deliberate musings

For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law. To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some.

- St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 9:19-22

Some are out of sync with both scripture and culture. Many are literate with either scripture or culture. Few are in sync with both scripture and culture. And in even a lazy reading of the his Epistles and Acts, we see this rare trait in Paul who (by grace) was BOTH in sync with his God and his setting. May we likewise be students of His word and the contexts we inhabit.

For one who aspires to live missionally, here’s two action steps & some questions to ask yourself:

1) Be students of God and 2) be students of culture.

- What are the presuppositions of my peers, colleagues, neighbors, & generation?

- What experiences and influences have shaped their worldviews?

- What voices in society (e.g. the thinkers, artists, & media) carry the most weight?

- What are the pressing issues and how does the Christian worldview shed light on them?

- To what effect are the worldviews/intuitions/knowledge in tact and may thus be used as springboards for Christ?

- To what effect are the worldviews/intuitions/knowledge fallen & distorted?

- How can you appropriately love, befriend, and challenge?

- What virtues of Christ do those in your context(s) need to see you live out?

- How can you establish your life, your voice, your credibility, and your influence … to make disciples & glorify Jesus?