Why do we say, “confront people as the need arises”? Because not all need the same treatment. This is evident from an early age. Some infants are strong-willed, others are compliant. Good parents know each child’s personality and attitude, and adjust accordingly, while remaining consistent to their family values and rules. Effective evangelism is similar. Think about two men selected to do deacon-like work (Acts 6:3). As they evangelize, they take different approaches.
- Stephen, after many discussions (Acts 6:9-10), confronts the Jewish leaders: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51).
- Philip finds no need to rebuke the Ethiopian. Why? The Ethiopian already seeks the truth (Acts 8:31, 34). So, “Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the Good News about Jesus” (Acts 8:35). His student takes the initiative, seeking and receiving baptism (Acts 8:36-38). Such a seeker is to be applauded and encouraged, not confronted.
Both Stephen and Philip remain consistent to Christ’s values. Both are “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Both practice “the open statement of the truth” (2 Corinthians 4:2 cf. Colossians 4:4). Yet they take different approaches. The same is true of Paul. He deals in one way with Jews who know their history with God (Acts 13:15-41). He deals in another way with non-Jews who are ignorant about God (Acts 14:11-17; 17:22-31). As he explains,
To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. … To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some (1 Corinthians 9:20-22).