I’ve often thought it would be interesting to do a study of
how some new inventions appeared simultaneously on opposite sides of the
globe. Of course, there is nothing new
to God, Spirit, divine Love. He has made
everything good and spiritual. But
mankind may need to prepare thought for the reception of a new idea. So, even though Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
had wonderful sketches of flying machines, a useful device in which to get
airborne did not appear on the world scene until centuries later.
Jesus and Saul/Paul were contemporaries. Saul would surely have been aware of Jesus
ministry, his “gospel” news, his remarkable teaching, and his unsurpassed
healing work. Following Jesus’ trial,
crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, Saul would have watched Jesus’
followers and heard their preaching. The
message of freedom and love would have rung in his ears, especially as Stephen uttered
his final words: “Lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7: 60) before he “fell
asleep.”
Jesus ministry was a brief three years. Paul’s was 10 times that. The two were essential players. We are told that the seven verified letters
of Paul (Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, I Thessalonians
and Philemon) are the very first Christian writings; the Gospels (Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John) probably coming after Paul’s death, around 65AD (not
recorded in Acts).
When our children were teenagers, our family was involved
with a student exchange program whose motto was “not right; not wrong; just
different.” It was a useful lesson to
learn. It is easy for us to feel that
our way of doing things is the only way, the right way. We get comfortable with the “usual” way of doing
things and may feel that this is the “only” way; traditions or habits become
ingrained and we may be shutting the door on different approaches. This can happen even as those old ways are no
longer producing the results desired. Jesus
had burst upon the world’s stage and woken the hearts of a small band of followers. Paul (as Saul) had not been prepared to
listen. After all, he was – he thought,
as a devoted Pharisee – obeying the Law of Moses. But then he had a revelation - “it is hard
for thee to kick against the pricks”. Would
he continue to resist those pricks to his conscience or would he yield? The “scales” fell “from his eyes” and his
life’s mission was made plain.
Henrietta Buckmaster (Paul,
A Man Who Changed the World, p. 91) writes: “Outward signs and symbols were
far easier to require than a changed heart.”
Paul had let go of those outward signs and symbols and now he yearned to
spread that message to a waiting world. Buckmaster
says (p. 76): “Sometimes it seemed as though Paul detested the status quo more
than anything else in the world.” And in regard to Paul’s work with the
Gentiles (non-Jews): “...the whole principle of salvation by grace would be
toppled over if the Gentiles were required to fulfil the law of Moses before
they could enjoy the universal law of grace” (p.90).
Mary Baker Eddy mentions Paul 59 times in Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures and 98 times in her other writings. Without Paul – arguably Jesus greatest disciple
- would Christianity have survived? God
positions His ideas and gives each their unique mission. How important that each of us plays his own
part with courage and integrity.
I love what Eddy writes about Paul and Jesus: “Great only as
good, because fashioned divinely, were those unpretentious yet colossal
characters, Paul and Jesus....these stars of the first magnitude”
(Miscellaneous Writings p. 360).
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Today our Reading Room was abuzz with discussion of Paul and his mighty contribution to Christianity. It was very interesting to read aloud with friends the introductory remarks to the book of Acts by Eugene Petersen (The Message). Once we had read these lively comments about being a participant, not just an observer, we were unable to just stop there, and were impelled to launch right into the book itself. I love that our Reading Rooms provide a forum for this type of sharing.
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