Master Marketer

Imagine hearing someone preach that slavery is good.  Wouldn't you reject that person right off?

But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine. Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, prudent, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us. Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to talk back, not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior. - Titus 2:1-10

Today's reading from Paul's letter to Titus in Crete, is a perfect example of a specific message that can not necessarily be expanded for universal applications.  Paul is not speaking to the world today, but to a corrupt society in his time that needs discipline.

Paul was a master of the targeted message, understanding the differences in the mores and customs of the people he hoped to convert to believers in Christ.

He chose to condemn corruption and encourage loving relationships, even within structures we would consider immoral today, like slavery.

What may be a guide to a better life for one may sound like steps backward for another.

Paul spoke in terms the audience would understand, and he could get away with that approach because the message stayed where it was targeted.  He could change people's minds and encourage behavior by demonstrating his understanding of their culture, and finding ways to turn them toward Christ.

So, what does Paul's approach tell us about spreading the Good News today?

Maybe the simplest thing we can do is understand where people are coming from and find a way to talk to them without judgment.

That isn't easy to do, especially if we believe they are wrong.

More to come...