Paul Views of Persecution and Power Encounters
Paul, as many Christian leaders in Africa, have not been strangers to persecution, misunderstandings, and imprisonment for the sake of the truth. Part of the promise of living Godly in Christ Jesus involves abuse. Just as Paul suffered persecution so are many Christians suffering greatly for their faith throughout Africa. In the past one year in Nigeria, for example, there have been major religious persecutions in Bauchi, Katsina, Kaduna, and in Adamawa States. Thousands have been murdered, tortured, and stripped of all their worldly goods for their faith. Many western Christians have a difficult time appreciating the costs of belonging to Jesus like believers in Africa. Paul experienced harassment from both devilish and Judaistic zealots. Notice his response to threats, intimidations, and oppressive attempts from Acts 13:4-52):
Example - ``They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus who was an attendant of the proconsul, Segius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. The Saul, who was called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ``You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.
Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.’’
Here Paul finds himself in the ``Happy Isle’’ of Cyprus where the climate was so perfect and its provisions so abundant that many people were finding contentment in the things of this world. Barnabas, a native of Cyprus, prefers to take a more conciliatory approach to his own people, but not Paul. He chose to confront the forces of darkness directly, as many Godly African evangelists successfully do today. Paphos, the capital city of Cyprus was known for its infamous worship of Venus, the goddess of love. This immoral goddess image motivated many people to live open lives of immorality, promiscuity, and debauchery. Sensuality also gives rise to a great amount of demonic idolatry. As a result, the governor of Cyprus, Sergius Paulus kept a wizard handy in order to be sure and cover all bases with connections to the spirit world. Many African leaders today commonly resort to spiritualistic powers through charms, amulets, and sorcerers in order to maintain their positions. It is a known fact that many African church leaders have also dabbled in the occultic practices of idolatry to reinforce their powers, status, and rank in the society at large. Many of these sooth-sayer assistants to leaders are used for telling fortunes, revealing secrets of their enemies, offering protection, and even occasionally providing healing. Their abilities of leadership are often supplemented with these demonic powers in exchange for sacrifices, offerings, and inside deals. They somehow believe that any means to obtaining power and gaining advantage over their competitors is justifiable.
In many African leaders, there is this similar gnawing insecurity that beckons them to call on as many spiritual powers as possible to preserve their authority. They are continually looking over their shoulder to see who might be planning a coup against them. Since very few things are at face value, many African leaders, in the state and church, are plagued by doubt, fear, and anxiety. Bar-Jesus was a sorcerer employed by the governor for such evil purposes of helping to preserve the governor’s power by hook or by crook. Paul saw that if the governor were won for Christ, the entire social, political, economic, and spiritual climate of life would soon change for all. He effectively brought him to a saving knowledge of the truth through a power encounter exhibiting his courageous faith and forthright confidence. A approach that usually assures an effective response in modern Africa as well.
In the same way I recently read of a influential Christian leader of a growing church in Lagos Nigeria say the following:
``It will take paying the price of persistence and courage to see miracles from God. Look at the sevenfold persistence that God requires in Namaan’s healing, and relate that to our own problems, in 2 Kings 5:9
Example - So Namaan (The commander of the army of king of Aram) went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, ``Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.’’
But Naaman went away angry (He wanted an instant healing) and said, ``I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?’’ So he turned and went off in a rage.
Naaman’s servants went to him and said, ``My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ’Wash and be cleansed!’ So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, ``Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel . . . ’’
Paul modeled his ministry approach after that of many of the bold Old Testament prophets like Elisha. Paul knew that the animistic perception of the world would be most responsive to the concrete workings of God’s Spirit than just through academic arguments. The response by Namaan is a testimony to the fact that Elisha’s ministry was an effective example for future cross-cultural contextualizers in animistic areas of the world. Namaan’s expression of faith and confession of the true God even put some of the Israelites to shame who vacillated between their faith in Baal and that of the Lord God. Namaan realized, like the governor of Cyprus, that men of God have the courage, perseverance, and faith to see great miracles occur through them. Many western leaders have reacted against this position, but most African leaders are much more spiritually responsive to miracles. Similarly, Paul’s contextualized approach to the leader of Cyprus is closer to the most effective way of addressing African leaders than most western methods. Paul was very familiar with a world view that saw spirits effecting every area of life. He would never relegate miracles to mere coincidence or superstition as many western leaders have a tendency to do. Paul’s method was bold, courageous, and full of Spiritual empowerment. Leaders in Africa are respected most for their power, might, and authority. Unless this can be demonstrated in public ways, there is generally some doubt about the legitimacy of the power!
