Paul didn't save CHristianity

A couple years ago I took a world religions class at college. The teacher was a Philosophical Daoist (you need balance in life, ying yang, take the easy way). While explaining the history of Christianity she said that if it weren't for Paul, Christianity would have died. He was very passionate, spread the Gospel to most of the non-Jewish, and wrote most of the New Testament.

Naturally this irked me. Whether her point is valid or not is another story. On the one hand, it is significant that most of our New Testament was written by one man (though the gospels were not Paul), and that most of the evangelism to the non-Semitic world happened through the same man (or so it would seem). However, I would like to make a few points of explanation. I don't think this completely wraps up the concern, but it should remove most reasonable doubt.

1) Paul was not the only evangelist. Possibly in fact he is responsible for less than half of it (which is still a lot). All the apostles save John died martyrs for the faith. Peter was the rock center of the church and at one point was so touched by the holy spirit that sick were healed by even his shadow falling on them (Acts 5:15). Peter is responsible for the birth of the Coptic (Egyptian) church through teleporting to the Eunuch in Acts 8 and Thomas died in India (according to an Apocryphal book "The Acts of Thomas"). Other non-apostles were doing work at the time as well. Note Barnabas who split from Paul, presumably doing his own ministry. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul mentions 'Apollos' as another evangelist too and does not seem to denounce him.

2) The reason we have so much on Paul is because he wrote it down (directed by the Holy Spirit and intended for the bible). We do not say that Herodotus and Homer (Histories, Illiad and Odessey) were the pillars of Greek culture, much less that without them it would have collapsed, simply because their works are the main ones that survive. Although they are not canonical and may not be accurate, we do have dozens on different books from different authors around the time - commentaries and letters and such, disciples of the apostles and other church leaders like Polycarp (if I remember correctly).

3) Paul wrote 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. Romans was written by Luke, closely associated with Paul but not authored by Paul.

4) The fact that Paul wrote so many books may be a function of his giftings and situation rather than his zeal. Other people like Peter, John or James may have even been more passionate, but demonstrated it in different ways. Peter was the rock on which Jesus built the church, and may have been caught up in administration and leadership. John was more prophetic. Paul, on the other hand, was extremely learned, one of the Jewish upper class. He knew how to write and how to write well, how to make arguments from old testament scripture and how to reason. He was also itinerant and had a wide base of churches he wished to disciple, making letters one of the most practical ways to do so. The apostles in the near region of Israel may have had an easier time and not had to write so much, and had gifts of leadership rather than teaching.

5) I'll leave you with an argument from scripture itself: Acts 5: 35-39 "35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

graduation speech

It is a tradition in the Christian group at my college to have the graduating seniors say something to the rest a couple weeks before graduation. It occurred to me that although I have two more years ahead of me, I will not be present the latter part of the second year and may wish to have a fake graduation this upcoming year. So, because I love to make speeches, I started thinking about what I'd say. These are some of my ideas.

On the one hand there is so much I want to say I could preach multiple sermons to you. On the other hand I don't want to say much because really, following God isn't that complicated. So let me say this:

First and foremost God is glorious, wrapped in mysterious darkness, and holy like none other. The more you are aware of this the better.
Second, we humans are sinful, helpless, despicable and detestable in a hundred ways. Do not deceive yourself and think you can even measure up to your own standards, let alone Gods.
Third, thank God that in his great mercy he withholds destroying us for a time, but at the end of the age, his holiness with be unleashed and all evil will be thrashed and obliterated, shunned and locked far away into eternal darkness.
Fourth, Christ died to remove our sin and save us from destruction. His passion to save you is a mighty whirlwind and a mothers whisper. Do not harden your hearts when you hear it. His yoke is easy and his burden is light and nothing can ever compare to knowing God personally. It's nuts. Accept your sin and accept his death.

Fifth, for those who believe in God, he has but one work for us - to believe in the one he has sent. John 6:29. This is much harder than it sounds and much more rewarding. Knowings Gods glory, your sin, Christs salvation and the Holy Spirits power for you is immeasurably healing and satisfying. It roots out lust, greed, anger, fear, pain, bitterness, hopelessness, and all other human ailments (mental/spiritual ones). In Christ you need nothing, desire nothing other than him, fear nothing, nothing can hurt you, and you have a glorious hope to look forward to.

Sixth, for those who believe there are two commands - love God, love people. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, it is with your heart you believe God (Romans 10:10) - our primary work, soul - worship him with abandon, mind - study the word, his commands, know his glory and his power for you, and strength - do not be hearers of the word merely but also doers. And love your neighbor as yourself.
And this is love for God, to obey his commands. And his command is this - to love one another. Read 1st John.
What is love? To want the best for someone. What is the best for anyone? To be drawn closer to God. This is how God loves us, by sending his son so we can be with him. Therefore love yourself and love others by drawing close to God.
There are two primary ways to advance the kingdom of God, bringing new people to close God and bringing those close even closer. Evangelism and discipleship. This latter part should include your own discipleship.

Seventh and finally my brothers, life is not easy and you WILL fall. Today I set before you life and death, a blessing and a cure. Hold fast to life. "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)
And your God will never, ever, leave you.

[exit]