I was once in a conversation with a friend outside my home. An old lady came asking for a person who lives nearby. But she was not sure of the address and even the name. So she called someone on phone to inquire the address. The other person also did not have the address but knew the name. I realized that they were from my native place so took the phone and spoke to them in Malayalam. They were so relieved and happy. Thus, the old lady could go to meet the desired person.
Acts 22:2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.
When Apostle Paul was facing the mob, he tried a simple technique of connecting to them by using their own language and that worked. The moment he spoke their language, the crowds went silent and heard him carefully.
Several times when we are in the marketplace with a desire to witness, our neighbours and friends are unable to understand us because we just don't use their language. We use our religious jargons and big words. Even though we are trying to help them, it just doesn't work. Instead of impressing them we are treated as aliens and marked unfit to hang out with. Let’s connect by speaking what they can understand. Talk to them.
Stanley Thomas Isac
Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Pastorstanleytisac@gmail.com
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