Paul soundly rebuked Bar-Jesus, the sorcerer for his attempts to prejudice the proconsul against the truth. Anyone opposing the truth, Paul saw an enemy of God. Paul refers to him as a son of the devil and an enemy of all righteousness. Invoking temporary blindness, was Paul’s way of teaching others about the great judgment of God. Paul knew the terrors of his own blindness. Yet he realized that because of the darkening of one’s human eyes, a man’s mind may be momentarily be darkened so that he might be enlightened with the true light of Christ. African leaders are also greatly enabled through similar processing of spiritual enlightenment. When they are able to see the reality of the truth lived out in the transformed lives of their own people, they are quick to believe! Contextualizer must look to God for these moments of empowerment in ways that rest in His timing, methods, and messengers.
Paul was also ready to be unjustly treated and even imprisoned for the sake of his cross-cultural ministries. I have seem numerous examples of Godly African leaders who were willing to be jailed for the advancement of the kingdom of God. Recently, the ten northern states’ secretary of the Christian Associations of Nigeria, Engineer Salifu Ibrahim, was imprisoned for his beliefs. While he was in prison, he shared the gospel with many political and religious inmates who later have had their lives transformed through their power encounters during prison. This has made for significant changes in political, military, and civil leadership through Nigeria. God used this time of imprisonment of a righteous man for His higher purposes. (Isa. 55:8,9) Consider how Paul and Silas set a precedent for such imprisonment experiences in Acts 16:19-32:
Example - When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, ``These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, ``Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!
He then brought them out and asked, ``Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’’
They replied, ``Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house . . . ’’
Paul was able to contextualize his ministry to the upper class as with Lydia, or work with the lowest in people like Phytho, the slave-girl. This demon-possessed girl would give oracles to guide men about the future. She was a tool for the devil and his emissaries. The unscrulous men of the day, as many similar men in Africa, saw this purpose as an opportunity to make some easy money. These men make a living out of playing on the misfortunes of the weak, oppressed, and suffering. Instead of rejoicing that the girl regained her mental sanity and spiritual deliverance, they only could think of the money they would lose. They were too lazy and corrupt to earn a living in an honest way.
When Paul exorcized the demon from the girl, her owners became infuriated. They quickly played on the anti-semitic sentiments of the crowd. Turning their appeals to the pride of the Romans, they accused Paul and Silas of upsetting the peace and stability of this Roman colony. Many leaders, religious and political, have a long history of using tribal, national, and ethnic sentiments to manipulate leaders to do their bidding. Many of these traditional rulers are behind many of the religious riots seen through Africa. Professing to look out for the civil and spiritual welfare of their people, they are in fact cleverly pulling strings to keep themselves in power. Selfish ambition tends to weigh heavily in most of their decisions as these soothsayers in Acts 16. They pulled some social, religious, and political strings to get Paul and his companion arrested. Paul and Silas were arrested and put in the inner prison with stocks on their feet. Cross-cultural contextualizers should prepare themselves for being arrested, imprisoned, and even tortured by men like these and not be surprised. Just as Paul and Silas were arrested and maltreated for doing good, so contextualizers will often face the same opposition! When truth is proclaimed, the kingdom of God is advanced, and the offensive is taken, the devilish forces are sure to fight back. It is characteristic of the human nature to resist its transformation into Christlikeness. Where truth goes, trouble usually follows.
Note that when Paul is imprisoned, he immediately resumes his ministry of the proclamation of truth and praise of God. When the door was locked and the chains securely fastened, Paul looked at the opportunities of ministering to another strata of society not normally exposed to within the prison walls. Since he wanted to preach the gospel in regions where no manner had previously taught, this was regarded as another golden opportunity. Paul knew that even though a contextualizer can be taken out of his normal context, no one can take away the power and presence of the Spirit of Jesus residing in him. With the Lord is liberty despite human confinement. With the Lord is victory regardless of the discouraging circumstances. With the Lord is certainty of opportunities inspite of the hopeless of the situations. Even at the darkest hours there is light to find our way that burns brighter every day!
