That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Romans 1:19-20
Everybody has sensed God at some point on their journey. After all, there is an awareness of God within every person. God’s life force resides within each living being, and Romans points out that each person has encountered the spiritual side of their being. Whether they acknowledge God or not, acknowledging that there are life forces within (and out) that can’t always be explained is common ground most people can agree on.
Develop thick skin. Jesus said on more than one occasion, “Blessed is he who is not offended by Me.” Jesus knew that once offense occurs, the heart shuts down and is no longer receptive to what a person has to say. The Apostle Paul became “all things to all men” that he might win some, which means he was flexible (1 Corinthians 9:22). Paul must have encountered many different belief systems in the marketplace, yet he made progress by identifying with them, not attacking them. In the same way, if a leader hopes to connect with everyone on spiritual ground, they must look for the thread of commonality to build a bridge that will lead to connection and relationship, as Paul did.
Until you uncover a person’s “frame of reference” for why they believe what they believe, you can’t connect on spiritual ground. “Connecting on spiritual ground” is one of ten different ways in which a person can build rapport and relationship from my best-selling book PERSUADE. Consider some of the ways in which to explore a path to building rapport on spiritual ground, and you will be well on your way to leading others to a newfound relationship with God.
THREE STRATEGIES OF THE APOLOGIST
- Worldview: People define their beliefs by the experiences which shaped their past. Asking about a person’s past will eventually uncover mountaintop and valley experiences, and knowing the events that shaped them can help you to understand why they believe the way they believe.
- Beliefs: People can often trace their beliefs back to a parent’s faith or a spiritual encounter along the way. Finding out about a person’s church or religious background or asking why they believe what they believe can often uncover an area of commonality you can connect with.
- Pursuits: Asking about a person’s goals will uncover what they are focused on today and are hoping for tomorrow. This direction of discussion can open doors to belief, faith, and underlying motive for what is driving someone from the inside out.
REFLECT TO CONNECT
- Regarding how you came to God, how did the person lead the conversation with you in the beginning?
- What advice would you give to someone who wants to share their faith; how should they start?
- Will you have more success connecting on spiritual ground by telling a person what you believe or asking them what they believe?
Until you uncover a person’s frame of reference for why they believe what they believe, you can’t connect on spiritual ground.
