Common Ground

Standing for Christ before a Hostile Age (4)
By T. M. Moore

“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran...” --Acts 7:2

It can be difficult at times to remember that people who are outspoken in their opposition to God and the Gospel, who have nothing kind to say about anything Christian, and who seem so angry whenever anything related to religion comes up – these people actually have a good deal in common with those of us who believe.

That might surprise some of us. After all, what can we have in common with people who seem to hate us so much that, given half an opportunity, they would figure out some way to silence us once and for all? But Stephen understood this, and he knew that it was important to stand for Christ on whatever patch of common ground he might share with his accusers.

Notice how he began his defense: He referred to those who would murder him before the end of the day as “brothers.” He spoke about their common ancestry in Abraham, even when Abraham was still living as a pagan in Mesopotamia. And he went to considerable lengths to identify with them in their national story: the promises to Abraham, the patriarchs, captivity in Egypt, deliverance through Moses, the giving of the Law, and so forth.

Stephen understood the importance of seeking a positive connection with people, even though he seemed to understand that they weren’t interested in connecting with him and that, no matter what he said or did, this situation was not going to turn out well. Nevertheless, he made the effort. He tried to affirm their story and his own connection to it, if, by any means, doing so might assuage their anger and create a context in which reason and cooler heads could prevail.

Because all people are made in the image of God, we can always find something about their lives which can serve as a kind of common ground for talking with them about the things of the Lord. Whether it’s their work, interests and avocations, views on this or that, or sense of purpose and morality, we can always discover something at work in them, the fruit of their being God’s image-bearers, to which we can establish a connection and begin a conversation about the Lord.

Regardless do the degree of hostility this world may display toward us and the Gospel, we must always do our best to remain respectful, to speak gently and reasonably, and to engage those who oppose us on their turf, seeking to understand their story, their worldview, and their concerns about the Gospel we proclaim. Some people, we know, will respond favorably to such efforts, and civil and ongoing conversation may be the result.

Others will see in our effort a kind of condescending and judgmental attitude, which, combined with what they already regard as naiveté, if not idiocy on our parts, will only serve to make them angrier and more determined to put us in our place. There have been times in history when whole societies were like this, and sincere believers, no matter how gracious and reasonable, have encountered the same response Stephen did, if not always quite so violent and final. We could be heading that way in our day.

But we must not abandon the effort to connect with those we are trying to reach for Christ, even though we may suspect that nothing we might do or say is going to change their minds or reduce their wrath.

We have to proceed anyway, even if the consequences should be dire, for there always young zealots hanging in the background, watching as older heads hammer us and our worldview, who may already be starting to wonder whether perhaps they may have gotten the story wrong.

Download the series, "Standing for Christ in a Hostile Age." Click here: VP Hostile Age.