Daily Archives: July 16, 2013

Pigs In Pink Tutus!

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PIGS IN PINK TUTUS

“In the course of listening to Paul, a great many Corinthians believed and were baptised. One night the Master spoke to Paul in a dream, ‘Keep it up and don’t let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, I’m with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city.’ That was all he needed to stick it out. He stayed another year and a half, faithfully teaching the Word of God to the Corinthians.” Acts 18:9-11 (The Message).

Corinth? Why would Paul need such powerful and personal reassurance when his evangelistic campaign seemed to be going so well? The city of Corinth was not only well known for its style of architecture but also for the nature of its residents, so much so that the word ‘Corinthian’ describes a pleasure loving, debauched and impure person.

It was into this environment, thick with sexual and sensual perversion, that Paul came with the message of Jesus — somewhat like trying to dress a muddy pig in a pink tutu! The response to his preaching was phenomenal! He should have been thrilled and excited but it seems he was not. He was so depressed that he needed a personal visit from the Lord in a dream to encourage and energise him to persevere.

When we marry Luke’s story in Acts with Paul’s letters, we catch a glimpse of what he was up against. Of all the churches he wrote to, this one needed at least four letters to address the issues that were tearing the church apart: factions among the members, gross sexual sins which they tolerated without blinking an eye, lawsuits against each other, eating meat offered to idols, drunken and disorderly behaviour at their love feasts, competition over spiritual gifts and even false doctrines — some were undermining the reality of the resurrection.

Other so-called spiritual “authorities” had come in and turned the church against Paul, so that he had to be harsh with them, reminding them that he had fathered them in the faith and that they were as precious to him as his children. He was not in it for money or prestige as they were led to believe.

All this lay ahead for Paul, but the seeds of these deviations were already in them as citizens of a corrupt city. Even in the early days of the church he was aware of what he was up against and was losing heart about this church becoming anything but a liability. Jesus felt the frustration and misgivings of His faithful servant and came in person to reassure him that his work was not in vain.

At this point it was not the Jews who were his problem but the church itself but the strong words of the Master enabled him to pen these words: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15; 58 (NIV).

When we read the Corinthian letters, we realise how much poorer we would be had Paul not had to deal with such a variety of issues. His wisdom and experience were written, not only for them but for every succeeding generation including us because these matters are as relevant today as they were then.

1 Corinthians 13, the “love” chapter, is a rare gem in literature, penned for posterity out of the need to correct wrong motives in a church unusually gifted with charismata, spiritual gifts that had caused them to become proud and competitive. 1 Corinthians 15, the “resurrection” chapter, brings comfort and hope to many whose loved ones have passed on.

Jesus not only had many that Paul had to reach in a wicked city, but also many messages to His church which were hammered out in Paul’s own experience before he could write about them to his fellow-believers. Nothing is ever wasted. Even these people, whose lives were corrupted by the sinful environment from which they came, were salvaged, saved and sanctified by the grace of God because, to God, no one is beyond redemption.

Stumbling Block

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STUMBLING BLOCK

“When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was able to give all his time to preaching and teaching, doing everything he could to persuade the Jews that Jesus was in fact God’s Messiah. But no such luck. All they did was argue contentiously and contradict him at every turn. Totally exasperated, Paul had finally had it with them and gave it up as a bad job. ‘Have it your way, then,’ he said. ‘You’ve made your bed, now lie on it. From now on I’m spending my time with the other nations.’

“He walked out and went to the home of Titius Justus, a God-fearing man who lived right next to the Jews’ meeting place. But Paul’s efforts with the Jews weren’t a total loss, for Crispus, the meeting place president, put his trust in the Master. His entire family believed with him.” Acts 18:5-8 (The Message).

Paul’s ministry to the Jews was like trying to wring blood out of a stone. The same stubborn resistance and unbelief that frustrated God through their entire history was still in them. It seemed that there were few Jews who responded, wherever Paul went, until he was forced to shake the dust off his feet and turn to those who welcomed him and received his message with enthusiasm. I guess, had Paul not had a face-to-face encounter with Jesus that shook him out of his stubborn unbelief, he might not have been where he was, doing what he was doing.

How did God weave this wholesale rejection into His plan for the salvation of the nations? Would these Jewish missionaries have so readily gone to the Gentiles had the Jews responded in greater numbers? As difficult as it was for Paul to accept the persecution he experienced at the hands of his fellow-countrymen, it was all in the plan of God to make Himself known to the nations to the ends of the earth.

