The Origin of an Altar - An Investigation into the History of Athens

Ministers of the Gospel Series - Part 4

In part 3, we briefly looked at Acts xvii. and the sermon that Paul preached to the Athenians. Paul's presentation of the gospel began in the context of an altar that he had found among their countless idols. 

“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. " (Acts xvii. 22 - 23)

This altar and its inscription was a tool that Paul used to further the gospel in that particular place. Have you ever paused to wonder how that altar, inscribed to an unknown god, came to be in that city? The answer to this question is not recorded in the bible - but it is recorded in history! 

"Sometime during the sixth century before Christ, in a council chamber on Mars Hill, Athens:

"Tell us, Nicias, what advice has the Pythian oracle sent with you? Why has this plague come upon us? And why did our numerous sacrifices avail nothing?" Cool eyed Nicias faced the council president squarely.

 "The priestess declares that our city lies under a terrible curse. A certain god has placed this curse upon us because of King Megacles' grievous crime of treachery against the followers of Cylon. "

"Yes, yes! I recall that," said another council member grimly. "Megacles obtained the surrender of Cylon's followers with a promise of amnesty. Then he promptly violated his own word and slew them! But which god still holds this crime against us? We have offered atoning sacrifices to all the gods!"

"Not so," replied Nicias. "The priestess says still another god remains unappeased."   

"Who could he be?" The elders asked, eyeing Nicias incredulously.

"That I cannot tell you." Nicias said. "The oracle herself does not seem to know his name. She said only that..." Nicias paused, surveying the anxious faces of his colleagues. Meanwhile, the tumult of a thousand dirges echoed from the stricken city around them. Nicias continued, "... we must send a ship at once to Knossos, on the island of Crete, and fetch a man named Epimenides here to Athens. The priestess assures me that he will know how to appease that offended god, thus delivering our city."

"Is there no man of sufficient wisdom here in Athens?" Blurted an indignant elder. "Must we appeal for help to a ... a foreigner?"

"If you know a man of sufficient wisdom in Athens, summon him." Said Nicias. "If not, let us simply do as the oracle commands."

Cold wind - cold as if chilled by the terror in Athens - swept through the white marble council chamber on Mars Hill. One elder after another pulled his magisterial robe around his shoulders and weighed Nicias' words. 

"Go on our behalf, my friend," said the president of the council. "Fetch this Epimenides, if he will hear your plea. And if he delivers our city we will reward him." Other members of council concurred. The calm - voiced Nicias arose, bowed before the assembly, and left the chamber. Descending Mars Hill, he headed for the harbor at Piraeus, two leagues distant by the Bay of Phaleron. A ship stood at anchor. 

...

Epimenides stepped briskly ashore at Piraeus, followed by Nicias. The two men set out at once for Athens, gradually recovering their "land legs" after the long sea journey from Crete. As they entered the already world famous "city of philosophers," signs of the plague were everywhere. But Epimenides noticed something else - 

"Never have I seen so many gods!" the Cretan exclaimed to his guide, blinking in amazement. Phalanxes of idols lined both sides of the road from Piraeus. Still other gods in their hundreds festooned a rocky escarpment called the Acropolis. A later generation of Athenians would build the Parthenon there.

"How many gods does Athens have?" Epimenides added. 

"Several hundred at least!" Nicias replied.

"Several hundred!" Epimendes exclaimed. "Gods must be easier to find here than men!"

"Well said!" Councilman Nicias chuckled. "Who knows how many proverbs men have coined about 'Athens, the city glutted with gods.' As well haul rock to a quarry as bring another god to our city!" Nicias stopped in his tracks, pondering his own words. "And yet," he began thoughtfully, "the Pythian oracle declares that we Athenians have yet another god to reconcile. And you, Epimenides, are to provide the necessary liaison. Apparently, in spite of what I have said, we Athenians still do need another god!" Suddenly Nicias threw back his head and laughed. "For the life of me, Epimenides, I cannot guess who this other god could be. We already ransacked the theologies of many peoples around us, gathering every deity we can possibly transport to our city by cart or by ship!"

"Perhaps that is your problem," said Epimenides mysteriously. Nicias blinked at Epimenides without comprehension. How he itched for clarification of that final remark. But something in Epimenides' demeanor hushed him. Moments later they came to an ancient marble floored stoa near the council chamber on Mars Hill. Word of their arrival had already reached the elders of Athens. The council sat waiting.

