In the NT we have story of Saul. A man totally opposed to Jesus and Christians, who even actively persecuted them. There is no indication from scripture that he was pondering their philosophy, or that he had any sympathy for them. He was just out to get them.
Then Jesus sends him a slap-in-the-face vision with a bright light and a booming voice that esentially tells Saul to do a 180. With such an obvious show of power and authority, Saul decides it's best to change his name to Paul and become the champion of Christianity.
So here's my question: What makes him so special? Why does he get such an obvious and blatant "wake up call" when the rest of us are expected to fully believe the message of Christianity with no more than "a whisper of the Holy Spirit in our hearts." If Christians are to be believed, and there is a god up there that personally cares about each of our salvation's, then wouldn't it be much more effective to give us all a mighty vision of his majesty?
2006-12-22 05:32:05 · 10 answers · asked by Eldritch 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
And I know what some answers will be:
"God won't force you" or something to that effect.
So let me emphasize my point now. GOD ALMOST ELIMINATED PAUL'S CHOICE IN THE MATTER. According to the story, there would have been almost no altnernative but to believe.
2006-12-22 05:33:58 · update #1
Ok, here it is re-stated.
If Paul was a might tool for god because god was willing to shake the s**t out of him to get him to "see the light", then why not do it for eveyone that is anti-Christian?
The bible says that god is obviously willing to take a literal direct and personal hand in someone's status of belief or non-belief, so what possible reason is there for not doing that for everyone? Is it too easy? Would he get bored without all the endless drama that religious contention brings?
2006-12-22 05:48:32 · update #2
bravo great question. why has there not been a display of raw godly power worthy of at least a biblical foot note let alone a book of the bible for 2000 years? the question you ask is why are we (supposedly) given free will when Saul was pretty much dictated to change? because logically religion makes no sense. pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
2006-12-22 05:42:44 · answer #1 · answered by BuddhaDaddy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Each Christian, just before they become a Christian, have their own wake up call. Albeit to a lesser extent probably than Saul's.
What makes any one who God sends the Holy Spirit so special? We don't earn anything, we are blessed by the Father in heaven. Any true Christian should be able to go back and pin point their exact "conversion" moment or at the very least know the general time frame.
God evidently wants us to choose Him by faith first. What would be the point of God showing everyone His truth? Everyone would become a Christian, not because they believe, but because they saw Him and His miracles with their own two eyes. There would be no faith involved. Why would a righteous God do this? If He was righteous, He wouldn't. Why? Because there is the element of sin involved. We don't know Him because there is a barrier of sin between Him and us. He doesn't "know" you because you have sinned against Him. Why would He show truth to someone that can't even follow His basic laws? What justice would that be? It wouldn't be just or righteous. Even with our sinful hearts He sent His Son so that we might believe in Him and have this barrier between us lifted. How loving a God is that? We humans can't even comprehend it. We saw a glimpse of the same kind of sacrifice when God told Abraham to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice, but in the end He allowed Isaac to live. It was the ultimate test of faith! God did the exact same thing to His Son, but instead of sparing Jesus, He was made to bare the sins and iniquities of the entire world, for all time! That is a truly loving and merciful God. He loved us so much, He watched His only Son be bloodied to a pulp. It was Him that was whipped and beaten!! Don't people understand this?? How does someone have their "proof?" He says if you believe in His Son, then He will show you His truth through the Holy Spirit and that will be your "proof." We must believe by faith first. A little respect and acknowledgment goes a long way!! In fact, it saves your life and takes away what holds a person back from a true loving, honest relationship with Him.
The better question would be why do people disregard, deny, and flat out throw away His free gift of salvation, which He gives to all who believe?? God has made the way for us, it is up to us to accept it.
