Word Play: Adapt Ability - Thursday
1 Corinthians 9:21
To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. (NIV)
Our current teaching series at Southland, Word Play, is helping us focus on some important attributes of our faith. This week's words, adapt ability, give us a lot to think about. How do we respond to a quickly changing culture while remaining spiritually grounded? Sometimes, what we hold onto as sacred is really just our preference. Our ability to reach others with the message of Christ can be greatly impeded if we’re unable to hold loosely to our preferences and unwilling to adapt to the setting we’re in. Some might argue that adapting is just compromise. The Apostle Paul and Jesus show us how it’s not.
Paul was able to adapt as he brought the message of Christ to cities that had not heard. He would intentionally choose locations where the gospel had not been preached, go there, and head straight for the temple, or forum, to begin spreading the news. And he knew how to speak to both Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews). When Paul went to Athens, he knew his audience would be non-Jewish (unlike himself). He also knew that they worshiped many gods and considered themselves to be “religious.” So he began speaking to them by saying, “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD” (Acts 17:22b-23). Paul had done his homework. He had taken time to observe the culture he was in before speaking. Rather than jumping right in and blasting them for their false beliefs, he chose to build a bridge of understanding.
Paul not only adapted his public preaching, but his personal life as well. When he was visiting with Jews, he observed and respected their strict dietary standards, even though he no longer lived bound by those laws. He didn’t flaunt his freedom in front of them.
Thursday’s Reflection
Think of a time when someone was willing to adapt and be flexible for you. Are you willing to humbly do the same for someone else?
