How do you think I read it?
By no means do I think Paul was a Milquetoast. I just don’t think his repertoire was limited to confrontation and harsh language. And I DO think he labored to make his message acceptable — or at least to avoid having his presentation getting in the way of his message.
This exchange started with my suggesting that evangelism done in a way to drive people off was of questionable value.
You replied that it didn’t matter because God was not going to let an inept evangelist interfere with his plan to save someone.
So I brought up Paul’s claiming to tailor his manner of presentation as much as he could without, one assumes, compromising the Gospel.
In other words, it SEEMS that Paul took care to think about how his presentation contributed or interfered with his message being heard.
I was not arguing that he was always mild. I WAS arguing that he thought about how his manner would affect his hearers and tried to accommodate himself to them, becoming all things to all people in order that some might be saved.
That attitude seems (a) VERY Biblical and (b) neglected by those who seem to me to revel in being confrontative and offensive, while (c) claiming to center everything on the Bible.
CHRIST made His message exceedingly compassionate and hearable for the broken and contrite.
He hit the arrogant, self-righteous etc. religious leaders upside the head with 2 X 4’s if not 4 X 4’s routinely.
There are those called by Him to “fight” for the faith....and against the wiles of the devil. When Christ cleared the temple area He did not say excuse me nor did he gently tip over the “tables”.....he cried out and that with a whip in His hand. He called them “thieves”....because that is what they were and what they were doing.....so too those who do the bidding of counterfeit Christianity and their leader who is the “Father of lies”...
Soft hearted people have a difficult time understanding those called to such a mission. They always will. But likewise those who have been called as such have difficulty understanding why the family of believers aren't doing more against the foe.
Some are called to break down the barriers and walls, others to build those up in the faith. Just like EMTS in an emergency situation are yelling and carrying on ..... and then transport those to the hospital where others see then to the healing. Do not mistake Gods use of people for that which He has called them too. Especially those Called to be on the front lines of the battle....where it can be a bloody mess and injuries occur to both sides....Truth will always be fought and that battle is fierce......given he who is the Father of lies and the tactics he uses we should not fear nor be hesitant to dispel his lies in the ‘Power” and might of the Lords’ Spirit.