Sometime ago, I saw the picture of a preacher who drank beer with some men at the beer parlour because he wanted to preach to them. He posted it on his facebook timeline and comment section erupted in serious arguments on why he has to drink alcohol with those he wanted to win to the Lord. He explained the rationale behind his actions but some did not take it from him.

Let's look at it this way. If he were  to preach to prostitutes, does he need to have sex with them to win them? What If he needed to preach to drug addicts, it means he has to take some drugs to preach to them, at least, judging from the rationale behind his action. In a skit, I saw a sister who went on evangelism. She was using sex to win them. That was her own evangelistic method.

If you have to participate in the sinful actions of men to win them, you won't be seen differently regardless of your intention. In soul winning, good intention is not enough, right action is important.

The scripture most people share in situations such as described above is 1 Corinthians 9:22 which says, "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some". The context of this scripture has nothing to do with compromise but healthy cultural adaption.

Paul was a Jew who knew the Jewish laws and customs. He was sent as an apostle to the gentiles most of whom the Jews do not want to relate with because of obvious cultural differences.  As an  addicted soul winner, he knew he must be culturally relevant to both of them so as to win them. To the Jews, he avoided what was offensive to them, same with the gentiles.

1 Corinthians 9:20 says, "When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law"

Verse 21 says, "When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ"
Now, look at the latter part of Vs 21: "...But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ". That is, despite his cultural adaptation to win souls, he kept the law of Christ. Paul did not cross the boundary lines because he wanted to win souls, why should we?

As a soul winner, we must be sensitive to discern what is outrightly sinful but permitted in the culture of men and what is culturally permissible among the people we want to reach but not sinful to God. At this point, we can adapt to win the people.

Again, certain things are not sinful to God but not permitted culturally among the people to whom we are sent. We must be sensitive to this as well If we want our message to penetrate the hearts of men.

If we'll need to issue statements, rebuttals and do videos upon videos to defend certain actions before men, such should be shunned in the first place. It doesn't always glorify God to be found explaining an avoidable action instead of explaining basic fundamental doctrine.

For instance, as a man, you cannot have a successful ministry among core Yoruba people with your hair plaited no matter how anointed you are. Why? To them, plaiting of hair is for Sango (god of thunder). It is culturally offensive. If you stand on a crusade ground to preach in Ogbomosho or Ijebu Ode, you'll find yourself using productive time of preaching the gospel to explain what is inconsequential to eternity.

Whereas, If you go to the Dama tribe of Namibia, it is culturally acceptable for men to plait hair. You'll be welcomed and given a seat of honour. Same action but two different reactions from people. I once read about a missionary whose message was rejected because he whistled often. His action of whistling was not sinful but culturally offensive to the people.

As a soul winner, be wise to know the boundary lines. With God, there are boundary lines you must not cross, with men, there are ancient boundaries you must not cross either. Becoming all things to win souls should not offend God neither should it be offensive to the weak brother or nor offend unbelievers.