18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
The Gospel is a foreign language. There is nothing like it in the world. Think about the message of the Gospel. There is complete forgiveness and acceptance before God that is available to you and you don’t have to do anything to earn it. That is radical. In every religious system in the world people have to do something. But not Christianity! When people really hear the essence of the Gospel, it is radical, often too radical to even hear. It can take some Jesus-followers years to truly grasp the significance of the total acceptance. These philosophers were used to hearing new ideas. That was their full-time occupation. They could debate with the best of them. Sounds like some university professors, doesn’t it! What they say doesn’t really have to make sense, doesn’t really have to match reality. They just flunk you if you don’t swallow their thinking. They crush opposing viewpoints using their position of power against new ideas using false argumentation. They never even give opposing ideas a chance. These ancient philosophers weren’t really looking for the Truth, they just loved new teachings. Their goal was not to understand and act on what they heard, but just to hear something new. Many churches in recent years have gotten into the habit of always running after the “new”, instead of what is true. These philosophers loved the debate. There are those today who love the debate. They even get a thrill out of the debate. They are not really seeking truth. They are just eating up your time. It is important to listen to the Holy Spirit when someone seems to be debating with you. I rarely debate with someone, rarely. Debates almost never win someone to Christ. They will know we are Christians by our ability to debate. No, by our love they will know us. It is the demonstration of God’s love and acceptance that makes the difference, not our debating skills. Don’t get caught in debate today. Love instead.
The Arnold Journey 