COMMON GROUND

In one of his letters, Paul described his missionary strategy: “I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23).

We see a clear example of this when Paul was in Athens and was invited to tell the city’s high council about Christ.

Standing before the council, Paul addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.” (Acts 17:22-23)

Paul saw that the Athenians worshiped many gods—they even had an altar to an unknown one! This religiosity gave him some common ground with them.

A bit later in his speech, he quoted from a couple of Greek poets (verses 28-29). Again, he was finding a common cultural language to get across his point.

In our post-Christian culture, people are spiritually open, which means that while conversations about Christianity can be a barrier for some, common ground is an entry point.

Once, after a gentleman shared his version of the philosophy of karma with me, I said, “We all need a do-over in life, don’t we? We long for a way to make up for wrongs we’ve done. The problem with karma is that your present life is the result of your past life. How do you know when you lived a good enough life to improve your outcome in the next life? Or worse, what if this life makes your next life one of suffering?”

Then I told him, “This is why I am so grateful for grace. The grace of Jesus wipes my slate clean, forgives and forgets my sin, gives me the power to align my life to his life, and assures me I’ll be brought to new life in a new heaven and new earth.”

He found what I said compelling and wanted to talk further.

Missionaries meet people where they are so they can take them to Jesus. Find common ground with the unbelievers you meet. Then walk together toward the cross.

Missional principle #4: Look for common ground with those whom you are evangelizing.