Target Everyone
It's interesting to note the "target" that Paul picked for his ministry. Paul, the Jew of Jews, who was also raised in a Gentile city and was a Roman citizen, was faced with the seemingly bottomless divide between Jew and Gentile.
Neither group like the other and they didn't seem to share anything in common. They had different religions, different customs, different languages, different dress, but held each other in the same kind of deep disdain.
But Paul saw something else they shared in common, they both needed Jesus, and that was enough for Paul.
The American church has argued about where we should be homogeneous or not, over where it's right to pick your target or not for a long time now. I actually think that the idea of knowing who you're trying to reach, so that you can effectively minister to them.
But the idea that a church disregards some groups of people so that they can reach out to other groups, is clearly NOT something Paul would have put up with for very long! He longed to preach the Gospel to everyone in Rome, because Paul knew everyone needs Jesus!
Period, that's it. Yes, I believe it's that simple.
Created over 2 years ago
