In our modern world, we encounter diverse cultures, traditions, and lifestyles that might seem strange or even difficult to understand. Each nation, and even individual communities within a country, has its own set of cultural expectations. While these differences can create challenges, they also provide unique opportunities for connection and sharing values.
But what does the Bible say about relating to people who are different from us? How can we approach these situations while staying true to the Gospel?
In 1 Corinthians 9:20-23, Paul gives us a model for how to adapt to various cultural contexts without compromising the gospel message. As the first Christian missionary, Paul was effective at reaching different groups of people, often adjusting his approach based on the cultural norms of his audience. His mission was clear: share the message of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible.
Paul's Strategy for Reaching Different Cultures
Paul's background as a Jewish believer who once adhered strictly to the law gave him a natural ability to connect with fellow Jews. In Acts 13:14-52, we see Paul entering a synagogue, reading from the Jewish Scriptures, and then proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. By engaging with the familiar customs of his Jewish audience, Paul opened the door for them to hear the gospel in a way that resonated with their cultural experience.
However, Paul didn’t limit his outreach to those within his own culture. When he spoke to Gentiles, especially in places like Athens—the intellectual and cultural hub of Greece—he took a different approach. In Acts 17:16-34, Paul engages with people who were well-versed in ancient and contemporary philosophies. These people did not follow Jewish law, and Paul knew it would be ineffective to speak to them in the same way he addressed the Jews. Instead, he adapted his message to fit their context, relating to them by addressing their cultural and philosophical concerns while staying true to the core message of the gospel.
The Gospel Transcends All Barriers
Paul’s example shows us that God’s love and the message of salvation are not confined to any one group of people. The gospel transcends all barriers, including cultural and ethnic divides. As Christians, we are called to be sensitive to the needs and experiences of those who are different from us, while also remaining faithful to the truth of the gospel.
Paul’s life and ministry challenge us to step out of our comfort zones, engage with people from different backgrounds, and look for ways to share the message of Jesus in a way that speaks to their hearts—without watering down the gospel.
By following Paul's example, we can learn how to relate to others in a way that honors God and brings His truth to those who need it most. The mission field is everywhere—whether it’s across the globe or right in our own communities—and our message should always be love that is grounded in the unwavering truth of the gospel.
Teaching Your Students This
A great way to engage students in learning the biblical concepts of cultural sensitivity and adaptability is through fun, interactive activities. Here’s a simple game that not only brings laughter but also serves as an introduction to the lessons from Paul’s ministry about relating to people from different backgrounds.
The Game: Marshmallow Song Challenge
Divide the students into teams of four to five.
Select one person from each team to be "It."
Give the person who is "It" three to four marshmallows and a set of index cards with song titles on them.
Have the person who is "It" stuff all of the marshmallows in their mouth and sing the first verse of the song written on the first card.
The rest of the team will try to guess the name of the song.
Once they correctly guess the first song, the person who is "It" will move on to the next song until all the songs are guessed or a winning team is declared.
The first team to guess all the songs correctly wins (you can give a prize to the winning team if you wish).
After the game, make sure the person who was "It" spits out the marshmallows into a trash can or bag!
Connection & Explanation
This silly game highlights an important cultural lesson. All our lives we’ve heard the rule: “Don’t talk with your mouth full.” It’s a basic rule of etiquette in the United States. However, other cultures and countries have their own sets of rules, values, and “cultural no-no’s” that are different from ours.
This is a great opportunity to illustrate the larger point: people around the world approach life differently based on their cultural backgrounds. Just as we’ve learned from Paul’s approach to sharing the gospel in diverse settings, we can relate to people from all walks of life without compromising the truth of the message.
While the gospel never changes, our approach to sharing it can be adapted so that it resonates with the people we’re speaking to—just as Paul did when he related to both Jews and Gentiles, meeting them where they were. This simple game opens the door to discuss how we can apply the same principle in our own lives by being aware of cultural differences and remaining faithful to the message of Christ.
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