from athens to corinth

I was reading about Paul's account of his visit to Mars Hill in Athens. This was the city that had that altar offered to the "unknown god". Anyway after I read it I was reflecting on the audience that Paul was speaking to. At this time Athens was the intelligentsia of the 1st century world. Finally Paul had an opportunity to speak to an audience that matched his caliber of intellect. Paul's mind was brilliant and his ability to articulate it was just as brilliant. At last! A chance to test his wits and meet these big shots right where they were.

However, most theologians consider Paul's message to the Athenians an utter failure. He walked away from that message with only two conversions. I don't know this to be true, but I think this to be true: Paul had to have left that moment feeling like a total failure. Since Paul was a "get it done and get it done now" type of guy, I don't think two conversions really set well with him. As the dust settled, I'm sure Paul, like most pastors after a sermon, took time to reflect on all that he said and all that he could have said better and all that he wanted to say but forgot to say. Paul preached about so many things that day. He preached about God as a creator setting everything in motion. He told the Athenians that God was the one true God and that their idols are nothing more than carved lifeless images. He even talked about repentance. He preached about everything you could think of...

except for the cross!

He never brought up the cross. He talked about Christ's resurrection, but never once about the cross. There's not one mention Jesus' sacrifice. There's not one mention of the atonement of his blood. There's not one mention of God sending His only son to the slaughter in order to replace our sins.

Now skip forward into Paul's life where we see him plant the church of Corinth. Paul is a different man in Corinth than he was in Athens. We see a more broken man, not committed to articulating the gospel in an impressive way, but solely committed to the full story of redemption. I love that famous line we read in 1st Corinthians:

Ch. 2 Vs. 1-2: And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

I can hear Paul saying to the Corinthians:
"I didn't come to you with lofty words or polished speeches in order to impress."
With tears forming in his eyes,
"No" he says. "I tried that at Athens."

I for one am relieved that Paul's account at Athens is recorded. How many times have I walked onto the pulpit behind that microphone and delivered a message that was all head and no heart. How many hours have I spent trying to find the perfect story or example while barely spending any time praying for the audience of that same message? How much thought have I put into the wording of my manuscript, the manner of my stage presence, and even the look of my wardrobe? How many sermons were wasted because I was trying to impress a crowd? God, forgive me for having my priorities flipped on their back.

To those of you who are in a platform of ministry and carry the heavy sacred responsibility of speaking for God, learn from Paul in his words to Corinth. Learn that just because you may be under the lights and for a moment have the ears of your audience... it is never about you! Never forget to place where preaching the word becomes secondary. Determine in your heart to not know anything except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.