"Epimenides, we are grateful for your -" began the president of the assembly.

"Learned elders of Athens, there is no need to thank me," Epimenides interrupted. "Tomorrow at sunrise bring a flock of sheep, a band of stonemasons, and a large supply of stones and mortar to the grassy slope at the foot of this sacred rock. The sheep must all be healthy and of different colours - some white, some black. I will now rest from my journey. Call me at dawn." Members of the council exchanged curious glances as Epimenides strode across the stoa to a quiet alcove, pulled his cloak around him for a blanket, and sat down. 

The president turned to a junior member of the council. "See that all is done as he commands."

...

"The sheep are here," said the junior member meekly. Epimenides, tousled and drowsy with sleep, emerged from his resting place and followed the messenger to the grassy slope at the base of Mars Hill. Two flocks - one of black and white sheep and one of councilmen, shepherds, and stonemasons - stood waiting beneath a rising sun. Hundreds of citizens, haggard from another night of nursing the plague - stricken and mourning the dead, climbed the surrounding hillocks and watched in suspense.

"Learned elders," Epimenides began, "you have already expended great effort in offering sacrifices to your numerous gods, yet all has proved futile. I am now about to offer sacrifices based upon three assumptions rather different from yours. My first assumption..." Every eye was fixed upon the tall Cretan; every ear tuned itself to catch his next word. "...is that there is still another god concerned in the matter of this plague - a god whose name is unknown to us and who is therefore not represented by any idol in your city. Secondly, I am going to assume that this god is great enough - and good enough - to do something about the plague, if only we invoke his help."

"Invoke a god whose name is unknown?" Blurted an elder. "Is that possible?"

"The third assumption is my answer to your question." Epimenides countered. "That assumption is a very simple one. Any god great enough and good enough to do something about the plague is probably also great enough and good enough to smile upon us in our ignorance - if we acknowledge our ignorance and call upon him!" Murmurs of approval mingled with the bleating of hungry sheep. Never had the elders of Athens heard this line of reasoning before. But why, they wondered, must the sheep be of different colours? 

"Now," called Epimenides, "prepare to release the sheep upon the sacred slope! Once you have released them, permit each animal to graze where it will. But let a man follow each animal and watch it closely." Then, looking up to heaven, Epimenides prayed in a very rich and supremely confident voice: "O thou unknown god! Behold the plague afflicting this city! And if indeed you feel compassion to forgive and help us, behold this flock of sheep! Reveal your willingness to respond, I plead, by causing any sheep that pleases you to lie down upon the grass instead of grazing. Choose white if white pleases; black if black delights. And those you choose we sacrifice to you - acknowledging our pitiful ignorance of your name!" Epimenides bowed his head, sat down on the grass and waved a signal to the shepherds guarding the flock. Slowly the shepherds stepped aside. The sheep eagerly spread out across the hillside and began to graze. Epimenides, meanwhile, sat as still as a statue, his eyes to the ground. 

"It's hopeless," a frowning councilman muttered under his breath. "It's early morning and I've seldom seen a flock so eager to graze. Not a one will choose to rest until its belly is full, and who will then believe 'twas a god that caused it to recline?"

"Epimenides must have chosen this time of day on purpose, then!" Responded Nicias. "Only thus may we know that a sheep which lies down does so by the will of this unknown god and not by its own inclination!" Nicias had hardly finished speaking when a shepherd shouted,

"Look!" Every eye turned to see a choice ram buckle its knees and settle into the grass.

"And here's another!" Roared a startled councilman, beside himself with wonder. Within minutes a number of choice sheep lay resting on grass too succulent for any hungry herbivore to resist - under normal circumstances!

"If only one rested, we'd have said it must be sick!" The president of the council exclaimed. "But this! This can only be an answer!" Turning with awe filled eyes, he said to Epimenides, "What shall we do now?"

"Separate the sheep that are resting," the Cretan replied, raising his head for the first time since he had called upon his unknown god, "and mark the place where each one lay. Then let your stone masons build altars - one on each animal's resting place!" Enthusiastic masons set to work mortaring stones. By late afternoon the mortar was sufficiently hardened. Every altar stood ready for use.

"Which god's name shall we engrave upon these altars?" Asked an over - eager junior councilman. All heads turned to hear the Cretans reply. 

