To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

Here in 1 Corinthians 9:20-23, Paul says something that I think can be taken out of context. It is related to my last post of Paul's sermon on Mars Hill. What this text does say is that adaptation in presentation is allowed and beneficial. What it doesn't say is that the presentation of the Gospel can be diluted or made palatable. You cannot render the gospel non-offensive for the sake of "winning" souls, as if you would actually convert anyone genuinely.

Paul adapted his presentation to the Athenians at Mars Hill in order to make sense of his message in terms they would comprehend. He did not become Athenian, adopting their idol worship, assimilating into their culture in order to build ethos. That would be apostacy.

How often do we fail to pick battles with opposing cultural norms, even adopting them ourselves, seeing them as acceptable means to the end for evangelism, leaving our witness and message tainted. How much of a conflict would ensue if Christians actually made a fuss about idolatry? Would we be more effective? Would we be persecuted more to the level seen in Scripture?