Paul was not embittered by a man who had sworn an oath to keep him in chains. Instead, he forgave the jailer immediately and opened the door of salvation to him through belief in Christ. This is a tremendous lesson that all cross-cultural contextualizer need to consider when treated poorly. The ability to forgive, overlook faults, and refuse to become angry are imperatives for anyone working in another culture for the sake of the kingdom of God. I have been amazed how easy it is to become annoyed and quick tempered in Nigeria, when I hardly remember loosing my temper while working as an associate Pastor for seven years in southern California churches. There is something that tends to ignite one’s sensibilities that makes the words of James 1:19 so crucial for a cross-cultural contextualizer:
``But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. For the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.’’
Contextualizer cannot be people who hold grudges, resentments, or feelings of bitterness. The writer of Hebrew similar warns his readers when he tells them:
``Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.’’ (Heb. 12:14,15)
Contextualizers must learn to exercise great humility in overcoming any forms of pride, rivalry, jealousy, or animosity toward those of another culture. This attitude is essential for working gracefully with those with differing world views. Without it, no one can succeed in contextualization ministries, especially in Africa!
Notice how practical, Paul’s contextual message and approach must have been. Dr. Luke tells us that the Phillipian jailer responded quickly to Paul’s witness and teaching. Immediately, the jailer invites Paul and Silas into his own home to provide salve for their wounds and food for their stomach. He is not afraid of being associated with such ``rabble-rousers’’. Instead, he is willing to instruct his whole extended family to follow his lead in believing in Christ through Paul’s preaching. He practically confirmed on the outside what he had professed to believe on the inside. African Christianity is eminently practical in the same ways. It demonstrates with concrete evidence the changes that are internal through external evidence of giving, hospitality, and visitations. Without these continual evidences, many people begin to doubt the sincerity of one’s faith and teaching. Writing in his Deeper Life story, Alan Isaacson provides some keen insights on the transformation of Christianity upon a culture on p. 100 and p.107,108:
Example - ``To oversimplify, most Nigerians like to know whoa re their superiors and inferiors. If you are above someone, he/she must do what you say. If you are below someone, you must obey. In Deeper Life, all are brothers and sisters, and that has made a real impact as something unusual and different, but which is obviously scriptural.’’
Example - Raphael Okoye-ukonze - an Igbo from Anambra State was living in Kano when he became a member of the Deeper Life House Caring Fellowship and has been a successful businessman in sports equipment, running his own company. His story goes something like this. My parents were Roman Catholics, but I was never very religious. In fact I was great sinner . . . I was a traditional ruler in my home area. But I did not know God. I encountered the Lord when I was returning from Japan one time. A lady in the aircraft gave me two tracts. I only took them because I was interested in the woman! Later, one night, I read the tracts, and I couldn’t put them down. I kept re-reading them. The next day I was restless-I thought someone must have given me some poison, or put some kind of curse on me. I happened to have a friend who I knew was member of Deeper Life. I called him. They prayed for me - preached to me. I repented and received the Lord Jesus Christ in November 1985. Before then I always had money, but I didn’t have any peace. Now I have peace, my business is moving, and my family is flourishing. I now believe that I am saved. I’m enjoying all the promises of God. I am transformed.
In Kano I was the leader of my people. I told them that I had become a Christian, and they accepted my position. I have renounced my title, as there were some things I would have to do as a leader that I did not fell I could do any more.
At that time I had two wives, so I had to send the second wife away. I gave her and the two children a good house for them to settle in, but we could not continue living together.
And I used to cheat people to get money. Now I have diversified my sports business, because I am refusing to get involved in any kind of bribery. To sell=N 100,000 ($5,000) worth of stock to a dealer, I might have to pay the dealer personally another=N 40,000 or someone else would get the order. I can’t do that type of thing any more - so I lose orders. I now refuse to give bribes, and so I have now diversified into trading successfully with beverages - the sports business is still going on, but it can’t flourish as before without bribery. But the other side of the story is that just recently, someone who works for me was converted in Deeper Life. Before then he had been stealing from me, and he made restitution. He returned to me stock worth N23,000 which he had stolen from the firm . . .
Later that evening we went on together to the House Caring Fellowship where he is a member, and he told the other members of the group how he had been praying for his home town for the last three years, since he had given up being a traditional ruler after coming to faith in Christ. He reported to the group that the previous weekend he had visited his home town to celebrate the opening of a new Deeper Life Bible Church there.
Paul’s contextualized message helped people bear such fruit that no one doubted their transformed mind, will, emotions, and behaviors. Paul’s message would bring similarly great transformation of people, their messages, and their lifestyles. Without the change of heart and the fruits of the Spirit many so-called believers may be nothing more than mere counterfeits! Contextualizers have a keen sense for the counterfeiters of the truth.