"Name?" Replied Epimenides thoughtfully. "The Deity whose help we seek has been pleased to respond to our admission of ignorance. If we now pretend to be knowledgeable by engraving a name when we have not the slightest idea what His name may be, I fear we shall only offend Him!"

"We must not take that chance," the president of the council agreed. "But surely there must be some appropriate way to ...to dedicate each altar before it is used."

"You are right, learned elder," Epimenides said with a rare smile. "There is a way. Simply inscribe the words agnosto theo- to an unknown god - upon the side of each altar. Nothing more is necessary."

The Athenians engraved the words that their Cretan counselor advised. Then they sacrificed each "dedicated" sheep upon the altar marking the spot where that sheep had rested. Night fell. By dawn the next day the plague's deadly grip upon the city had already loosened. Within a week, the stricken recovered. Athens overflowed with praise to Epimenides' 'unknown God'....

Within the passage of time, however, the people of Athens forgot the mercy that this God had bestowed upon them. They returned to the worship of several hundred gods who had proved helpless to remove the curse from their city." - *Don Richardson, Eternity in Their Hearts

The Athenians would hear no more of this great and good God for several hundred years. Until Paul, invited by the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers, stepped foot on the Areopagus - The meeting place of the Mars Hill council. That very same hill on which Epimenides called for the compassion of a god he didn't know how to address! 

In a city crowded with idols, Paul needed to identify the one, true God. Remarkably God had gone ahead of Paul and had already showed Himself to this people - preparing the way for the gospel message to be understood! Paul had simply to remind the people of the 'unknown god of Epimenides' who had shown them such great compassion. All that was needed to teach the Athenians the way to salvation had already been accomplished by God Himself. He used Epimenides, who didn't even know His name, and Paul as instruments to accomplish His purpose - bring salvation to Athens -  but it was He who had both the plan and the power. Likewise, we are tools in the hand of God when it comes to witnessing. The Christian is called to "be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." (1 Peter iii. 15). Yet it is God who prepares the way and turns each heart. 

The Proverbs instruct:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs iii. 5 -6)

6 This is what Paul chose to do in Athens. He did not lean on his own understanding but looked for God's direction. He was shown an altar, which God had prepared in advance, and with it discovered the way to make the gospel clear. Paul acknowledge God and searched for His hand. *There is evidence that, at some point, Paul understood the historical background of the altar to the unknown God. At the very least, we know that Paul was familiar with the writings of that very Epimenides, who was a poet. For Paul quotes the writings of this man in his letter to Titus which was intended to guide him in his dealings with the churches on the isle of Crete.

"Even one of their own prophets has said, 'Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, and lazy gluttons.' This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith." (Titus i. 12 -13)

When Paul described Epimenides - 'one of their own prophets' - he used the Greek word propheetees which is the same word that he uses to speak of the old testament prophets of God in other scriptures. In using this address, Paul places an honour upon Epimenides that would indicate his knowledge of the man's service to the one, true God. Thus, it is probable that Paul at some point had the privalledge to understand the miraculous way in which His sovereign God had equipped him to minister to the people of Athens! 

We also see that Epimenides three deductions - that God was good, great and compassionate - are all true. Though he did not know Him by name, Epimenides was shown something of the character of God. He served Him, in accordance to those findings. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob heard the prayer of Epimenides and answered. Just as He had revealed Himself to the idolater Abram, calling him to leave his gods to become His people, so God also revealed Himself to Epimenides and the idolaters in Athens. 

God prepared a means to enable Paul to explain the gospel and He gave Epimenides understanding so he could make an appeal for God's mercy. These are not the only examples of Him aiding His creations in their search for Him. In addition to the prophecies, the old testament is filled with illustrations of the work Christ would do. For example, Abraham was asked to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, as a picture of God offering up His own Son as an atoning sacrifice. Though his life was preserved, Isaac was a picture of the Lamb who would be slain! Preparing to people of Israel to understand when Jesus, like Isaac, carried the wood for the offering on His back - in the form of the cross. This is only one illustration out of many that God in Hisalmighty power  prepared for the purpose of directing the Israelites' eyes to their Messiah. In his books, Peace Child and Eternity in Their Hearts, Don Richardson documented that examples like these can be found, not only in Israel and Athens, but in the history of people groups all over the world!  

