We talk about the church needing to adapt to the world around us, yet too often that results in compromise. The Apostle Paul, nonetheless, did say, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:19-22). God used this same person to write, “do not conform to the pattern of this world” (Rom. 12:2). We must therefore conclude that his words in 1 Corinthians 9 cannot mean conformity. Adapting to the world around us cannot mean rewriting God’s moral code or redefining truth. Perhaps “responsive” would be a better word for us to use.
An Illustration of Being Responsive
In today’s world people access the Internet through a variety of means — large screen monitors, laptops, tablets, TVs, and smartphones. Even holding a tablet or smartphone horizontally or vertically can result in a different view of a website. In the past webmasters designed completely different sites to adapt to the varying platforms. Now, however, responsive web design code has been written and widely accepted that enables the same site to respond to the different sizes. The same content viewed on any device using media queries and style sheets, suits the medium.
What Does it Mean for the Church to be Responsive
Developing a responsive website required the use of certain code and taking the time and effort to redesign the site. As mentioned earlier, this code wasn’t always available. The Church, however, has always had the right code to be responsive. We have God’s Word with God Himself as our standard. In the Church we have a message that doesn’t change and a mission to fulfill.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb. 3:8)
To stay true to Him, we cannot adapt to the world around us in any way that deviates from the truth of who He is, in the fullness of who He is, and from the full authority that is His.
As the world around us changes, the Church does not have to lose its place as the salt and light in it by becoming irrelevant or by conforming to the world. But, to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:18-20), we need to reach people where they are. How? — By being responsive.
We maintain the same message but become responsive in our methodology, form, and structure. We consider how we can relate to people where they are in ways they can understand, fulfilling our purpose to love them but to always first and foremost love the Lord our God — responding to people in ways that do not adulterate our love for Him.
Let’s makes sure we get this right: Being responsive doesn’t mean we move in the same direction as our society, accepting and approving what the world says is right. Being responsive does not mean compromising truth or disregarding what God views as holy and right. Being responsive is learning how to relate to people in a world that accepts immorality as normal and relativism as the standard while we, at the same time, stay aligned to God’s Word. How can we love people in today’s world without compromise? Figure that out and we can get back to our purpose to love God with all of who we are and to love people as well as fulfilling our mission to go and make fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.