“Forget everything you ever learned about writing, mate.” My Aussie friend winked.
As a missionary, I had one assignment that led me and my family to Australia. We enjoyed associating with the nationals and made lifelong friends. But as I began writing for Aussie audiences, I learned their communication differed from American English. I struggled to give up the rules of writing I’d learned back home.
Words that meant one thing to me meant another to the folks who lived Down Under. I even made a few faux pas by accidentally using Aussie profanity.
Over the months, my writing evolved as I adjusted my language to fit in with my surroundings. It was against my nature, but as I assimilated, people accepted me, and my influence grew.
Much like missionary Hudson Taylor, who labored in China in the 1800s, I found it easier to share the gospel with Aussies when I wrote, spoke, and dressed like them.
Paul, the apostle, also said he would be anything if it could point even a few to Christ.
When we finally returned to the States, I required several months to revert to using American spelling and dialect again. But it was inevitable. Surrounded by Americans, I couldn’t help but abandon my Australian mannerisms. Even my young children lost their Aussie accents after a while.
As believers, we struggle to reach others for Christ. Sometimes it means doing things we usually wouldn’t do to befriend the lost—as long as our testimony is not compromised. It’s much easier to stay in our Christian bubble.
Jesus also hung out with people who were quite different from him. Why shouldn’t we do the same? When we leave our comfort zone and learn to be approachable to everyone everywhere, we find ourselves reaching everyone everywhere.
Being counter-cultural is often needed for people to see we are different from the world. Still, we must have a passionate burden for the lost to become whoever Christ needs us to be to win them.
What are some ways you can assimilate with others?
(Photo courtesy of pixabay and JRAQUILES.)
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Tez Brooks’ book, The Single Dad Detour, won Book of the Decade with Serious Writer Academy, and his radio spot, “I Dare Ya!” can be heard weekly on Christian Mix 106. Recently, Christianity.com featured him in “50 Authors You Should Know.” Tez is a member of the Colorado Authors League and Word Weavers International. He and his wife serve as full-time missionaries. You can learn more at TezBrooks.com.