Shincheonji Perspective
SCJ states that Paul realized that he had to use deception to bring people to the truth quoting 1 Cor 9:19-23 where he “becomes all things to all people”. They also add that the early disciples lied and hid themselves in order to not be killed and to spread their message faster.
There is no biblical example that said the early disciples and believers of Christ had to lie about who they were. It is true that they suffered immense persecution and had to hide in caves (Heb. 11:38), but that is it. Their ministry was open and public and never hid their message, nor lied to anyone about who they were. If they didn’t tell the truth, then why were so many of them killed for their faith?
The Context of 1 Corinthians 9:20-22
In response to the use of 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, this should be considered in context, and since SCJ teachers love to cherry pick scriptures and not consider verses in their context, this would have been overlooked. Reading verses 17-19 says:
“If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” 1 Corinthians 9 :17-19
So here we can see it is not about lying, but about giving up his rights and freedoms for the sake of those who long to know Jesus. Where Paul states he has “become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ” he is referring to giving up his rights, and also adjusting to culture standards to not cause offense during evangelism. When in Athens, Paul established rapport with the Greeks before telling them about Jesus. He stood amidst their many idols and commented about their devotion to their gods (Acts 17:22).
Rather than rail against the idolatry of Athens, Paul used those symbols of pagan pride to gain their attention. In Romans he talks about not eating food sacrificed to idols if it might cause offense to someone, or to get circumcised if it might cause someone not to believe. If becoming all things to all people means we can sin, then where’s the line? Can I sleep with a prostitute to evangelize to them? (Of course not!) It is a slippery slope. Paul is not lying, nor is he getting enthralled by the things of the world, rather he is removing or avoiding cultural barriers in order to share the gospel with those who might not otherwise give him a chance.
Furthermore, in Paul’s next letter to the church in Corinth we see him specifically forbid deceptive methods to share the gospel.
In 2 Corinthians 4:2 “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”
If Paul endorses the use of deception in his ministry, here he would seem to be contradicting himself! Therefore we can say that Paul did not use deception in his ministry but boldly proclaimed the gospel with a sensitivity to cultural standards.