Pragmatism is often seen as an ugly word. It even sounds a bit ugly. Doesn’t it? There is definitely a sense where it a negative thing when we sacrifce principles and truth for expediency sake.
But there is a good pragmatism if you will. Paul said that he would become all things to all men if he might save some in so doing.
That doesn’t mean that he would compromise his faith or standards. It meant that Paul was a Jewish scholar who spoke Greek and was also a Roman citizen. He was familiar with all kinds of cultures. He could adapt to whatever culture he was dealing with.
Paul had a knack with people. Some people today have the same ability. I once heard a preacher in America twice in less than a month. The first time I heard him preach was as a seminary. The second time was in a rural farming community. The hearers could not have been much different. Despite that the preacher preached the same message to both. The amazing thing is that he had the ability to adapt his message to both groups of people. To the seminarians his words were those of an intellectual. His points were well deep and appealed to the people he spoke to and he used big words and all that goes with that.
The next time, with the farming community, his message was more down to earth and common. He used language and illustrations suited to the people there. He used home spun yarns and stories that the people could identify with.
We need to remember these things as we share with people. To the weak Paul became as a weak man. To the strong he was strong.
Why? So that by all means he might reach some.
We need to meet people where they are. We may need to listen at least as much as we speak. I need to preach the same gospel to the university lecturer and the guy who serves our community by sweeping the streets. It is important though that I get to know them and where they are and make to gospel appicable to both.
May God give us he ability to be ‘all things to all men.’
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