"Apostle Paul" (1)...Justify his methods?

Question

Paul wrote he would gladly become a servant of any and all in order to win them to Christ, “And unto the Jew I became as a Jew, that I may gain the Jews; to them that are under the law (the Torah), as under the law that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law (the Gentiles), I might gain them that are without law; to the weak, I became weak that I may gain them” (l Corinthians 9:20-22). In Acts of the Apostles and Paul’s own letters, Paul shows that he was willing to distort the truth. “If through my lies God’s truth abounds to His glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?” (Romans 3:7) “In every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Jesus is proclaimed and in that I rejoice”. (Philippians 1:18) Sounds like a modern politician. He says whatever the people want to hear!

Can ANY Christian justify his metods?

Answer 1

Would you go to the Prom in dirty jeans and a sweat shirt? Would you serve Sloppy Joes at a Governor's Ball? Would you do missionary work to Africa in a bridal gown? Would you serve pork roast to Jewish guests?

Answer 2

He became like them-in understanding-finding a common ground to build on. Not by lies but on truths. An understanding of their laws (as with the Jews) They had a common God-they both understood Moses ect. He worked up for that-not belittling their faith but showing how the prophesy worked up to Christ. Same with Greeks and Romans-he asked them about the Gods(idols were all around) they worshiped to start a conversation. No where did he distort the truth (you added that).

You need some accurate knowledge of the bible the whole not parts than debate-your being foolish now-and those that know the bible see it well.

Answer 3

I have never really fancied paul the apostle that much, but truth be told; if you had to talk someone into believing what you believe the first thing i think you have to do is to understand their own reasoning and gain their trust, you do not just go to a place and start telling them how to behave and what they must believe, Paul took his time to understand every tribe he preached, there was a need for him to win the trust of the people to whom he was preaching, because once they saw he accepted their doctrines and culture, they were willing to not just trust and believe him, they were also willing to believe in the Jesus he was preaching. I believe all he was doing was to gain the trust of the people, you never gain the trust of anyone if you are not willing to reason the way they reason,

And if that makes him a politician; all well and good.

Answer 4

To become a servant to preach the word id justifiable, to meet with someone on their own level, know there suffeings and pain. That is not a bad thing. He did not become a Jew, or become weak, but rather "as weak"

22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

And Romans 3:7 is WAY off
4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

5But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

6God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

7For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

8And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

9What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

It all works together to prove a point, not saying something he did. The point was even IF a man lied to glorify God, he was still a sinner, so that point is invalid to your argument.

Phillipians 1 is out of context too.

15Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

16The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

17But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

18What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

He will rejoice that Christ is being preached, that the message with good intentions (like a pastor) or ill ones (like some on Yahoo answers) will cause him to rejoice, because people will be hearing about Christ. It continues to encourage people to seek the truth.

None of what he said or did is contridctory. WHOLE verses must be cited, you cant just pick and choose to suit a purpose.

Answer 5

You are twisting things Paul was teaching against lieing in romans 3.....he was also a jew and under law he was also a gentile...this distorting the truth is not what he is teaching...you are taking things way out of context. Read verses 8 and 9 and tell me .....geeeeeeeeee read the whole chapter he was teaching against what you are acuseing him of!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

EXCELLENT QUESTION!!
It shows how modern Christians are like... they now talk from the Human Rights prespective and act according to human instincts, not to God's commands, and for them everything is justifiable! No wonder that all the killings in history that happened under their rulings were made in the name of Christianity.

Answer 7

Paul would say or do anything to win converts to his brand of Christianity. Most people today who say they practice Christianity in fact practice Paulinism. It's possible that Christianity might not even exist today if Paul had not peddled his brand of it.
I guess you could justify all this by saying that it saved Christianity from complete extinction. Who really knows?

Answer 8

Can you justify your actions?

Before you go having too much of a go at paul for his contradictions, make sure you fully understand him. In the end, God will deal with Paul as he sees fit.

The questions Christians have for you is, do you know that you have lived a righteious life? if you say yes then i say - 'no-one is righteous not even one.'

We all need the grace and mercy of a loving and awesome God.

Answer 9

Well... I, too, have some issues with Paul/Saul. And btw, I don't think he was an "Apostle" at all, since it was Matthias who got picked by the evelen Apostles to replace Judas Iscariot, according to Acts.

So... I wouldn't even elevate him to such stature that you've given him either.

Answer 10

where will these things lead U ONLY IN FURTHER DARKNESS,what have been written in bible it needs to be explored by one self only then u would be able to uncover the truth,mere reading writings of others will not take u there ,sorce of every truth,thus first enter into the kingdom of ur heart,then everything follows u,experience it thru meditation.i am only human being like u