AEROPAGUS

Imagine Paul arriving at the Aeropagus in Athens in Acts chapter 17 - we're told that he was 'distressed' at all the idols he saw there. But instead of going off on the Athenians and condemning them for worshipping the idols, he sized up the situation and responded accordingly. Walking thru the streets, he saw an altar 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' He could have reacted negatively to that, but he decided to use it as a springboard to explain to them who the Creator God really was. He even complimented them for being religious and then quoted their own Greek poets in an effort to establish some connection with those far from God and ultimately win access to them to build the case for Christ.

He knew his audience. They were Greeks, not Jews --- polytheists, not monotheists.

He began with common ground in order to build a pathway to help His audience understand and accept his message. Paul was deeply offended by their idolatry but chose to use it to his advantage, not condemn them for it. He didn't even use the name "JESUS," possibly because they might not even have had a context for the word/name. Even so, he did not water down the essence of his message. He gave his audience an unmistakable and clear choice.

Knowing your audience and tailoring your message to them is standard and required practice for any of our missionaries around the globe. This same principle applies in reaching the unchurched of America.

We speak differently to an adult than to a child; my vocabulary is different when I speak with a philosophy professor than when I talk with my daughter's former kindergarten school teacher; speaking in a fraternity house is far different than speaking in church on Sunday morning. Even if the core message is the same, the language is far different - adapted to the audience.

Jesus almost ALWAYS began conversations with illustrations his listener could relate to. With the woman at the well, He spoke first of water. With the theologian Nicodemus, He raised the most profound theological issue: "You must be born again." With the hated tax collector, He first granted social acceptance by inviting him to have a meal.

HOW we say something is nearly as important as WHAT we say. "Grace," "salvation," "born again," "sinner," and even "Christian" are all great - even accurate - words; yet, they are not always words our audiences readily understand. Moreover, often they may even be misunderstood.

We must NEVER compromise the message; but we desperately need to become experts at communicating using words and illustrations our audience clearly understands.

And be blessed.