My hubby has a great ear. It has meant whilst travelling overseas we have always been understood as he picks up other languages quickly. However at times it has caused some embarrassment. Whilst reciting the Apostles Creed at All Angel’s church in New York, I found myself having to elbow him in the ribs. I was shocked he was mimicking a broad Yankee accent. He looked at me blankly. It turned out he hadn’t even realized he was doing it. His ear was so good he was just naturally speaking as those around him were.

I think as adults we do this far more than we realise – pick mimic those around us, we take on their 'accent'. I mean in the sense of speaking in ways that are in tune with those who are listening. Now this can be important apologetically but it can also be a great self-defense rather than a defense of the Gospel. We can lose our distinctiveness in the process.

But what about children? Do they have the same 'accents'? Do they adjust to the people around them in the same way?

Have you ever heard a child asking a question like this in the supermarket: "Why is that boy wearing make-up? How will God take our skin off when we die? What does iniquity mean?"

I think young children have no 'accents'. They think if you talk about God at home and at church why not talk about him at the supermarket? 2 Peter 3:
15-16 says: "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander".

The great gift of spending time with children is the challenge to take off your 'accent' and be brave in talking about Jesus in public. Not just Gospel outline answers but Gospel intersecting with life answers.

I have discovered that I answer best when I take my accent off and speak to the child truthfully and simply at their level. Trusting that God will use my words to represent him to those around us. Praying that I will be as unashamed of Jesus as the child I speak to is. Sometimes I would prefer not to have to answer so publicly, but to avoid answering is to dishonour Jesus and the honest faith of the child before me. I have no converts yet but one lady with a bemused look (yet still smiling) said “I have never heard anyone talk to a child like that!”

"Why is that boy wearing make-up? How will God take our skin off when we die? What does iniquity mean?"  How would you answer? Would you use an accent?