Growing up my mom had this funny habit. Every time she would talk to our family in the midwest on the phone (or anyone with an accent for that matter) she would take on their accent as her own. She would be talking completely normal and then as soon as my grandparents would call she'd start using her crazy twangy voice. My siblings and I would all tease her because it sounded ridiculous. But my dad would always respond by telling us that she did it subconsciously as a way to help people feel comfortable.
Recently I went back to Missouri to visit my grandparents and celebrate my grandma's 80th birthday. The day after I got back I told Jason "I'm fixin to go to the grocery store," he said "What did you say?" I guess I had picked up my own twangy accent without even knowing it. He laughed, and asked me why I was talking like that. Without even thinking about it I defended myself (like my dad had done all those years) that I did it to make people around me feel comfortable.
As I thought more about it God began to show me that this is actually a Biblical principal.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 says
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Although my mom and I do this subconsciously, this attitude of accommodation is an attitude I believe that the Lord wants us to strive for. In a country where self expression and independence are highly valued, our attitude should be one of submission. Submission to the will of God and to the needs of others.
So today I'm thinking about those around me that don't know Christ. Do they need a friend, a listening ear, a good time, someone to mow their lawn. What can I do to help them feel comfortable(and more willing to hear the Good News)? Who do they need today? I choose to be whatever they need so that I(or in reality, Christ) might save some.
