READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l Is a tomato a fruit or not a fruit? It is in fact both a fruit and a vegetable. How can a tomato be a fruit and yet not a fruit at the same time? Such apparent opposites or contradictions often appear in life. Our model of mission consists of two sets of apparent contradictions. We are to be both rational in our approach as well as believe in the supernatural work of God. Furthermore, we are to be both contentious in our presentation of the Gospel as well as blameless in our ways.
Both rational and supernatural
Paul engaged with his hearers intellectually. In vs. 8-9, Paul spoke boldly, reasoned and persuaded with different groups of people. As John Stott concluded, Paul was seeking to convince in order to convert. At the same time, Paul’s mission also met the physical needs of those he met. Vs.11-12 tells of the miraculous healing God brought about through Paul. As a result, God’s Word spread and many came to believe in Jesus. Paul’s model of mission was all encompassing, with both rational witness and miraculous encounters. Both approaches seem to be in opposition. Many of us gravitate towards a rational means in sharing the Gospel due to our upbringing in science and technology. John Lennox, a mathematics professor in Oxford, spoke about the case for believing in miracles. He rebuffed naturalism, which claims that everything arises only from natural properties or causes. Lennox argues that without a belief in the supernatural, man would be unable to explore science. We are not the product of some mindless natural processes. Rather, without a mind guided by a supernatural God, we will never know truth. We cannot reliably believe in any belief system, including atheism. Lennox concludes that it is not irrational to believe in the supernatural and that it is irrational to believe solely in nature. Sadly, there are two extreme expressions of Christianity today. On one hand, there is a hyper-charismatic group which presents faith as an abandonment of rational thinking and intellectual suicide. On the other hand, there is a hyper-logic group which rejects all supernatural and miraculous events. We must avoid both extremes as they stumble those whom we witness to. Our witness must encompass both rational persuasiveness and a belief in God’s supernatural acts. We must be ready to give good reasons for our faith and at the same time, we must be prepared to see God’s sign and wonders.
Both contentious and blameless
The effects of Paul’s mission are described in the latter part of Acts 19. Paul confronted the idols in all his mission fields. Idols may not be necessarily bad but they become idols when we place ultimate value in them For example, money or power are not evil, but we can make them idols in our lives. In Singapore, many make idols of achievement and accomplishment. Expecting our children to do well is clearly not a bad thing but when merit becomes overrated, his or her achievement is valued more than the child. Paul, even when he confronted the idols in Ephesus, did nothing illegal in the eyes of the law. So also, even as we confront the idols in whatever culture we are in, we must remain blameless. We should not compromise the God’s message of salvation but share boldly in a manner that is non-confrontational and to avoid conflict amidst opposition. As we confront injustice and the idols in our society, we should not fight fire with fire. In Matt. 6:16, our Lord teaches the disciples that they are to be shrewd as serpents. In the Chinese translation of the verse, the term 灵巧 is used for “shrewd”. This conveys the meaning of ingenuity or displaying finesse which are invaluable as we face opposition. Paul’s trials and cross examinations recounted in Acts 23-26 mirror that of Jesus as He faced Pontius Pilate. Both Jesus and Paul were found blameless and innocent of the alleged crimes put forward by their enemies.
As we go forth in mission to share the Gospel, let us do so with rational arguments and belief in God’s supernatural power. Let us contend with the idols in our culture but remain blameless just as Christ did.
(Sermon notes by Angela Goh)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Do you personally gravitate more towards reasoned arguments or miraculous experiences? Why? And what are your reservations about the other?
- How does a lack of rationality in our arguments or a lack of belief in the supernatural hurt our Christian witness?
- What are some cultural idols that reside within Singaporean culture today? How might we faithfully confront such idols without inviting unnecessary trouble?
- If Christian mission requires a “both and” approach, what areas do you find yourself lacking in? Are we unwilling to confront our culture’s idols because we don’t want to invite trouble for ourselves?
