we can’t please everyone, right?

This keeps coming up everywhere I am lately; We hear about someone who didn’t like something about how we do what we do and our response is “well, we can’t please everyone.” I say this all the time, backed up with what Jesus said about people that were being neither hot or cold, and what Jesus told people that if you follow me that the world would hate you.

And most people would agree. We can’t please everyone. But does that mean we shouldn’t try?

When Paul wrote to the Christians of Corinth, Greece he said “we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.” He was talking about giving away his right (according to Jesus) to be paid well to preach the gospel, but wouldn’t this apply to our personal “rights” to do things the way we want to do them apply here too?

He goes on to say he “becomes all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” for the sake of the gospel. This meant following Jewish traditions to win the Jew, becoming week to win the week, following the law to win those that follow the law.

Today that might mean using popular music to reach the culture that listens to that music, learning about popular movies and TV shows to make your point with people that are into that culture, dressing, talking, and looking like the culture you are trying to reach.

Jesus told us [Colossians 4:6] to make our message “taste good” as food is “seasoned with salt” so that we make the most of every opportunity.

But what does our market like? What are their preferences? How do they talk? We should know.

I think this is the “training” Paul was talking about when he says “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.” If that means dressing up to reach business people, then dress up. If that means dress down a bit when you work with homeless people, then dress down. Jesus could care less what you wear.

I’m not saying we should “sin” to win sinners, but when it comes to personal style, music preferences, design and art, there are many ways to look at what we do and test it against what the people our message is to would like.

What do you think?