Common Ground

It was said of Paul the apostle that he "turned the world upside down". What was his secret? Yes, I know, he functioned under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. But the Spirit works with us as we work with him.

 I believe that in 1Cor 9 Paul gives us an important strategy for sharing the gospel and its blessings. And I think this strategy would be effective for each of us - not just in the sharing the gospel with the unsaved but also in sharing the blessings of the gospel with other Christians.

As translated in the NLT, Paul said "I try to find common ground with everyone". He approached the Jew as a Jew, the gentile as a gentile, the weak person as a weak person. To each one, he became as they were. He looked for the common ground. This didn't compromise his gospel but the common ground was the bridge to reach the person. The classic case of this was when he went into Athens & saw all the various altars to the different gods. I know some Christians, and it probably includes the George Jarvis of years ago, who would take great pleasure in preaching against the idolatry. But Paul met them on common ground. He shared the gospel of Jesus from one of their own altars.

Common ground can often be an interest that someone has! Am I willing to learn a bit about cricket to reach my neighbour who is an ardent cricket fan?

Then what about others in the church? Do we expect them to find common ground with us? How about looking for the common ground we may have with that person in the church to whom we have never spoken?