Each of us in sharing the gospel act as a messenger of the Most High God and we can find confidence in the fact that our God has gone before us - preparing the way. He also goes with us. Jesus said to, "go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew xxviii. 19 -20) It is in this assurance that we open our mouths to speak of Him. Knowing that He has a plan that is perfect and perfectly prepared before us. It is our job to trust in the One who goes before us, look for the paths He has prepared, and open our mouths to speak the gospel. He has promised to do the rest.

"Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant," (2 Corinthians iii. 1-6) 

In Christ

quiana

* This story is largely based upon a tradition recorded as history by Diogenes Laerticus (a Greek author of the third century A.D.) in The Lives of Eminent Philosophers. The basic elements of his account include that Epimenides, a Cretan hero, responded to a request from Athens, which was brought by a man named Nicias. He was asked to advise the city in the matter of a plague. Arriving in Athens, Epimenides obtained a flock of black and white sheep and set them loose on Mars Hill instructing men to follow and mark the places where any lay down. The Athenians offered up any of the sheep that rested in a sacrifice upon unnamed altars created for that purpose. In result the plague lifted from the city.

Other details regarding the cause of the plague were taken from an editor's footnote in Aristotle's, The Art of Rhetoric. (found in the Loeb Classical Library, translated by J.H.Freese and published in Cambridge, Massachusetts.) A passage in Plato's Laws states that a Pythian oracle instructed the Athenians to summon Epimenides.

Diogenes Laerticus did not mention that the words agnosto theo were inscribed on the altars. However, two other ancient writers, Pausanias, in Description of Greece and Philostratus, in Appolonius of Tyana refer to 'alters of the unknown god', implying that an inscription to that effect was engraved upon them.

All research of the sources above and the connection between Epimenides and Paul's words in Titus are the findings of Don Richardson, Eternity in Their Hearts

With Boldness, With Clarity - Another Story from the Tedwoth Estate

Ministers of the Gospel Series - Part 3

In part one of this series we learned from the story of Edward Studd - his conversion and following passion to see souls saved. Now we are going to hear about three of his sons. All of Mr. Studd's oldest boys were away at college when their father was converted. Thus, when he invited them to meet him in Town for the day, "they thought he was going to take them to a theater or some other show. They got a shock when the discovered it was, "God Talk!" He took them to hear D.L. Moody.

"Before that time," C.T. Studd said later, "I used to think that religion was a Sunday thing, like one's Sunday clothes, to be put away on Monday morning. We boys were brought up to go to church regularly, but, although we had a kind of religion, it didn't amount to much. It was just like having a toothache. We were always sorry to have Sunday come and glad when it was Monday morning. The Sabbath was the dullest day of the whole week, just because we had got hold of the wrong end of religion. Then all at once I had the good fortune to meet a real, live, play-the-game Christian. It was my own father. But it did make one's hair stand on end. Everyone in the house had a dog's life of it until they were converted. I was not altogether pleased with him. He used to come into my room at night and ask if I was converted. After a time, I used to sham sleep when I saw the door open, and in the day I crept round the other side of the house when I saw him coming." - C. T. Studd as quoted by Norman Grubb in C.T. Studd Cricketer and Pioneer

C.T. Studd had no interest in the gospel message. Despite his father's dogged pursuit of his soul, he simply didn't care to have any more religion. He was safe, in his own opinion, and couldn't be persuaded to consider the danger that still threatened him  - or so it seemed. In the two year period between Edward Studd's own conversion and his untimely death, all of his three, oldest sons discovered for themselves what it meant to be born again. Though Mr. Studd sowed seeds in their hearts it was not he who reaped that harvest.

Every weekend Mr. Studd invited men down to his house to preach the gospel to the crowds of people that he himself invited in. On one particular weekend, when all three of his sons were home, two such men were staying at the house. One they liked quite well but the other was a "milksop" in their opinion. Thus, they determined to be rather rotten to him. On one afternoon, they took Mr.W out riding. They could easily see that he didn't have a very sure seat and so they took the opportunity to make the ride as miserable as possible. The next afternoon the preacher got them back - in a way. Charles Studd recounted the event as follows:

"As I was going out to play cricket, he (Mr.W) caught me unawares and asked,

"Are you a Christian?"

"I am not what you call a Christian." I said. "I have believed on Jesus Christ since I was knee high. Of course, I believe in the Church too." I thought, by answering him pretty close, that I would get rid of him; but he stuck as tight as wax and said,

"Look here, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." You believe Jesus Christ died?"

