The Athenian Way

Today I stood at the top of the Areopagus, the very site where Paul debated the philosophers of Athens. How cool is that? I also paid a Euro for one hour's worth of access to let all the fam back home know that I am still alive. So, with time left over, the Scottish blood in my veins won't allow me to waste these last few minutes. Hence, you get this post. I'll be doing a series of posts over this pilgrimage in the next few days.

Paradox of Faith

Among other things, one of the books I'm currently reading is a fascinating little study titled The Celtic Way of Evangelism by George G. Hunter III. In it, he reviews the missionary works of St. Patrick to Ireland, and to a lesser extent Columba's work in Scotland around the 5th century AD. He notes many of the significant contrasts between these mission efforts to the Celts and the approach taken by the Roman church in that time period and the following centuries. One key quote caught my eye and just begged to be shared on this blog, comparing Augustine's understanding of the human condition with that of Patrick.

"Augustine looked into his heart and found there the inexpressible anguish of each individual, which enabled him to articulate a theory of sin that has no equal- the dark side of Christianity. Patrick prayed, made peace with God, and then looked not only into his own heart but into the hearts of others. What he saw convinced him of the bright side- that even slave traders can turn into liberators, even murderers can act as peacemakers, even barbarians can take their place among the nobility of heaven."

Without both perspectives, we do not see the masterpiece of God's redemptive work. Instead, we only see a cheap cartoon.