[...] Paul as a Culturally-Relevant Bridge-Builder: Paul the Philosopher: Part II [...]

I feel like such an idiot when I comment on this blog site sometimes. Make so many mistakes … Way out of my league … I’m such a newbie and I’m much older than I should be for that status. In any case, I just realized this post was from Paul Copan … not CMP … so my reference to and thanks for the post and willingness to teach is to Paul. Actually also to CMP and to all the people that post and comment on this blog.

I just went back and read the Part 1 of this post too. Very interesting … I too wondered if the Athens speech was a failure or just an illustration that we never know what the response to the message of Christ is going to be. Along with Part 2, I conclude if we go into a scenario to share our Faith with the right heart (led by the Holy Spirit) and preparation (knowledge and understanding of the audience) we can simply trust God with the rest.

GoldCityDance

I honestly can’t tell if you are at odds with something I said about Acts or just supporting in a “tongue in cheek” manner. I have a saying “My joke flag is up” meaning “I’m joking”. I can’t tell if your joking or not.

Wait a minute… You mean to tell me Paul didn’t thump his Bible and proclaim that the Epicureans and Stoics are going to burn in hell because they’re atheists (Epicureans), Devil-worshipping, Eastern religion New Agers (Stoics), hedonists (Epicureans) and intellectuals (Stoics)?

Are you sure you’ve been reading the authentic Luke’s “Book of Acts”?

CMP wrote “As witnesses for Christ, we should be prepared to utilize philosophical and cultural tools to build bridges while offering good reasons for our faith—just as the apostle Paul did.”

I think it goes without saying (is inferred) but I would add … ” with tact and diplomacy and respect toward others and dignity as the Holy Spirit leads with the purpose of bringing people to Christ and assuming that is thier destiny. Certainly, I say thanks for helping people to be more prepared. I am enjoying your posts and the subsequent comment discussions and am learning a lot … even from the disagreements.

I’m very sensitive about these issues of tact because I think an insensitive person sent my own mother on a strange journey away from the truth because of a callous tone on a theological point (Calvinistic) that could have been avoided. I am still in discussions with her to try to mend fences from something that happened to her in the church years ago.

Paul was amazing and I love the story in the book of Acts probably because it is more history and less theology but nonetheless learning about how Christ used him so effectively under such trying circumstances. Inspiring to say the least. And to think it continues today … awesome!