Try as he might, as he went from city to city, he could not persuade the Jews that Jesus was their Messiah. What was the stumbling block? The cross! The very reason why God could invite His people into His presence, apart from the rituals that they had so come to trust, was the reason why they rejected Him in the end. They could not accept a crucified “criminal” as their Messiah, resurrection or no resurrection.

Paul understood this and he also understood that God in His sovereignty used this very rejection to open the door for Gentiles to hear the same saving message.

“Again I ask; Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious…Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.” Romans 11:11-12; 22 (NIV).

Did God make the Jews rebellious and unbelieving? No, it was their choice. But God, in His sovereignty, used what they were to fulfil His purpose for the world. At the same time, He didn’t cast them off as rejects. In spite of those who believe and propagate that God is finished with the Jews, that is not what the Bible says.

“As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.

“Just as you who were one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so now they too have become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all.” Romans 11:28-32 (NIV).

No Bum!

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NO BUM!

“After Athens, Paul went to Corinth. That is where he discovered Aquila, a Jew born in Pontus, and his wife, Priscilla. They had just arrived from Italy, part of the general expulsion from Rome ordered by Claudius. Paul moved in with them, and they worked together at their common trade of tent-making. But every Sabbath he was at the meeting place, doing his best to convince both Jews and Greeks about Jesus.” Acts 18:1-4 (The Message).

Paul was a nomad but he certainly was no bum. He had no mission board behind him and no monthly stipend to depend on. He was not ashamed to get his hands dirty to take care of his own needs in the course of his mission. He had not only received a rigorous religious training but he had also learned a skill as a tent-maker, which came in handy to meet his needs and to give him credibility in his ministry.

Having done what he could in Athens to sow the seeds of the gospel, he left behind another small group of believers and moved on to Corinth. God was always one step ahead for him on his journey. Aquila and Priscilla, like-minded fellow-Jews, were already in Corinth and ready to give him a home for as long as he needed to be in the city. They were obviously His provision for Paul during his stay there.

No doubt Paul paid his way during his stay in Corinth and probably used his opportunity to “chat” the gospel to his host and hostess. There is no indication that they were believers when they moved from Rome. To all intents and purposes, the gospel had not yet reached Rome unless through some traveller who had spoken about Jesus in the capital city during a visit there.

At this point Paul confined his preaching to the Sabbath at the local synagogue. During the week he and his hosts worked together on their tent making, forging close ties of friendship and love that lasted a lifetime.

We have travelled with Paul since his pre-conversion days and walked with him through the shattering experience of a personal encounter with Jesus and the days that followed. He was a man just like us. He made his mistakes, misjudging John Mark, falling out with Barnabas, and had to change his mind in the end, but he was also a man of extraordinary courage and perseverance. Never did he renege on his commitment to follow Jesus and to carry out His commission.

Corinth was a particularly wicked city, as we glean from Luke’s story and from Paul’s letters. The infant church tolerated unacceptable behaviour among its members, probably because it was woven into their culture and they thought nothing of sexual perversion, drunkenness and factions within the church.

No doubt Paul needed to spend an extended period of time with them to teach the church the standards of godliness demanded by their new life. They had no background knowledge of the Scriptures and it fell to Paul to instruct them painstakingly in the ABC’s of the gospel; hence the home of these amicable Jews to provide a base for him to operate.

Corinth must have been a learning experience for Paul as well. He learned to be a gracious guest as well as a loving and caring pastor of a church growing in the heart of “Sodom”. He needed patience, tolerance and perseverance to guide the believers away from their old lives of self-indulgence and debauchery to the newness of Christ-indwelt children of God.

We will read Paul’s letters to this church with new understanding when we recognise what he was up against in this city of Satan. God had provided an oasis for him in Aquila and Priscilla’s home and a skill which he shared with his hosts. With that as a jumping off ground, he was able to live out and minister Jesus to the new believers there.

A Line In The Sand

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THE LINE IN THE SAND

“God overlooks it as long as you don’t know any better — but that time is past. The unknown is now known, and He’s calling for a radical life-change. He has set a day when the entire human race will be judged and everything set right. And He has already appointed the judge, confirming Him before everyone by raising Him from the dead.

“At the phrase “raising Him from the dead”, the listeners split: Some laughed at him and walked off, making jokes; others said, ‘Let’s do this again. We want to hear more.’ But that was it for the day, and Paul left. There were still others, it turned out, who were convinced then and there, and stuck with Paul — among them Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris.” Acts 17:30-34 (The Message).

