er o f the good that had gone before. Rather, he labored within the framework o f the existing order. It was his burden to pilot the womout ship o f Judaic religion, piled high with lifeless tradi tions, into the Harbor, Christ. Confrontation with Vested Interests Paul had not preached long until he confronted the giant o f vested interests. A Gospel which pro hibits sin can never hope to be popular in a world whose economy often is rooted in sinfully derived profits. For one thing, the prostitution o f sex had to be attacked with the sharp sword o f Truth. Cer tainly those who trafficked in the red light busi ness could but be enemies o f this pure-hearted Apostle. Likewise, those who published books on magic and who dealt in the black arts would be incensed to find his converts in Ephesus making a bonfire o f this devilish trickery.4 One o f his worst beatings came at Philippi5 after he had cast out a “ spirit o f divination” from one o f the cities most successful fortune tellers. Her agents “ seeing that the hope o f their gains were gone” brought pressure on the city magistrates to inflict unmerciful suffering on the one who had dared stop this dishonest flow o f profit. It was in the city o f Ephesus that Demetrius, a maker o f silver shrines for Diana, instigated a city riot.6 Wine-sellers, o f course, found no comfort in the company o f that fiery little Jew who preached against drunkenness and declared flatly that “ drunkards . . . shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” 7 Confrontation with Intellectuals We must not discount the power o f snobbish intellectualism which existed in the days o f Paul. What mental giants abounded in the Greek-speak ing world! To these the Gospel was foolishness.8 “What is this cock sparrow trying to say?” (Phil lips).9 This was asked by certain o f the Epicurian or Stoic philosophers as they allowed the dynamic missionary a stage on Mars Hill to declare his views. So ridiculous was this “ new thing” (about the resurrection) that he was mocked and laughed at to the face.10 This contempt o f scoffers was a sharp sword which cut deeply. Especially would this be true o f one o f Paul’s educational attain ments. What courage and resolution it took to be looked upon as a simpleton and fool for Christ’s sake.1 Confrontation with a Pagan Government Another antagonizing confrontation was with the political chicanery and corruption o f the Ro man government. Under procurator Felix, a bribe taking official, Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea. There, in audience with the governor, he reasoned with such power o f “ righteousness, temperance and judgment to come that Felix trembled” —
Confronting a Pagan World
by Hale H . Means C hr ist ian ity w as not BORN in the breath of sweetly-scented times nor were its first mis sionary thrusts “ blasted off” into a light at mosphere o f non-resistance. Rather, it’s birthplace was a manger o f straw,1 scented by the barnyard and later it’s most powerful exponent a little man from Tarsus whose eyes were dim and often pain ful and who grappled laboriously with a pen, mak ing large, awkward letters,2 so unlike the neat, precise writing o f professional scribes. It was Paul more than any other who with a husky voice and uneloquent speech, yet with a heart hot with love and a zeal unequaled, con fronted a pagan world, preaching in synagogues, stadiums, streets and prison yards and pointed the Gospel in the direction o f its future destiny. Let us observe a few o f those confrontations: Confrontation with His own Nationals The sterile religion o f his own faith, Judaism, brought Paul face to face with almost ceaseless strife. While his Judaic brethren were not pagans as such, yet their efforts were allied with those o f the world to hold back the coming Day which had dawned at the birth o f Jesus. From the day he began preaching in a synagogue in Damascus, this Jewish thorn o f opposition was deeply im bedded and never ceased to fester and ache. Some indeed suppose that this may have been the am biguous “ thorn in the flesh” for which he “ be sought the Lord thrice, that it might depart.” 3 However much Paul suffered from appearances in synagogues o f the Jews, we can but laud his courage and persistence in returning for more. Time after time those public meetings with his own kinsmen in the flesh broke up with harsh quarrels and sometimes violence. Still, like the sun light which shines into places where it is not wel come, Paul carried the message o f the cross inside unfriendly walls where men talked o f religion but so often denied its power. Because o f such continuous efforts in tradition al meeting houses, Paul could never be accused o f being “ anti-establishment.” He was not a wreck
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