Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. - Acts 17:17
I was watching some very disturbing “emerging church/ neo-Pentecostal worship” video the other day and was truly shocked at the behavior of those alleged Christians as they waved their arms above their heads, rolled their eyes back until you could see the sclera, and muttered incoherently as the camera captured the scene in all its indignity. Now there are many who will chastise me for saying such a thing, suggesting that I am being far too judgmental because my way of worship isn’t like that of the folks on the video. I want to stop you for a moment and ask a simple question - if that kind of worship strikes me as a depreciating mockery of true Biblical Christianity, how must it strike those unbelieving souls whom we have been commissioned to preach the Gospel to? “Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” - 1 Corinthians 14:23.
Clearly, if by our behavior we are making unbelievers question our very sanity are we not doing both our faith and God Himself an injustice? The world already believes that we Christians suffer from mental illness. Should we then perpetuate the misconception by coming off as possessed zombies? Does the Holy Spirit indeed demand that we depart from reasonable decorum? “Others mocking said, ‘They are full of new wine.’” - Acts 2:13. There is a better way to reach out to the world with our faith, and that is to do so in a pragmatic and clearly understandable manner just as the Apostle Paul did - “Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.’ And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.” Acts 17:2-4. The response Paul and Silas received came as a result of reasoning with these pagans with the unvarnished truth of Holy Scripture!
I have encountered many instances on social media where a well-meaning believer will toss out a random line of Scripture without reference, exegesis, or explanation, hurling it outward like a Frisbee, expecting . . . what? How in the world can we properly and effectively fulfill the Great Commission if not lucidly and with reason? “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” - 1 Peter 3:15-16.
We live in an empirical world. When it comes to proving the Gospel claims we must be able to give a reason for the things we believe in. How can we possibly fulfill the great Commission if not lucidly and with reason? It is Godly wisdom that brings our point home - “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” - James 3:17. 0
Far too often the unbelieving world sees the behavior of groups on the extreme fringe of Christianity and, quite understandably, sees all of Christendom as just another cult of madness parading as a religion. And as Objectivist author, Terry Goodkind, has said unsurprisingly, “Reality is irrelevant; Perception is everything.” This is why God’s truth must be presented in a rational and logical manner according to His holy word.
Christian efforts to comply with Christ’s final directive to His disciples fall upon deaf ears unless His word is presented in an apologetically defendable manner. “‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” - Matthew 28:19-20. Yes, it is absolutely true - the Holy Spirit must illuminate God’s word in the heart to make one a believer. But that “Word” must be presented in such a way that inspires its very consideration rather than provide fodder for mockery!
Let us always seek to explain, instruct, and defend our faith in Jesus Christ as He declared to all the world - “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” - John 14:6.
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