Acts 24 picks up the story with Paul being brought before Marcus Antonius Felix, a Roman governor (52-58). The Jewish religious leaders concurred that Paul was a troublemaker and a “plague” who caused trouble “all around the world” stirring up riots. Paul offers his reasoned defense so that Felix, knowing about “The Way,” put off the religious leaders, waiting until Lysius, the Tribune arrived.
It’s impossible to pinpoint exactly what was said, but Paul reasoned out his faith with Felix. The word, “reasoned” means that Paul had a well-thought through discourse with him. He didn’t preach at him. He had a thoughtful discussion with him! Paul focused on three things – righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment. The space is too short to cover all three but it dawned on me that Paul speaks to at least three questions that all people seem to have:
1. If righteousness is a relational “right standing” with another (and everyone wants this in one way or another!), how does one receive a right standing with God?
2. Why is it that I can’t seem to consistently do what it right? Why is it that I know so much and yet my will seems “bent” toward the opposite of what I know to be good? What principle is working in me that seems to oppose my desire for self-control? And if I fail in self-control what does that do relationally to my sense of right standing with another? With God?
3. Why do I judge? What does it tell me if I realize I am incapable of not judging? What am I appealing to when I judge? If I judge am I not admitting that there will be an outside judgment by which everyone’s actions will be judged? And if I’m not appealing to a universal truth, what I am then appealing to?
What would it look like if our evangelism was Holy Spirit aided and empowered discussions that were thoughtful yet leaving evangelistic “time bombs” in people’s laps that nagged at the deep existential crisis people sense?
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