Make the Connection

How well do we connect with the people we are trying to reach? Do we even think about it? Somewhere in the walk of my corporate life, I heard the term "Platinum Rule" as an alternative to the "Golden Rule." The Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This sounds good on the surface but it has one major flaw. The rule assumes that others are the same as us desiring to be treated in the same way as we want. The Platinum Rule states, "Treat others the way they want to be treated." This rule will drive us to understand others and perhaps even build a relationship with them in order to know how to treat them in the way they would feel loved and respected.

The Platinum Rule has many applications in our lives -- our marriages, friends, co-workers, etc. In our marriages and other relationships, this is similar to the concept of love languages -- what makes others feel loved -- e.g., words of encouragement, acts of service, giving gifts, physical touch, giving time, and so on. But, it also has relevance in our sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

In their book, Breaking the Missional Code, Ed Stetzer and David Putman reference Russell Begaye, cofounder of Ethnic America:

"We need to research the demographics, lifestyles and interests of the groups we want to reach. We need to go among the people , to make our message culturally relevant."

They go on to explain that our mission is "about Jesus sending us to peoples to proclaim the gospel in a way that they can understand." They continue:

"When we are functioning as God's church sent on mission, we will go into different cultures, contexts, and communities … we will worship in a way that connects in that setting. When the connection is made, the [missional] code is broken [understood]."

When Paul visited Athens on his missionary journey through Asia Minor (Acts 17:16-34), he noticed that their culture included numerous gods. How did he approach the people of Athens? He understood their culture and made a connection. The text says that he "walked around and looked carefully at [their] objects of worship." Consequently, he was able to appeal to them in their cultural terms. "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious." Paul didn't put them down or start out by pushing his theology. He used his understanding of their culture to find the common ground. He found his opening to introduce Christ. In verse 23, "… I even found an altar with this inscription: To An Unknown God." He continued in bridging their culture into the sharing of the news of Christ, "Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you."

Paul shares the gospel and brings it to a personal level, "God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." His Greek audience were philosophers … seekers. He related to their seeking for answers. Then, he again referenced their own sources, "As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'" And, he transitions from this source to explain further, "… since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone -- an image made by man's design and skill." Note that Paul did not shy away from the truth; he still preached repentence, "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." However, he had made a connection; he presented the news of Christ in a culturally relevant context. The results were that "a few became followers … and believed."

Make the connection!