I recently completed reading a book that was written in the late 1890’s namely St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen by W. M. Ramsay. It is a book about the book of Acts and like Acts a major part of the book details the missionary journeys of Paul. The author also draws on information about Paul and his journeys contained in the rest of the New Testament and other historical documents in order to draw a more complete picture of Paul. One aspect of this book that was of interest to me was Paul’s approach to other religions.
First, Ramsay states that Paul’s missionary method was “not to insist where there was no opening and not to draw back where the door was open”. [1] This most definitely was not an “in your face evangelism” but it was no shrinking violet either. It was a very respectful approach.
Second, Ramsay notes that Paul did not rebuke other religious ideas but tried to guide them. He understood some were honestly striving to worship God given the knowledge they had. [2]
Third, “Polished courtesy of address to all, was valued by Paul as a distinct and important element in the religious life; and he advised his pupils to learn from the surrounding world everything that was worthy in it”. [3]
Is this how we Christians view and approach other religions? Do we respect other religions and recognize they have value? Do we try to learn from other religions? Unfortunately many in the Christian community do not because we view Christianity as the only true religion and all the other religions are leading their adherents straight to hell. Paul’s approach to other religions indicates that this belief needs to be rethought.
I have suggested an approach we should take with other religions in my book The Renovation of Our Soul and it is similar to Paul’s. Chapter 18 specifically deals with this topic.
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[1] W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen, New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1896, p. 61.
[2] Ibid., pp. 146-147.
{3] Ibid., p. 149.
