Paul, Tell me your Story.

One of my beloved and respected teachers made a comment about Paul that struck me as being at odds with my ideas about evangelism.  If you know Ogre, you know that I never take anything from any teacher as Gospel unless it dovetails with my understanding of Scripture.  This is not mean as disrespect or arrogance, although both may be perceived, but rather as an inquisitive student who pushes the envelope of any and all he encounters.  That’s why I’m the Ogre.

Paul is known as the Apostle to the Gentiles.  What is also true is that he spent the majority of his ministry visiting and writing churches that were predominantly made up of Jewish converts.  It was well known that Paul was not of the original twelve.  The use of the label “Apostle” on Paul was not received with the same sort of validation of authenticity as it was when referencing Peter or John.  Therefore, Paul often began his Epistles with a defense of his calling as an Apostle.

It has been said that this was an example of Paul telling his story to spread the Gospel.  This is the statement that I will be arguing against.  Starting with Romans, the first Pauline Epistle, Paul discusses his credentials as an Apostle for about one paragraph, then he dives into doctrine.  Paul, in his discussions of doctrine, ALWAYS grounds his arguments in scripture.  The Old Testament is cited by Paul either by direct quote or paraphrase over 70 times in the book of Romans.  Once Paul has finished defending his credentials, which he unfortunately has to do, Paul’s arguments are ALWAYS grounded in scripture, NOT in his experience.  This is an important distinction.

Jesus quoted scripture.  Jesus acted in accordance with what the Old Testament prophets, His prophets, stated would be the actions of the messiah.  Jesus grounded His earthly ministry in Scripture.  Paul always does the same.  He always grounds his arguments in Scripture.

Paul’s letters are a part of scripture.  All of the epistles are Apostolic utterances that have been included in the Canon.  Therefore, Paul's defense of his Apostleship is germane today for his validation as an author of scripture.  Once he has established his Apostolic credentials, his arguments for the Gospel are always about Jesus and His fulfillment of scripture.  He does NOT use his experience as an argument for the Gospel.

What example, then, can we take from the Bible in general, and Paul in particular, for our own evangelistic style?  Peter in his Pentecost sermon in Acts 2 reasons and argues from Scripture.  He doesn’t tell his story.  Granted, many listening know who he is, but his arguments are from Scripture.  Paul argues for the Gospel from Scripture and gives the Christian Evidences, the most important of which is the resurrection.  As a witness to the resurrected Christ, this one portion of Paul’s testimony is relevant.  All of the Apostles have the same portion of their testimony, and it is relevant.  We have these accounts recorded for us in the Bible.  They are the testimonies that are relevant. 

My testimony, as exciting and earth moving as it is to me, is not relevant.  My faith never has converted anyone, nor will it.  My testimony is about as useful as a soaking wet bath towel.  It is the Holy Spirit that converts the elect.  The Holy Spirit works to confirm the Gospel.  Why waste time and space with discussions of my own fascinating and non-reproducible story of conversion when the real Christian evidences are at my disposal.  They are timeless, topical, useful, effective, Scriptural, well documented and appropriate.  Plus, the Holy Spirit doesn’t lift up me or my experience.  The Holy Spirit lifts up the Gospel.

So, please.  Spare me your testimony and I’ll spare you mine.  Evangelism means to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not the story of Ogre, not even the story of Paul.

--Ogre--