“22 Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: ‘Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. 23 For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed:

TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it — He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands. 25 Neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. 26 From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. 27 He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 28 For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Being God’s offspring then, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.

30 Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.

32 When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him. But others said, ‘We’d like to hear from you again about this.’ 33 Then Paul left their presence. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.”

Acts 17:22-34

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Paul very well could have walked onto Mars Hill and said something to insult the people of Athens. “Seriously? Idol Worship? You carve it and then pretend it’s higher than you? You’ve got to be kidding me! You all are so spiritually backward and infantile! Grow up and open your eyes!” But, of course, he didn’t. He didn’t attack them for their beliefs. He didn’t insult them, patronize them or speak down to them in any way. Instead, he met them in that place, where they were culturally speaking, and addressed them from that same place withthin their own cultural understanding. He built a bridge between their hearts/minds and Jesus. 

Thanks to the magic of social media, we think we can say whatever we want, whenever we want, however we want it without considering the approach. We lash out, we get abrasive and we are unkind to people, and then we want to post things about compassion, mercy and love in the next 5 minutes. Jesus said that the world would know we belonged to Him because of the love that we share, one Christian to another. I think it’s pretty reasonable to assume, then, that we should speak to people in Jesus Name with a modicum of respect for their humanity and in an effort to build that bridge like Paul did in Athens. 

It doesn’t mean that we condone their beliefs, behavior or endorse their lifestyles. What it does mean is that we consider their hearts, their humanity, and we make every effort to reach out to them in a way that may actually make a difference for the Gospel in their lives. We want to make that effort, that does not compromise the truth, but addresses them in a way that they may actually be willing to listen to what you have to say. Brash, abrasive behavior is not going to win hearts and souls, especially in these moments of initial contact like Paul is being afforded here. 

Be responsible with the occasions that God open for you. Make the effort to reach out in a way that is actually inviting, and do not attack their character, insult their intelligence or malign their upbringing. Speak to them as Jesus would, with compassion and mercy. Understand that they were likely raised within this culture and haven’t been taught any different. Realize that they haven’t had a strong example that understood the things of God well enough to direct them towards Him properly, if at all. GoLove people in Jesus Name, and do it in actual love. Build bridges, and encounter the world where they are, right in the middle of the mess of human sinfulness, and show them the light. Don’t bend. Don’t move from the truth. But present Jesus Christ crucified & resurrected for the forgiveness of our sins to them. That is the Gospel message. Trust it to be powerful enough on its own, treat the message with respect. 

It’s not by my forcefulness that someone will come to Jesus. It’s not by the sheer power of my intellect.

No. The Gospel is more than enough.