I’m writing this on the plane home from Greece. Forty-one pilgrims followed in the footsteps of Paul’s second missionary journey through Greece and Turkey. Even though I have studied Paul for decades, this trip has transformed him from a stick figure to a living, breathing, spirit-filled leader. How can I ever forget seeing his prison cell in Phillipi? Or standing on Mars Hill where he preached in Athens in the shadow of the Greek gods worshipped in the Parthenon? Or breaking bread and sharing wine in Corinth where the earliest account of the Lord’s supper is found in Corinthians. So many times throughout this journey I found myself wondering if our modern faith bears any resemblance to Paul’s bold, groundbreaking vision.

I was born into a Christian home, and everyone I knew as a child was Christian. I earned a degree in Christian theology at a major university. And I am employed at a Christian church that not only pays my salary but also benefits. But Paul experienced a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus that upended his life. He was run out of town in Ephesus because his teaching ruffled the feathers of those who worshipped the pagan gods. Paul had to support himself as a craftsman, and he was shipwrecked and imprisoned many times. Not to mention that he traveled thousands of miles by foot without the benefit of Nike or Adidas shoes. Perhaps our Christianity seems too tame to even be connected?

In the book of Acts, we learn that Paul’s friends were dragged before the city authorities. They were guilty by association. Paul’s message turned the world upside down. If you dared to follow the way of Jesus as proclaimed by Paul the Emperor felt threatened. Paul’s audacious message was that Jesus, not the Emperor, was the real King (See Acts 17). If Paul could time travel and peek in on our lives as American Christians today, would he notice a thread connecting his brave, bold vision about Jesus to the way that we walk each day?

Grace and Peace,

Carla

PS – This Sunday I’m preaching on “Athletics” and next week on “Mental Health.” These are the final two weeks of “Back to the School of Discipleship” sermon series based on Paul’s teachings.