Does it seem to you that our society has become
a hostile, polarized culture? It does to me. The TV
and major media sources divide everything into
groups without talking about the issues at all. We
are either "right" or "left" or "red state" or "blue
state, "traditional or progressive", "liberal or conservative".
Sound bites are sent back and forth like missiles, rather than seeking a discourse leading to understanding of the other's views. People seem to me to join only the groups with which they totally agree. There is no time given for discussion with any other people of different views.
Is there anyone left in this society that is trying to convince someone of something they don’t already believe? Other than in the courtroom, building an argument to persuade someone of the truth of the matter, seems to be absent. Is there no hope? In a world of loud, caustic, and sometimes fragmented voices, is the voice of truth able to be heard?
Recently I was using my computer to access a satellite with which I could view my home and town from space. There are 100s of millions of people connected to the internet. In a few seconds, we can reach almost any spot on earth. We perhaps now have the greatest audience we have ever had and the best access to the world we have ever had. Should we not "shape" the never-changing truth of the gospel for the particular audience with whom we are engaging?
The Apostle Paul became a Greek to the Greeks, a Roman to the Romans and a Jew to the Jews. He had great successes, but sometimes, the appeal just didn't quite make it. As King Agrippa said, "almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian". (Acts 26:28)
Have you been trying to persuade anyone to accept the truth of the gospel?