I've been involved in a new play at my community theater, which is why I haven't been as active lately. It's been a tradition that each fall we do a "Halloween"-themed play and this year is no exception. We are doing a ghost story. Now, the theater where we perform has a reputation for being haunted. So strange things have been happening after rehearsals when supposedly either nobody is in the building or only a couple of people are in the building downstairs in the office (or so they think). It's the usual manifestations, strange noises, props being moved. Woo-woo stuff. So anyway we were sitting around waiting for the rest of the cast/crew to arrive and the director was telling the latest incident, what do you make of this? So of course the question that came up during break was "do you believe in ghosts?"
Well, for those of you who have been following my blog, you know that I am a skeptic when it comes to the supernatural. Frankly, I suspect that someone has been messing with people's minds here, and it is not hard to do if you know the theater's layout. What I mean is, nobody is counting noses to see who has left and who is still here, and there is more than one exit/entrance. So it is very possible that someone is hiding out and then quietly, using a flashlight, coming on-stage and moving items, then leaving by another way. But of course that is not as good a story.
However, I have had incidents in my life that I do not know how to explain rationally. One stands out in particular. I am not going to give details other than the fact that there were no witnesses. This is something that I have never told anyone, and will not, for the following reason. It is my "test case". If you want me to believe that there is a supernatural "world" and that you are in contact with "spirits" or "entities" from it, then all you have to do is tell me What happened, Where it happened, When it happened, and Why it happened. Then we can start having a discussion on the subject. And Pastor, if you are reading this blog as I sometimes suspect, now you know what you need to pray for to get the ball rolling.
Last week we resumed reading from the Book of Acts. Paul is now in Athens, and he has a different crowd than his usual audience. He is going up against Greek philosophers who don't believe in a resurrection. This is one of the few stories in Acts that doesn't end in a riot. Instead, he is brought before the city council and asked to explain his message. So he does, quoting from Greek poets to state his case. Now, as Pastor asked, how would Paul, a Pharisee, be familiar with Greek pagan poetry? His answer is that Paul did his research before going to Athens. I'm not sure I buy that. If anyone was familiar with Greek pagan poetry, it would be Luke, the author of Acts, and I suspect that he is putting words into Paul's mouth, because nowhere else in Paul's letters to his Gentile converts does he use their mythology and literature to state his case. Instead he talks about the Jewish Law, which would make little or no sense to someone not familiar with Judaism. Be that as it may, in Athens Paul is encountering people who think more like modern-day people, and he has to adjust his message accordingly.
Which I am afraid that most evangelizing churches fail to do. All too often the assumption is made that the person you are trying to reach shares the same world-view, and that is not necessarily true. It is assumed that everyone believes that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible Word of God--in fact, that they even believe there is a God and demons. But what if the person you are speaking to doesn't? I feel like I am sitting in the theater, listening to everyone ooh and ahh over the resident ghost's latest prank and having to keep my mouth shut because nobody likes to have their fun spoiled.
So we shall see. Will my question be answered?
Well, for those of you who have been following my blog, you know that I am a skeptic when it comes to the supernatural. Frankly, I suspect that someone has been messing with people's minds here, and it is not hard to do if you know the theater's layout. What I mean is, nobody is counting noses to see who has left and who is still here, and there is more than one exit/entrance. So it is very possible that someone is hiding out and then quietly, using a flashlight, coming on-stage and moving items, then leaving by another way. But of course that is not as good a story.
However, I have had incidents in my life that I do not know how to explain rationally. One stands out in particular. I am not going to give details other than the fact that there were no witnesses. This is something that I have never told anyone, and will not, for the following reason. It is my "test case". If you want me to believe that there is a supernatural "world" and that you are in contact with "spirits" or "entities" from it, then all you have to do is tell me What happened, Where it happened, When it happened, and Why it happened. Then we can start having a discussion on the subject. And Pastor, if you are reading this blog as I sometimes suspect, now you know what you need to pray for to get the ball rolling.
Last week we resumed reading from the Book of Acts. Paul is now in Athens, and he has a different crowd than his usual audience. He is going up against Greek philosophers who don't believe in a resurrection. This is one of the few stories in Acts that doesn't end in a riot. Instead, he is brought before the city council and asked to explain his message. So he does, quoting from Greek poets to state his case. Now, as Pastor asked, how would Paul, a Pharisee, be familiar with Greek pagan poetry? His answer is that Paul did his research before going to Athens. I'm not sure I buy that. If anyone was familiar with Greek pagan poetry, it would be Luke, the author of Acts, and I suspect that he is putting words into Paul's mouth, because nowhere else in Paul's letters to his Gentile converts does he use their mythology and literature to state his case. Instead he talks about the Jewish Law, which would make little or no sense to someone not familiar with Judaism. Be that as it may, in Athens Paul is encountering people who think more like modern-day people, and he has to adjust his message accordingly.
Which I am afraid that most evangelizing churches fail to do. All too often the assumption is made that the person you are trying to reach shares the same world-view, and that is not necessarily true. It is assumed that everyone believes that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible Word of God--in fact, that they even believe there is a God and demons. But what if the person you are speaking to doesn't? I feel like I am sitting in the theater, listening to everyone ooh and ahh over the resident ghost's latest prank and having to keep my mouth shut because nobody likes to have their fun spoiled.
So we shall see. Will my question be answered?
