When Paul and Barnabas came to Iconium it says that “they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed”. What does it mean to ‘speak effectively?’ Is it to be intellectually convincing? Not according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:4: “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” There were, however, many people who reacted to the message with great hostility. Why? Paul and Barnabas’ message was compelling, and signs and the wonders were there to confirm the message. There seems to be a deeper issue here because the hostility is far from rational. The text says that these people ‘refused to believe’, and the Greek word used here is the word for ‘disobedience’ rather than just ‘unbelief’. So, this is not just an intellectual inability to find the message convincing. This is a matter of the will. You can’t convince a person about God intellectually because we simply cannot grasp an infinite God with our finite minds. We can, however, be grasped by God if we are willing. But to know God in this way is to have one’s autonomy completely dissolved. This is actually a good thing because, when we rule our own lives, we inevitably make a mess of it. But many people insist on holding on to their autonomy over and against God’s absolute claim on them. That is the key issue. So, don’t exhaust yourself trying to change people’s minds. Share your faith openly, then pray and trust the God who is in the business of changing hearts. That is what is needed.
Pray for those people who you want to see come to faith.
Read Acts 14:1-7