Here is an evangelist at his best! First of all, he knew his audience. They were mainly Greeks with a philosophical background and, at the same time, steeped in the traditions of their Greek and Roman idolatry. Paul’s point of contact was the shrine he found to the God nobody knew. At least they acknowledged that there was a God out there somewhere that humans didn’t invent.

He set out to introduce them to this God, first of all as Creator, and then as Judge. That must have been a shock to his hearers. Creator, yes, but Judge? That meant that they were accountable to Him, and some didn’t like that. The implication was twofold — what did He require and when would this happen?

In their religion, life was a haphazard affair. It was their role to appease the gods to avert annoying them with dire consequences. They needed their protection and their intervention when necessary but there was no guarantee that either would happen. Anything bad was attributed to the wrath of the gods, but they were, unfortunately, unpredictable and capricious. There was no knowing what they would do.

Worst of all, the gods didn’t always see eye to eye. They were selfish and self-centred and acted just like humans. They were powerful in their own portfolios but they didn’t always use their power for the benefit of their devotees, and they often encroached on one another’s territory. That’s a problem when there are too many gods!

To introduce one God who had set a day to judge the world was a new thought altogether. That meant that He had a standard by which He would judge and that there would be some sort of punishment for those who didn’t measure up. Oh and, by the way, He had also chosen the Judge — a guy who died and came back to life again! That put the cat among the pigeons!

Gods could do that because they were gods, but a man! No way! The hearers immediately split into the typical three groups: Those who dismissed his words as a joke, those who were interested and wanted to know more, and those who accepted his words as the truth and embraced them.

As always, it was the resurrection that caused the parting of the ways. Why? It did not fit their world view. Paul understood that the world views of the Jews and Greeks were vastly different.

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-24 (NIV).

What was it that exposed the attitude of Paul’s hearers? It was the foolishness of the message. A dead man rising — that’s what caught them out. Funny how many people who claim to be believers are happy to talk about God? But Jesus, dying and rising? Yet that is the cornerstone of our faith — and the line in the sand.

Without Excuse

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WITHOUT EXCUSE

“‘The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for Him, as if He couldn’t take care of Himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make Him. Starting from scratch, He made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find Him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; He’s near. We live and move in Him, can’t get away from Him! One of your poets said it well: ‘We’re the God-created.’ Well, if we’re the God-created, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to think we can hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it?”‘ Acts 17:24-29 (The Message).

Spot on again, Paul!

Paul was speaking to people who thought they were “intellectuals”, intelligent people who majored on thinking logically. Unfortunately, their logic did not take them any higher than human wisdom. They were unable, through their own reason, to figure out the existence of an unseen God who is Creator of everything. Yet Paul said, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that this is possible.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — His eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:20 (NIV).

How is it possible, for instance, that intelligent, logical-thinking, modern scientists, using all the sophisticated equipment they have to examine created things in minutest detail, can come up with the “conviction” that it all just “happened”? Could it be that the issue is not one of the mind but of the will? Is it basic dishonesty that refuses to “see” the work of the Creator, even though it can be clearly seen by the untrained eye?

Even David, a young shepherd, with neither microscope nor telescope, could say:
“The heavens declare the glory of God; The skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; Night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language Where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, Their words to the ends of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4 (NIV).

These Athenians at least began with the possibility that a God existed of whom they were vaguely aware, although they knew nothing about Him. They acknowledged Him with a shrine that was placed among all the other shrines, putting Him on a par with their man-made gods. It was up to Paul to set the record straight, which he did in a masterful way without attacking their error or putting them down for their foolishness.

Paul’s modus operandi was to fill in the gaps in their understanding. He exploited their honest mistake by taking them from where they were to where they could be if they moved from logic to faith, from reason to revelation. The God they ignorantly acknowledged was unseen but real, not confined to a shrine but as near to them as their breath. They did not create Him; He created them. That meant that they were subject to Him, not Him at their beck and call. Even their own poets had somehow hit on the truth: ‘We are His offspring.’

Unfortunately, right there is the parting of the ways. Those who refuse to give up their right to be right, deny the truth that God is Creator and that, therefore, the creature is accountable to Him. But that doesn’t change the truth. That makes the stubborn creature doubly accountable — for lying about God and for refusing to submit to Him.

So where do we stand? It all depends on how honest we are. We can side with the scientists who refuse to say, ‘God is Creator,’ or we can side with David who looked up at the night sky and marvelled at the intricate design of the God he had come to know and worship as his Shepherd.