"Yes."

"You believe He died for you?"

"Yes."

"Do you believe the other half of the verse - "shall have everlasting life?""

"No," I said "I don't believe that."

"Now don't you see that your statement contradicts God? Either God or you is not speaking truth, for you contradict one another. Which is it? Do you think that God is a liar?"

"No."

"Well, then, aren't you inconsistent, believing one half of the verse and not the other half?"

"I suppose I am."

"Well, are you always going to be inconsistent?"

"No," I said, "I suppose not always."

"Will you be consistent now?" I saw I was cornered and I began thinking, if I go out of this room inconsistent I wont carry very much self - respect. So I said,

"Yes, I will be consistent."

"Well, don't you see that eternal life is a gift? When someone gives you a present at Christmas, what do you do?"

"I take it and say "thank you.""

"Will you thank God for this gift?" Then I got down on my knees and I did say 'thank you' to God. Right then and there joy and peace came into my soul. I knew then what it was to be 'born again,' and the Bible, which had been so dry to me before, became everything." - C. T. Studd as quoted by Norman Grubb in C.T. Studd Cricketer and Pioneer

It was not until the boys got back to college that they realized that Mr.W had brought, not just one, but all three of them to the Lord in a single afternoon. The man, though not a very skilled rider, proved excellent at the task of winning souls! Could the same be said of us?

As Christians we all share in this calling. The commission that Christ left was as much for you and I as for Mr.W. Yet many of us feel unequipped to carry out this task; unskilled in the art of saving souls. The good news is that we are not required to save souls - that is the work of our Lord Himself (which we will look into further in next weeks post). We are required, however, to preach this gospel, both through action and in word. Thankfully the ability to do this job well is not reserved only for those with a gift for preaching. 2 Peter i.3 tells us that, God's "divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." We can safely assume, therefore, that He has provided that which is necessary to do the work that He asks of us.

In letters that he wrote to the believers of the early church, Paul asked them to pray for him as he preached the gospel. He wanted them to pray that God would open a door for the word, that he would be given words, and that he might declare the gospel boldly and with clarity.

"At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak." (Colossians iv. 4)

"and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." (Ephesians vi. 19 - 20) 

Mr.W, and even the apostle Paul, needed God to equip them to spread this message. Paul's two prayers were answered and ours can be as well!

Although there are many things that can be learned about the effectual deliverance of the gospel, there are two things in particular that characterized the words of these men. They spoke with clarity and they spoke with boldness. 

1. Clarity

To make the gospel clear we must first identify our audience. When we preach the gospel we are teaching people what God has done to save them, how He accomplished it, and why. Thus, we are playing the role of a teacher. Regardless of the subject, a good teacher prepares by learning about their student. They seek to discover what the student does or doesn't know, what they may have misconceptions about, and even how they learn best. This gives them the information they require to help that student learn. So in ministering the gospel, our fist step should be to understand the person we are witnessing to.

"Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. " (Colossians iv. 5- 6)

It takes humility to listen before you speak. To be willing to learn when we are ready to teach. Sometimes we don't want to take the time and at other times we are afraid to ask about someone else's beliefs because we don't know how to properly speak to them. We don't want to get started on a different belief system and be unable to find our way back to the gospel. Yet we cannot abandon listening because it is a very important first step. How can we hope to change a person's belief when we refuse to hear what it is that they believe? C.T. Studd had grown up going to church, he knew what God's word said and yet he was neglecting to believe in the gift of eternal life. If Mr.W had not taken the time to ask Charles questions he would have merely repeated the same story that C.T. had already heard so many times and done nothing to alter the state of the young man's soul. 

In the parable of the sower (Matthew xiii. 1 -23, Mark iv. 1 -20, or Luke viii. 4 -15), Jesus explained that people's hearts are in different states. Some are ready, some are distracted, some are hardened, and some are not prepared to suffer for their faith. Because of this the 'seed' of the gospel will not always be received in the same way. The gospel needs to be spoken into each of these circumstances, regardless of where the person is at, but how we present it should be adapted to serve them. Jesus did not explain the gospel in the same way to the rich young ruler as He did to the Samaritan woman He met by the well. He knew the people and answered them according to where they were at. 