2006-12-22 14:11:08 · answer #2 · answered by JohnC 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same wake up call as Paul did ,not with a bright light and a voice but I know when I got saved I got Saved ,and a good 70% of The Born again believers I know had the same thing happen to them , Those who are forgiven little love little, but those of us that have been forgiving a lot love a lot more It seems, The reason God used Paul was because he was one who was taught in the Law more than anybody else , take a look at his resume / God deals with each person individualy sometimes its a in your face and other times it can be a soft whisper /May yoube blessed
2006-12-22 13:44:19 · answer #3 · answered by Terry S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion, Saul/Paul would be a much better tool to use in Christianity than Peter or the other Apostles because they did live along side of Jesus, Paul didn't. It is much more impressive for someone who had been a leader in the persecution to do a 180, give up all his power and wealth and willingly spend most of the rest of his life in prison defending the cause that he once opposed, than to be someone who had been a part of the cause since the beginning. It has to make you think "Why did Paul change? It wasnt for fame and wealth, he had more of that before he changed" so it must have been a BIG smack in the head.
2006-12-22 13:39:30 · answer #4 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, Paul was a tent maker not an artist..... and who better as an example of The Truth... one who was so anti... suddenly bcomes so fully informed and excited about the teachings of Jesus... It was so dramatic that the evidence was confirmed by the Apostles in Jerusalem. Men who had the most to fear from the likes of Saul of Tarsus.
All who come to God in The Way He prescribes will receive His free gift of Salvation...each one who comes receives his or her gift in the way God intends for them... But the confirmation will be clear and certain to the recipiant. If it is genuine it will be clear.
I was not blinded on the road...but my Salvation happened in a moment of time.... I was a mocker and then I was of The Faith..no man, priest,pastor, book, doctrin or dogma of man involved... just God and me... and then he sent a man of The Faith to hold me up during the emotional transition.... And I have been, and for eternity will be, God's most inadiquate servant for the past 6 1/2 yrs.... When you hear God's call to you, you have the choise to reject or answer... I chose to answer.... as did Saul of Tarsus.... I wish God had given me The Word as He gave it to Paul... but God gave me what he wanted me to have and I accept that.
2006-12-22 13:47:24 · answer #5 · answered by idahomike2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paul was chosen by Jesus to be an Apostle. We are called to be disciples - BIG difference - Paul had a lot given to him so that he could stay true to the end. Paul was imprisoned - quite often - for his beliefs and eventually put to death.
Paul faced the same choice as do you - either accept Jesus or reject Him. Here's your wake up call - what will you do?
2006-12-22 13:37:08 · answer #6 · answered by padwinlearner 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Paul was made an into an example of what a true Christian should be, from persecuting and killing Christians to one of GOD's foremost strong voice. He had the commission to convert all the gentiles like you and me and that is why he is so tough when he speaks to us because we can be so hard headed.
Jesus is the truth, the way and the life!
"Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One"
(Shema Yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai ehad)
2006-12-22 13:42:08 · answer #7 · answered by St. Mike 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be perfectly honest, I don't know why God revealed himself to Saul in such a way. I do know that He still does reveal himself in big ways to some people, but not to everyone. I can't tell you why. I'm sure He has His reasons. Reasons that are beyond our comprehension. God's mind is so large and His knowledge so vast. I can't begin to tell you why He does what He does. That's an honest answer. There are just some things we can't know about Him.
2006-12-22 13:40:02 · answer #8 · answered by philyra2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
becouse of his persicution God knew he needed a slap in the face. and becouse of his knowlage of Judaism when he looked properly he was ideal to show Jesus was the massiah some thing the Jewish leaders had revused to even consider. its like asking why did God chose Mary. if he wonted a job doing he looks for the best person. saul was a pharassie he even calls himself pharasie of pharadies he was so wound up in the jewish faith he missed Jesus' message the first time.
2006-12-22 13:40:12 · answer #9 · answered by Mim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paul was a male chauvinist homophobe. All his writings reflect that.
2006-12-22 13:38:04 · answer #10 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