Chapter 17 - Paul the Missionary

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more; and to the Jews I became a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak. I become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. (1 Corinthians 9:19-22)

You know, the more I read Paul, and the more we study him, the more I really love the guy. To read some of his material at first glance sure can leave a fellow feeling a little put-off. But as I trust that God is shaping me and my character in a way that is pleasing to Him, Paul's words lose their condemnation - and take on a beautiful character of love and urgency. He becomes a father - a father who is caring, and not willing that any of his children (the Christians in the Churches he has sown) should go through life without guidance and correction when needed.

The beginning (well, second beginning) of all that "parenthood" is where Drane takes us in this section of his work. As with any journey each of us might take, Paul would leave one friend (Barnabas) behind, and pick up others as he went. This journey would be Paul's break into Europe, and although the Gospel obviously would have made it to Europe without Paul ("it was certainly not the the first time that Christian missionaries had entered Europe [Rome]" (p. 305)), we get a sense that the early Churches he did seed were better for his input. In some ways this can be attested by the fact that the Orthodox Church is still going.

For me, it was very nice to to see Drane cover Paul's visit to Philippi. The way he writes about Lydia's conversion really wrestled with me for a bit. It reminded me about the way Paul describes the "power of the Gospel" to his Roman friends (Romans 1:16). In fact, my favorite verses in the whole of Scripture (if we can have favorites) are found in this small passage in Acts 16:30-31. It's the simplicity of it all - how Paul expressed it to the jailor that night, and how Drane describes Lydia:

In an event, her discovery of Jesus as the Messiah brought about an immediate and revolutionary change in her life...(p. 306)

But let's get back to all things to all men! After Paul finally did get out of that Philippian jail, he headed to Athens - and his approach had to change. "Messiah? Ahh, Paul - what's a messiah?" Can you hear the Athenians now? Drane recalls the Biblical account, and shows us just how 'on-the-ball' Paul was about the message. He knew one thing for sure - Jesus gave Himself up to the curse of the cross, was put in a tomb and accounted among the dead, and then rose to life again so that ALL people who would hear the good news and accept might become adopted children of God. The Gospel wasn't just for the Jews and God-Fearers. It wasn't intended for just those who had background knowledge of the Scriptures. It wasn't meant for just those people who had reached the bottom of the pit (Philippian jailor). It was and is meant for everyone to hear - even Athenians.

For Paul, "communicating his message in Athens was bound to require a very different approach from that used in most of the places [he] had visited." (p. 307) First he scoped the place out - checking out what was important the folks who lived there. Next, he attended the lectures and philosophical debates that so intrigued the people of Athens. He showed that he cared about what they had to say, and he began to understand the currency of their speech. Then, when invited, he spoke about the good qualities he saw in them and their culture, and then drew lines back to a form of the Gospel they could understand. Drawing their attention to a monument they had erected to the "unknown god," Paul preached to them the good news that that very God had come to earth for each of them.

Now, not everyone who heard Paul's message accepted it that day. Then again, even with as much as they hauled in that day, Peter and the boys didn't catch every fish in the sea when the Lord said, "Lower your nets." (Luke 5:1-11) But you know, of those who refused, surely there were some who went home thinking, and maybe they came along later. I wonder sometimes, "Am I prepared to become all things to all people, that I might by all means win some?" How flexible am I in my approach to evangelism? Have I taken a good look at what is important, and what has been added? How willing am I to allow others to have their say, and then speak when invited? How comfortable am I with the thought that some, if not most, of those who hear the good news will not accept it right away?

Maybe I'm rambling. But here's the thing - I think I live in Athens. It's just called Halifax.