There are two sermons in the book of Acts which can serve to demonstrate this point for us. The first is found in Acts ii. when Peter preaches to the crowds in Jerusalem after the Holy Spirit has come upon the believers at Pentecost. In his message, Peter makes several references to scripture, he speaks of Jesus as someone who they knew, and he speaks of God without specifically identifying who He is. This he was able to do because of who his audience was. They were Jews who worshiped the one, true God - the God of whom Peter spoke. They had known Jesus and when Peter quoted God's word they knew what he was referencing and they believed in the authority of those scriptures. Because Peter knew his audience, what they already believed and what they had yet to understand, he was able to go straight to the work of Jesus and His perfect fulfillment of the prophecies. When Paul spoke in Acts xvii. the people did not have this previous understanding. They were idol worshippers, who were unaware as yet of the ministry of Christ. If they were going to understand the gospel Paul needed to go back to the very beginning and establish who and what he was talking about.

“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. " (Acts xvii. 22 - 23)

Paul started his explanation not from scripture but from the context of their beliefs. Making use of the opportunity that God had given - in that they had an alter to an unknown God. From this point he was able to teach them of the God who they truly did not know. Earlier in Acts xvii. we are told that the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who first talked to Paul did not understand his preaching of Jesus and His resurrection. Without changing the life - saving message of the gospel, Paul adapted it so that his audience might understand it better. Both Peter and Paul spoke to their audiences with an understanding of where they were coming from. In Paul's case this took some learning. He had to observe the beliefs of the people of Athens and we may have to listen to the beliefs of others as well. Yet this effort allows us to speak the message of salvation in a way that will be  valid to the ones we are speaking to. 

Once we have clarity as to how we aught to speak, we also need to be clear in speaking the gospel message itself. It is easy to feel at a loss as to where you should begin - there is so much that a new believer needs to know! Yet if we pause to think about it, the gospel message itself is not a complicated one. There are many verses in the Bible that state it in just one or two sentences. For example:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John iii. 16)

"For Christ also died once for sins, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit." (1 Peter iii. 18)

"And you who were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, by cancelling out the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." (Colossians ii. 13 -14) 

Although there is more to be told, it is good to begin with the simplicity of Christ. Knowledge cannot be attained all at once; it must be learned in lessons. So while we must not change the gospel message we should realize that we may not be able to explain the entirety of what Christ accomplished all at once. When we attempt to, it is easy for both us and the one who we are trying to teach to become confused. Paul, speaking to the Corinthians, said, "When I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians ii. 1 -2).

2. Boldness

The Miriam Webster dictionary gives two definitions for boldness that can be applied to the task of witnessing. The first is to be 'fearless before danger.' This harkens back to the lesson we learned from the story of the Waldensians, last week. Fear is a great deterrent in witnessing. Though it can have many causes, they all share the same solution - perfect love casts out all fear. God's love toward us is perfect and unwavering even in the midst of trials. It enables us say as the Psalmist did, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Psalm cxviii. 6). In addition to this, God can impart to us a selfless love for others. A love that 'does not seek it's own', but causes us to be more concerned with the eternal fate of those who do not belong to the Lord than with any harm that could threaten us. In 1 Timothy i.7, Paul encourages Timothy saying, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 

The second definition of being bold is to 'overstep the boundaries of propriety (socially acceptable conduct or speech)'. At first glance that may not seem like a form of boldness that would be beneficial for us to apply. But in a society, like ours, which has deemed that it is unacceptable to speak of God's gift of salvation in a public setting, or to care enough for the soul of another to ask them to reconsider their views, the boundaries need to be overstepped. 

"So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts iv. 18 - 20)

When the culture tells us not to do that which God has told us to do we obey God! Yet when we even against severe opposition we must remember that this kind of boldness also requires God's love to be effective. Our boldness must come only from a humble desire to win their souls. 

"A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." (2 Timothy ii. 24-26)

Boldness and clarity are two characteristics that should be present in each one of us as ministers of the gospel. They are both gifts of God for which we can ask Him and according to His perfect design they work together to temper each other and aid us as 'fishers of men'. However, they find their proper function only when moved by the love God has for us and by the love which He has given us for the souls that are lost. I pray that God will grant you the ability to both make the gospel clear and declare it boldly! 

In Christ

quiana

A Faithful Witness - The Story of the Waldensians

Ministers of the Gospel Series - Part 2

Gaspar hesitated at the town's threshold, to go further could cost him his life. Go on, he told himself, you can't give in to fear!  But the reluctance in his mind had already spread to his legs. He could force them no further.

