In 1962, Don and Carol Richardson went to Papua New Guinea (then Dutch New Guinea) to work among the Sawi tribe. The Sawi people valued revenge and practiced ritualistic cannibalism. So when the Richardsons first shared the gospel with them, they perceived Judas Iscariot as the hero because his actions brought retribution. Then, Don discovered the Sawi custom of the “peace child.” In this ritual, when two warring tribes were seeking peace, one tribe would give a newborn male infant to the other as a pledge. The receiving tribe was then bound to care for the child, ensuring peace for a whole generation. Using this framework, Don retold the gospel. The Sawi were able to grasp the depth of Christ’s sacrifice. The Richardsons’ journey is documented in their book Peace Child.
In 1 Corinthians 9, the apostle Paul discusses his motivation and method for preaching the gospel. In verses 15–18, Paul stated that his motivation was not monetary. Paul had a right to receive compensation for ministry (v. 14). However, Paul wanted nothing to hinder his communication (v. 12). So he preached voluntarily and out of obedience. His only reward was the gospel ministry itself (v. 18).
Then, Paul expressed his methodology. Paul adapted his communicative approach based on his audience. To the Jews, he spoke as a Jew. To the Gentiles, he spoke as a Gentile (v. 20). He never changed the content of the gospel. Instead, he would use humility and cultural awareness to contextualize the message for his intended audience. He wanted each person to understand this life-changing message. This is a model that missionaries and evangelists still follow today.
Go Deeper
Do you know someone (or even a group of people) resistant to the gospel? How might you contextualize the message to help them better understand it?
Pray with Us
Your free gift of salvation crosses all ethnic and cultural barriers, Lord. When we are sharing the gospel with others, please give us the words to say that will help them understand Your love.
I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.1 Corinthians 9:22
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