!” Acts 7:51)

Bottom line? Paul wasn’t willing for circumcision to be an impediment for Gentiles, nor its lack to be a hindrance for the Jews Timothy would be dealing with. Thus his claim that, “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I become like a Jew, to win the Jews… To those not having the law I became like one not having the law… so as to win those not having the law…” Becoming, “…all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 (The extent to which Paul was personally willing to “suffer loss” graphically depicted in Philippians 3:8)

What a difference we could make in our communities, states and country if we adopted this attitude as well. Not spin but self-sacrifice, submitting our egos and preference to the good of others and the glory of God.

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

The Biggest Mistake