Adriel had gone on a little way before he realized that his young student was no longer with him. Anxiously he glanced back, but the boy was not to be seen. He shook his head and began retracing his steps, I might have expected as much - it is his first trip. 

He found Gaspar sitting on the cobblestone of a side street; his back against the wall of a house; his face hidden in his hands. 

Gaspar lifted his head at the sound of the approaching footsteps. He searched his teacher's face, expecting to find either reproach or disappointment. Instead he was met by a smile. 

Gaspar averted his eyes. How does he manage to have patience even with a coward?  

He bit his lip, "How is this fear to be overcome?" 

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love..." 

"Casts out fear."

Adriel nodded. "Right." 

The boy sighed. "I'm afraid I do not possess that sort of love." 

The older man laughed aloud. "Of course you do! In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. The love you need has been purchased for you through His sacrifice."

Gaspar's brow furrowed. "That is His love for me. Not mine for others." 

Adriel extended his hand to Gaspar and lifted him up from the ground. "We love because He first loved us. The love for others comes from Him." 

Without pausing to close his eyes or bow his head, Gaspar breathed a silent prayer. 

As soon as they turned back onto the main street, Gaspar felt the same reluctance. It may be a step closer to persecution, but it is also a step closer to saving their souls. He told himself. He felt Adriel's hand upon his shoulder. They continued on together and entered the town. 

The two came as merchants, carrying all manner of materials. From linen to silks that were not easily attainable in the heart of France. 

"Such wares," Adriel had explained on their journey, "shall find us a welcome in the humble peasant’s cottage and the baron’s castle alike."

The truth of this statement Gaspar now saw for himself. They had only knocked upon two doors before they were invited into a home. 

The youth watched Adriel carefully, waiting for him to tell their customers what they had really come to offer. He dreaded the approach of the topic and yet he was eager that they should speak of it before his new found resolve abandoned him. To his bewilderment, Adriel said nothing and they left the house without sharing the gospel.

"You had an opportunity and yet you did not speak. Why?"

"They were not yet ready to hear the message."

Gaspar’s eyebrows rose. "How do you know that?"

"Because I asked the Lord to show me. In every house, I pray for discernment to know if our message will be received there."

"Is that not fear?"

"No, it is caution. It is true that caution can be the suggestion of fear. When it is, it stills the tongue, but when caution comes of wisdom it teaches the tongue when to speak." 

Adriel reached to knock upon another door and Gaspar took the matter to thought.

Into this home also they were welcomed. The family that resided here seemed to be neither wealthy nor poor. The lady of the house was careful to stay within their means. She bypassed the silks and the wool alike, sorting carefully through the linens.

Three young children played on the floor nearby. Two girls who were slightly older crowded near her, offering many suggestions on what she ought to purchase though she paid them little heed. 

Adriel nodded to Gaspar as he began to pack away the unselected items.

"I see, Madam, that you have little care for our more extravagant wares. Still I wonder if I couldn't interest you in the most valuable possession that I have to offer. It would cost you all that you have to acquire it but it is a treasure of the utmost worth. It's a pearl of great price..."

The Waldensian's Problem

The Waldensians lived in a land where the circulation of the Bible was illegal. Only those in the hierarchy of the church had access to the scriptures. They were also the only ones educated enough to read the language in which the Bible was written. The Waldensians were the first group of "common people" to attain a translation of the Bible in a language that they could understand. 

As they began reading God's word for themselves, they discovered that the orders of their Lord, Jesus Christ, opposed the regulations that had been set up by the Roman Catholic Church. A church which was the ultimate authority of the time. 

Among many other issues, the Waldensians disagreed with the church's stance on witnessing.

"In the eyes of Rome, the Waldensian heresy was one of orthopraxy rather than doctrine. Their sin was to take the Great Commission too literally—"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you," (Matthew xxiix. 19 - 20) rather than leaving this to the professional clergy class, which, according to its apologists, alone was "to preach, and exercise an office which was confided to the Apostles and to their successors only." - Geoffrey Bodkin, Excerpt from Article: Lessons from the Waldensians 

The Waldensians didn’t believe one could take the command of Christ ‘too literally’. For this reason they were faced with a predicament similar to that of the early church Christians. Like Peter and John they had to say to the religious leaders of the time,

 “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge." (Acts iv. 19)

In accordance to their convictions and in defiance of the Roman Catholic Church, the lay people, including the women, preached the gospel. Each one of them understood Christ's death on the cross personally and they knew that His work had power to save people from their sins. Thus, in the midst of a religious culture that taught that confessions, penances, and purgatory were necessary to pay for one's sins, the Waldensians told the people that the gift of God was free and was the sole means of forgiveness and salvation. 

