Hello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
This week’s lesson from the “Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide” is titled “Mission to the Unreached Part 1”. A thorough lesson on Paul’s approach to the pagan Athenians “in the Areopagus” (quarterly for Monday). As you read each day’s lesson, the drama builds, along with EGW’s glowing appreciation for Paul’s ability to communicate with the Athenians. “The wisest of his hearers were astonished as they listened to his reasoning” (quoted at the bottom of Monday’s lesson.
However, Paul was not so impressed with his evangelizing in that city. Again, at the bottom of Monday’s lesson is the very accurate assessment Paul draws of his efforts there. He is henceforth “… determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2 NKJV). And EGW draws that same conclusion:
In preaching the gospel in Corinth, the apostle followed a course different from that which had marked his labors at Athens. While in the latter place, he had sought to adapt his style to the character of his audience; he had met logic with logic, science with science, philosophy with philosophy. As he thought of the time thus spent, and realized that his teaching in Athens had been productive of but little fruit, he decided to follow another plan of labor in Corinth in his efforts to arrest the attention of the careless and the indifferent. He determined to avoid elaborate arguments and discussions, and "not to know anything" among the Corinthians "save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." He would preach to them "not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." 1 Corinthians 2:2, 4.
Jesus, whom Paul was about to present before the Greeks in Corinth as the Christ, was a Jew of lowly origin, reared in a town proverbial for its wickedness. He had been rejected by His own nation and at last crucified as a malefactor. The Greeks believed that there was need of elevating the human race, but they regarded the study of philosophy and science as the only means of attaining to true elevation and honor. Could Paul lead them to believe that faith in the power of this obscure Jew would uplift and ennoble every power of the being? (Acts of the Apostles pg. 244-245)
Let us not forget this. Paul may have won a few pagans to true faith in Athens. But he witnessed how miserable his efforts really were. He saw that matching logic for logic was not all that effective. It is true that, “God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness of His word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is abundant” (Steps to Christ pg.105). This reasonableness is essential. We must not ever believe that our “faith” is based on feelings, impressions, of anti-reason. However, a mental-assent to truth will never suffice until our entire being (heart) is motivated. And this heart-motivation is only achieved when we meet “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” … the Divine One who “who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). The heart response to that One who so loves me is the heart motivation each must have to escape the transitory attraction of the world, and live a life of love for those in the world. Logic alone will not suffice.
But there is one thing Paul learned of value in his efforts on Mars Hill. “Paul had expected that the Holy Spirit could use his knowledge and oratorical skills… but in reality, it was Paul’s education on the streets of Athens that the Holy Spirit was able to use even more” (Monday’s lesson). He learned “something that is a treasure of knowledge for the church. He avoided irritating his listeners. This was in and of itself a major, God-inspired accomplishment” (Friday’s lesson). Yes!
We learned this earlier. In order to reach people, we must listen to them. We must be ever so careful before we ever inject pre-packaged wording or evangelistic techniques as we interact with anyone, especially “the unreached”. Our words and attitude must be saturated with love for the other. Love that is akin to “Christ and Him crucified”. His kind of love. “Love will prevail and gain the victory when argument and authority are powerless” (Review and Herald 5/11/1886).
With brotherly love,
Jim