Aug
26
Keep At It
Filed Under Devotional
I’ve been learning some tactical details about how to share my faith in conversation with those asking questions or even those standing firm on shaky ideas. The thing I see over and over is that when people are backed into a logical corner, they appeal to emotion, change the subject, or start calling you names. In fact, they often just want to distract you so they can exit the conversation. There’s something gratifying about knowing that reason is on my side and, yet, there is something frustrating about knowing that once their reasoning has been dismantled, they won’t submit. That’s human nature, I guess.
I was reading about Paul’s trial in front of Festus and King Agrippa and saw the very same things happen to Paul:
” ‘But I have had God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.’
At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. ‘You are out of your mind, Paul!’ he shouted. ‘Your great learning is driving you insane.’” Acts 26:22-24
So, before Paul can even finish his presentation, Festus interrupts with an emotional charge by accusing Paul of being crazy. There’s no reasoned defense there. No careful analysis of Paul’s ideas. Just random accusation, because Festus couldn’t rebut the ideas!
” ‘I am not insane, most excellent Festus,’ Paul replied. ‘What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.’
Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ ” Acts 26:25-28
Paul charges ahead and reminds them both that he’s making a reasonable argument and reminding Agrippa that what he knows from history fits perfectly with the story of Jesus. Paul knows it fits and he knows that Agrippa is smart enough to see it. Still, the king is not interested. His response is dismissal. As if believing in Christ would take some kind of long, arduous transformation. Paul is pointing out that this isn’t a change of faith or a change of history. Jesus is the fulfillment of all of that history. Agrippa dodges the question because he doesn’t like the reasonable conclusions he brings him to.
Jesus was prophesied and predicted for hundreds and thousands of years. And, yet, when He appeared, many people resisted simply because He changed the patterns of life.
Paul pushed on, though. Paul didn’t stop teaching and preaching. He knew he had the truth on his side. That’s the encouragement we should take with us the next time someone ducks out of a conversation because they can’t refute our reasoning. You can’t convert them all, but you have to keep at it.