Speaking My Language

There’s a reason that you wouldn’t knowingly walk up to someone who understands no English and expect to have a successful conversation, they wouldn’t understand what you’re trying to say to them. When people don’t understand you, there’s a reason.

That’s why Jesus was extremely creative in the way He taught people He knew wouldn’t understand the straight truth. He spoke in parables (or stories):

“The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.  Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.  This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”
[Matthew 13:10-13, NIV]

When sharing your faith, are you speaking the other persons language, or are you babbling out religious jargon because you are filled with knowledge? The Apostle Paul took Jesus’ approach as well:

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.  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.  To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. ”
[1 Corinthians 9:19-23]

What language are you speaking? Are you speaking at all??

Your response is everything.

dustin