Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

I think the main point here is for Christians not to be weird. I have seen Christians try to claim things that make no sense. Here are a few examples: 1) One time I was with a man who tried to cast a demon out of a dog who was barking. Basically, the dog was hungry or rabid. That is weird to think the dog is demon-possessed. 2) Christians in some churches used to outlaw dancing. But dancing is all throughout the Bible. This is weird. King David, the most prominent king in the Bible by far, who was called a man after God’s own heart, danced. 3) People like to claim all manner of spiritual gifts that either they don’t really have or that are just skills they were born with or developed in life. An outsider looking in would say, “I have the gifts of administration, stewardship, and knowledge too, and I am not a Christian.”

The Bible never tells us to claim gifts. The gifts of the Spirit are given by the Spirit, and others marvel at them because they are beyond human. Phillip had the gifts of teleporting and speed, Samson had strength, different apostles had gifts of prophecy, healing, speaking in tongues, etc. But these gifts were not claimed or sought after, they were granted by the Holy Spirit.

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (I Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬-‭6‬). The focus is not of the gift but on The Giver.

So instead of being weird, we are to be wise. We are to look for opportunities to love on others and share the gospel. And in doing this we are to speak in grace, seasoned with the distinctiveness (like salt) of the truth of God’s Word.

Lord, thank you that I can be real and honest. I can live a life free from pretending that adherence to man-made rules, either inside or outside the church, will save me or give me status in your system. You said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭35‬). Help me to be last and a servant of all, and to glory in it!