"Does One Size Fit All?"

“Does One Size Fit All?”

 

During one of New Hampshire’s January ice storms a mail carrier in our church got stuck three times while covering his route. In describing his frustrating day he told me the reason for his trouble: Postal Service regulations called for the same trucks to be used in all parts of the country and these were road-tested in Arizona (probably during the summer)! I know buying in bulk can have advantages but it’s my guess that in this case the savings got eaten up by towing charges and lost time in places where Jack Frost reigns during the winter. Does the same vehicle serve well everywhere?

Remember the “one size fits all” craze with socks and gloves? This may be okay for some but for others feet and hands got lost or crammed into them. Does one size really fit all?

How about churches? Can the same style of ministry reach everyone? I believe the answer is no. Paul describes his approach in 1 Corinthians 9:20-23: “To the Jews I became like a Jew…To those under the law I became like one under the law…To those not having the law I became like one not having the law…To the weak I became weak…I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might same some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel….” But while his methods were anything but “one size fits all” the substance of his message never changed: “…I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

There’s room in the Body of Christ for His unchanging message to be presented in a great number of ways. And each local church, wherever it might be, can express its individuality by its methods which allow it to touch people others can’t. In God’s work one size doesn’t fit all. So let’s appreciate the variety Jesus has put in His Body and respect each other’s uniqueness. Then we’ll live out Jesus’ prayer just before Calvary: “I pray… for those who will believe in me through (the apostles’) message, that all of them may be one….” (John 17:20-21).

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan