I hereby confess that I took all the ideas for this post from a talk that Don Richardson gave at a Perspectives class, but I took the time to write it town.
(8) And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. (9) This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, (10) said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. (11) Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” (12) And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. (13) Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
So here in Acts 14 Paul and Barnabas perform a miraculous act, and rather than this furthering the cause of the gospel, the people begin sacrificing to them as gods. Not exactly what they were going for. How do they react?
(14) But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out (15) and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things?
Well, they are doing these things because, according to their worldview, if someone performed a miracle they must be a god. Don’t worry. Paul has more to say. Lets see how they react.
We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, (16) who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. (17) Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
Now that is one good argument. Wonder if it worked.
(18) And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
How frustrating is that? First, you heal someone, and then you give a good apologetic argument for existence of one true God, and they still sacrifice to you!
(19) Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
Rough day. You heal someone and everyone thinks you’re a god. Then you give a good speech on why they shouldn’t sacrifice to you and they do it anyway. Lastly, the Jews show up and convince this fickle crowd to stone you and drag you out of the city.
This is a common problem for all missionaries. People filter everything they come in contact with through their worldview. Lycaonianites, or whatever they are, believe in the Greek gods. Someone performs a miracle they must be a god. When you come in contact with a god you sacrifice animals to them. Paul rips his shirt, a common Jewish way of showing you are upset, and they probably all wonder “I guess gods don’t care much for clothing.” Paul gives a great sermon about the one true God and no one cares.
This is why you should read a book called Eternity in Their Hearts by Don Richardson. Go ahead and click on the link. Also you should go to www.perspectives.org and find a class offered near you.
Missionaries often spend years studying about their people group’s customs and beliefs to learn how they think. Only after all this studying can they learn how to make the gospel make sense to a culture radically different than their own. In Peace Child by Don Richardson, the author tells his story of being a missionary to a tribe in New Guinea whose highest virtue is betrayal. After finally learning enough of their language to share with them they all think Judas is the hero of the story! Right when he is about to abandoned all hope he learns about their custom of a “peace child”. It is one of the most moving stories you can ever read.
