Damascus Then and Now

Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast, “The Road to Damascus”, which aired on June 21, 2017, graphically exemplifies the stark difference between politics and faith. He relates the story of a CIA asset whose identity was compromised in the struggle between the CIA, Congress, and the press.  Malcolm draws the parallel of this individual to the story of Saul of Tarsus who became the apostle Paul. Except that, in this case, the CIA source, who was originally allowed by the CIA  to repent and try to expiate for earlier sins, was later exposed to the judgment of a much larger part of the government, leaked to the press, and murdered by his previous henchmen. Malcolm details the sanctimonious self-righteousness of all the parties involved in the leak. It wasn’t anybody’s fault that the United States government broke trust with this man. It was always somebody else to blame.

Why was the early church able to accept Saul after his conversion experience? It was probably very hard, especially for those whose relatives or friends had been locked up or murdered by Saul.  There are probably a number of factors towards his acceptance.

•     Saul had met Jesus face to face and had a radical transformation. 

•     Peter had his own experience of betrayal and deep repentance and knew that he had no standing to judge Paul for prior actions.

•     The basis of first century Christianity was that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and therefore all must repent and be saved.

What are politics like in the Kingdom of God? Not the College of Cardinals but the throne room of God? They are informed by two over-arching realities: the direct revelation and presence of God; and the universal knowledge by those in God’s presence of the fallen state of mankind and redemption by grace. Christ tells us that we will reign with Him. How will we govern without falling into one of the traps so pervasive in our time, such as legalism, lack of standards, unsanctified mercy, or self-righteousness?

Jesus taught His disciples to pray for His kingdom to come on earth just like it is in heaven, and His kingdom is being built right before our eyes. We have the opportunity to join. Jesus showed us what it will look like when we do. Saul of Tarsus became Paul the Apostle in Jesus’ kingdom. He was ultimately turned over to the Roman Empire for ultimate execution by his former henchmen, but not by the Christians who accepted him. The important point is that his life and death were not in vain in eternal matters, unlike the lives of most of our sanctimonious, self-righteous politicians.