Paul Becoming

 

ACTS 9: Paul Becoming ... some thoughts

It’s hard to pick a single theme to pin to the story of Paul’s (Saul’s) conversion in Acts 9. That a zealous informer, agitator against people of “The Way” should become their most ardent advocate seems core, however.

Conversions of people from the “wide road” to the “narrow” are common; the dramatic appearance of Jesus in a blazing light, the blindness, the three days of fasting and the recovery of strength are not common, at least not in my experience.

Luke’s narrative seems necessary to establish Paul’s legitimacy as an apostle. Ananias’ first response when the Lord orders him to minister to the fasting Saul is skepticism; he’s aware of the man’s reputation of cruelty toward Christians; the knowledge of Saul’s treachery would have been common knowledge in the small circle of The Way.

The story can serve as a study in conversion. A zealous anti-Christian has a born-again experience and exits as a zealous Christian … i.e. the zealousness remains, a trait of personality, possibly, that even conversion won’t erase. I would argue that as dramatic as Paul’s conversion appears in Acts, the process of molding his will and effort to “The Way” was ongoing for the rest of his life. Correct me if I’m wrong, but in his pronouncement on the role of women in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 14:33b-36), doesn’t he come mighty close to sounding legalistic? The old pharisee sneaking out through the cracks? (Some churches still wrestle with the authority in these passages; most are committed to gender equality in worship and teaching in the congregation.)

We could, of course, compare Paul’s conversion to that of the Apostle Peter, who took three years (in Jesus’ company, mind you) of bouncing back and forth between trust and skepticism, aggressiveness and self-defense before making the commitment that allowed his establishment in tradition as the first pope. The two personalities would, of course, bump heads on the issue of circumcision for converts and related church protocols, differences that could well have led to the first split into Christian denominations. Two personalities: not molded but reoriented by their conversions.

That Paul’s conversion should be heralded in light brighter than the sun, the actual voice of the actual Lord, the blindness and the healing touch of the Lord’s servant, Ananias, all of that fits the dynamism of the character, his past and his future. But let’s not allow such drama to denigrate the quiet, cumulative reorientation that characterizes how most of us Christians have come to serve the Lord in fits and starts.

Generation after generation, Christians have dreamed of, struggled toward the Peaceable Kingdom that lies at the endpoint of the great Biblical promise. Much as we might have hoped for and searched the skies for the flash of light brighter than the sun, the steps toward that great hope have been small, cumulative and borne on the backs of hope-preserving remnants of remnants.

The church too often and too much chooses to live in the illusion that the will of God is characterized by flash of light, the voice from heaven, the dramatic blindness, the miraculous conversion that is endpoint to the born-again experience! But note what the voice says to Ananias regarding Paul:  “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” This is no invitation to the comfortable pew, to eternal security signed, sealed and delivered. Most of Christianity goes to church for solace, as it should, but if it shuns the challenges “for the sake of my name,” it becomes “salt that’s lost its savour.”

I’d bet that people meeting Saul at the height of his persecution of Christians would have said, “Wow! What a guy!” I expect the response would have been the same in those meeting him at the height of his missionary activity. That we’re not equally gifted, and that for a reason, is one of the missionary Paul’s great insights in I Corinthians 12, a portion of which I’ve included here:

²⁷ You are all a part of the body of Christ. ²⁸ God has chosen different ones in the church to do His work. First, there are missionaries. Second, there are preachers or those who speak for God. And third, there are teachers. He has also chosen those who do powerful works and those who have the gifts of healing. And He has chosen those who help others who are in need and those who are able to lead others in work and those who speak in special sounds. ²⁹ Are they all missionaries? No. Are they all preachers or those who speak for God? No. Do they all do powerful works? No. ³⁰ Do they all have the gifts of healing? No. Do they all speak in special sounds? No. Are they all able to tell what the special sounds mean? No. ³¹ But from your heart you should want the best gifts.

The observation that unity stems critically from the acknowledging of gifts and their mobilization would look different if written now, I expect. “Speaking in special sounds” could go; ability to lead civil dialogue, ability to teach children, academic skills, etc., would likely be in. Top of the list might be the ability to recognize and activate gifts.

The conversion of Paul (Saul) bears dramatic fruit; for one who operated in the rigidity of the scribes-teachers-of-the-law-pharisees world to later giving so much practical advice affecting the unity and mission of the fledgling church is astounding.

Was the “Road to Damascus” drama necessary to effect his turnabout?

I’ll go with Luke’s assessment, I guess. He recorded it at length.