Adapting to Different Needs

In the preaching of the gospel, many specious beliefs are added by well-meaning, and not-so-well-intentioned, people. This is nothing new. It is these unclean, human-made doctrines that Jesus denounced as “rules taught by men” (Matt. 15:9, NIV). There have been plenty more added since His time on earth! How, then, can we avoid being seen as yet another group of people who think their way is the only way, in competition with every other faith group out there?

Paul faced this sort of cynicism even in the early days of the church. He determined to anchor his preaching in Jesus alone. “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” (1 Cor. 2:1-5) This kind of humble yet steadfast attitude can help to disarm many, though not all critics. Jesus said that He, if He were lifted up, would draw all. We don’t have to draw them. We just have to lift Him up.

Yet Paul also adapted his message depending on his audience. Note the similarities and differences in his messages to the Corinthian church (here in 1 Cor. 2) and to the pagan thinkers at Mars’ Hill in Athens. (Acts 17:16-31) To the Corinthians he used such phrases as “we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began” (Verse 7) and “words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words” (Verse 14) and quotes the Bible twice. To the Athenians, he spoke of “the unknown God,” an inscription on their own statuary, (v. 23) said this God could not live in a temple built by human hands, (Verse 24), which was something Plato would have said, and quoted from one of their own poets (Verse 28). How could he have done this unless he had read their poets?

If we are serious about reaching all the world for Christ, we must let go of our notions of our own superiority (or worse yet, the superiority of our methods) and meet all kinds of people on their own ground, being humble enough to assume that we may have something to learn from them as well. This means different people are sent to different people groups (unsurprisingly), and that one person’s mission field may be another’s territory to be avoided.