This resulted in excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church and in them being denounced as heretics. Then the Waldensians began to face a campaign of fierce persecution. Persecution that was to continue for hundreds of years. 

Their lands and possessions were seized. The men, women, and children alike were tortured and murdered, by the thousands, in the most brutal ways. Still they would not relent. They would not agree to merely practice the truth for themselves. They had a precious light and they were determined that they would share it with any who would listen to them. So it was, that, for hundreds of years, the Waldensians sent missionaries out over the greater part of Europe in spite of the persecution.

Silenced by Fear?

When it comes to sharing the gospel, many of us have been silenced by fear. Afraid of the possibility of being ridiculed, of damaging our reputation, of loosing a job or friendship, or of being inaccurate in our presentation of the facts. 

Our fear has deterred us from speaking of the work that our God has accomplished. We think that the cause of our fear must go away before that fear can be overcome but this is not the case. 

The Waldensians were threatened by dangers that far exceeded anything we have had to face. If they spoke of the gospel it was not only they who could be killed but their wives, husbands, or little ones with them. Yet though the fear they faced was insurmountable they did not buckle under it. They did not fall back or fall silent. 

How?

The Waldensians had discovered the antidote for fear. Something that could push them through it. That antidote was love.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears has not been made perfect in love."(1 John iv. 18) 

Fear is not cast out by the absence of danger, but rather by the presence of love. Thousands of Waldensians faced slow, painful deaths. They experienced everything that they should have feared and yet they did so without fear.

Fear that was of a stronger degree than any we have yet had to face, fell away before the perfect love these people possessed.

The Waldensians understood that there are two demonstrations of love that are important in overcoming the fear of sharing of the gospel. It is these that we too need to understand:

1. Christ's Love For Us

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John iv. 10)

If we are going to talk about love we need to start with God’s love for us.

God's love is what love is meant to be. It is unfailing, faithful, undeterred, selfless. It is perfect and perfectly capable of overcoming every obstacle – including fear.

It is only because of the love God has for us that we can boldly and selflessly love others. It is because we are loved by Him that we no longer need to take any thought for ourselves. After all, He is with us. Isaiah xli.10 says, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." 

Thus, in every situation, rather than fearing we are supposed to trust that our lives are in His hand rather than in man's. We are supposed to rest in the assurance that we are under the control of the One who loves us perfectly. That will never change, not even if He should choose to spend us in the pursuit of another's soul. 

This is likely to happen, as 2 Timothy iii.12 tells us, "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." 

Therefore, we should not be surprised when danger comes but we should remember in it that suffering can not remove us from the caring hand of our King.

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans iix. 38 - 39)

Christ Himself, the very Son of God, suffered. Yet the attitude He had in suffering demonstrated, not fear, but a perfect trust in the love that His Father had for Him. 1 Peter ii. 23 tells us, "When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly." 

The Waldensians demonstrated a similar attitude. A behaviour that showed they believed, despite their struggle, that God had not lost His love for them. Their persecutors recorded that they could find no moral flaw in them. They described the Waldensians they murdered as "a peaceful, patient, pious group of people". People that were not driven to desperate acts out of fear for their lives. Because they were freed from fear, even in death, the Waldensians actions joined their words in being a witness.

2. The Love Christ Gives Us For Others

"Love does not seek its own." (1 Corinthians xiii. 5) 

When one is moved by love, they do not weigh their action in light of the cost to them, but rather by its benefit to another party. 

Jesus demonstrated this to us by going to the cross, taking the weight of our sin, and being separated from the Father on our behalf. In Matthew x. 28 He said, "do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." 

In accordance with this, the Waldensians were more concerned that the people around them would suffer an eternal torture in hell than they were that they would face a cruel but temporary death here on earth. Their love caused them to fear more for their persecutors than they feared for themselves. Thus, rather than fear paralyzing them it drove them on. In this the Waldensians demonstrated that fear can not only be avoided but actually overcome.

In Christ

Quiana