Context
One of the papers I did in my fourth year of Greek in seminary was on 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. In that passage, Paul says that he entered Corinth determined to know nothing but Christ and Christ crucified. It has been assumed by many that this was the result of Paul's "failure" Athens, in which he attempted to debate with the philosophers in Athens. As the theory goes, he realized his mistake in trying the intellectual approach and entered Corinth determined to preach the gospel pure and simple.
But is that what really happened? Others debate that simple theory and maintain that Paul was not a failure at all. He debated with the philosophers because that was what was required with the philosophers - it's called contextualization. If you speak to a group of religious people, you start by quoting scripture, but it you are speaking to an atheist group your approach may need to be different. Wherever Paul started - the Jewish law in a synagogue or the philosophical wranglings in Athens - he ended up in the same place. He preached Christ. And, as Acts 17:34 tells us, Athens was not a complete failure - some believed.
We will likely always wonder whether Paul's approach in Athens was a failure. It seems to me that it was more a contextual strategy, one that was less successful than in other places - but highly intellectual people have always had trouble humbling themselves before God.
It is interesting and ironic that Paul ended the second journey in Ephesus. He wanted to start the journey there, after he strengthened the churches in Galatia, but God prevented him. Now, when the time was right he went there and eventually had a productive and powerful ministry there. In God's work, timing is key. Paul wanted to go early, but God said no. When the time was right, Paul had fruitful labor there.
Devotional - An Offensive Gospel
Paul was a brilliant man; in fact, there are some who believe he would have been a known quantity in history even had he not met Jesus on the road to Damascus. When he wandered into Athens and began to debate with the Epicureans and Stoics, he was more than able to hold his own. He was not intimidated or overwhelmed by them or their philosophical intricacies.
But then he came to that moment that every gospel presentation comes to - no matter what. You can be tactful, but there is a moment where tact goes out the window. You can be intellectual, but there is a moment at which you abandon sight and walk by faith. There is always a moment of offense every time the truth of Jesus' work on the cross is shared.
It came in Athens when Paul mentioned the resurrection of Jesus Christ (17:31). His intelligence might have impressed them to that point, but as soon as he talked about Jesus rising from the dead he lost them. What an idiot! Seriously? You believe this guy Jesus came back from the dead? You have a screw loose!
The gospel is good news (that's what gospel means). It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. It is truth. But it is also an offense. It tells people that they are sinners who cannot save themselves. It tells them that who they are is not good enough. It tells them they cannot just "be themselves" but that they must humble themselves and repent before God. It tells them that God's judgment and eternal hell awaits those who do not trust Christ. It asks people to believe things that reasonable people do not believe - creation, miracles, resurrection, and a long list of other things.
You can try to be tactful as you share the gospel - and you should. There's no reason to stand on the street corner and shout at people that they are going to hell, as if you are glad about that! You can be loving and kind and build relationships and build bridges and contextualize and do all those things. But there comes a point where you have to drop the bomb!
An inoffensive gospel is no gospel at all. If you are worried most about what people think of you and whether they like you, you will stay silent as sinners march inexorably toward hell. To honor Christ and proclaim truth you must be willing to speak the unpopular truth and offend sinners with the gospel of Jesus :Christ.
But then he came to that moment that every gospel presentation comes to - no matter what. You can be tactful, but there is a moment where tact goes out the window. You can be intellectual, but there is a moment at which you abandon sight and walk by faith. There is always a moment of offense every time the truth of Jesus' work on the cross is shared.
It came in Athens when Paul mentioned the resurrection of Jesus Christ (17:31). His intelligence might have impressed them to that point, but as soon as he talked about Jesus rising from the dead he lost them. What an idiot! Seriously? You believe this guy Jesus came back from the dead? You have a screw loose!
The gospel is good news (that's what gospel means). It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. It is truth. But it is also an offense. It tells people that they are sinners who cannot save themselves. It tells them that who they are is not good enough. It tells them they cannot just "be themselves" but that they must humble themselves and repent before God. It tells them that God's judgment and eternal hell awaits those who do not trust Christ. It asks people to believe things that reasonable people do not believe - creation, miracles, resurrection, and a long list of other things.
You can try to be tactful as you share the gospel - and you should. There's no reason to stand on the street corner and shout at people that they are going to hell, as if you are glad about that! You can be loving and kind and build relationships and build bridges and contextualize and do all those things. But there comes a point where you have to drop the bomb!
An inoffensive gospel is no gospel at all. If you are worried most about what people think of you and whether they like you, you will stay silent as sinners march inexorably toward hell. To honor Christ and proclaim truth you must be willing to speak the unpopular truth and offend sinners with the gospel of Jesus :Christ.
Father, may we be willing to speak the clear and unvarnished truth, even at the risk of offense.
Think and Pray
Do you shy away from speaking truth that will offend?
Do you care more about what people think of you, or whether they are right with God?
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