Summary - Paul’s ability to become all things to all men that by all means he might save some would have made him an ideal missionary within today’s Africa. Our missionary methods, messages, and identities should consider how to integrate Paul’s contextual approach to the complexities of today African tribal, social, political, and religious tensions. Today Paul would have worked to draw linkages between the African concept of a High God and that of the knowable attributes of God through the scriptures. He would have loved to show fulfillment in many African traditional religious perspectives that God is a Lord of all power through the absolute power found in Christ, His words, and His Spirit. Paul would emphasize that some of God’s greatest blessings would continue to be found on the frontiers of missions, evangelism, and church planting ministries! Paul would revel in the African wholistic perception of life that refuses to separate the spiritual from the physical, philosophical, or social causes of man’s problems. It is worthy of note that Paul did not go out looking for demons to exorcise. Neither did Paul concentrate on confronting the forces of darkness, but focused on preaching, teaching, and building leaders up in the truth. He saw every household, synagogue, school, community, and organization as a potential sending agency for the gospel. Another fascinating characteristic of Paul’s cross-cultural ministry is that he was sensitive to each context. Using local terms, languages, and references to particular needs, Paul would begin with an understanding of the peoples’ perceptions of truth, salvation, God, Christ, The Spirit, and the condition of man. Paul uses nature as an illustration of God’s mighty power in furnishing every good things for all people. He links the effects to the cause. He illustrates how the concrete has an invisible causative agent. Paul’s ministry within Africa would show the people courtesy and respect for their histories, conditioned thinking patterns, and world views. Contrary to many perceptions of power preaching in Africa, Paul would emphasize that it does not necessarily have to be confrontational to capture people’s attention. Africans are inherently spiritual people who are sensitive to the working of the supernatural in every aspect of life.
The popularity of the unreached people group movement has tended to skew many mission organizations’ focus. If Paul were doing contextualized cross-cultural ministries in Africa, he would strongly object to this imbalanced approached. He would emphasize that planting churches is the spearhead, but nurturing, watering, and developing indigenous leaders from these churches must also remain a balanced mark of a contextualized strategy. Without this underscoring, the church will tend to be a mile wide in fellowship, but only an inch deep in mature leadership.
Notice that Paul qualifies them for leadership not on the basis of their intellect, training, or previous positions held in the community. Instead, the criteria he uses for promotion to leadership is faithfulness in caring for physical, social, emotional, and the spiritual needs of others. I have become ALL things to ALL men that by ALL means, I may save some.’’ (I Cor. 9:16-23) He understood that cross-cultural contextualized missions meant that one would have to involve himself in the local, regional, and national identities and problems of the people.
Paul experienced harassment from both devilish and Judaistic zealots. Notice his response to threats, intimidations, and oppressive attempts from Acts 13:4-52). Here he provides us with some clues into dealing with the numerous persecutions that believers are facing throughout Africa. Paul would appreciate the fact that within many African leaders, there is this similar gnawing insecurity that beckons them to call on as many spiritual powers as possible to preserve their authority. They are continually looking over their shoulder to see who might be planning a coup against them. Since very few things are at face value, many African leaders, in the state and church, are plagued by doubt, fear, and anxiety. Paul effectively brought him to a saving knowledge of the truth through a power encounter exhibiting his courageous faith and forthright confidence.
Paul modeled some of his ministry approaches after that of many of the bold Old Testament prophets like Elisha. Paul knew that the animistic perception of the world would be most responsive to the concrete workings of God’s Spirit than just through academic arguments. Paul’s method was bold, courageous, and full of Spiritual empowerment. Leaders in Africa are respected most for their power, might, and authority. Unless this can be demonstrated in public ways, there is generally some doubt about the legitimacy of the power!
Note that when Paul is imprisoned, he immediately resumes his ministry of the proclamation of truth and praise of God. When the door was locked and the chains securely fastened, Paul looked at the opportunities of ministering to another strata of society not normally exposed to within the prison walls.
He practically confirmed on the outside what he had professed to believe on the inside. African Christianity is eminently practical in the same ways. It demonstrates with concrete evidence the changes that are internal through external evidence of giving, hospitality, and visitations. Paul’s contextualized message helped people bear such fruit that no one doubted their transformed mind, will, emotions, and behaviors. Paul’s message would bring similarly great transformation of people, their messages, and their lifestyles.
