He Just Didn’t Make the Cut

Recently we considered approaching the apostle Paul, yes, the Mediterranean maverick, to speak at a Leaders Conference.  Although his credentials seem impressive, and no doubt he contributed to the founding of a good many, but admittedly small churches/groups, there were enough concerns that on balance decided against it.  He just didn’t make the cut.

An explanation is in order, as some expressed their disappointment at our sound and considered reasoning to not proceed with the invitation, that was after due diligence. 

His personal appearance was less than we’d hoped; his overall presentation left a lot to be desired.  He was quite small. His teeth were broken and discoloured - not pleasing.   This would seem to convey a lack of personal care, a carelessness about impressions.  (And we know, impressions are important). 

He had cuts, bruises and scars all over any exposed flesh which were quite upsetting, and many more we couldn’t see if the reports are correct? His nose appeared to have been broken, as it was crooked. His eyesight seemed to be diminished by some weeping disease, that was frankly most off putting. We wondered how this would add up on television and big screens.  This is always a big consideration – in short, he isn’t good TV. Maybe a few (in smaller circles) could handle his battered and bruised body but overall, we wondered if this would take away from the impact of his preaching, which brings me to the second reason he didn’t make the cut. 

Paul was trained in rhetorical argumentation, but he refused to use this powerful tool to get his message across – which seemed to us a great waste of resource and skill.  He mumbled on about not wanting to win people by persuasive words but by the shame and weakness of the cross.  On top of this he was a decidedly uncharismatic personality. You would be hard pressed to recognise him in a crowd except for his scars. He, we heard later, wasn’t even a very good speaker.  We dodged a bullet there. 

Paul also worked a lot – manual labour – so we wondered where his time to prepare a message came from.  It shows in his delivery. 

Added to which Paul seemed to attract trouble wherever he goes, which is disconcerting as trouble is often the hallmark of divisive leadership, and we don’t want to expose people to this possibility.  We had to ask ourselves whether his leadership was of the kind we want to promote.

He failed to own any of the churches he started, saying they were the churches of the Lord Jesus – not the founding Pastor/apostles’. Although this may point to a sincerity in the apostle, his ownership or lack of it was a contributing factor as to why he didn’t make the cut.  He can’t speak to owning the vision of a church when it appears he doesn’t.

No doubt Paul is being used by God in specific circumstances where his approach culturally and spiritually fits his environment, but for us it was – not this time. 

I hope this brief explanation satisfies you, as it does most of us. More time would be needed to fully cover our concerns – including his relative poverty. 

Since then, we have approached and secured the services of more qualified speakers. They all strongly lead their own very large churches, are superb communicators and have a regal bearing, as befits preachers. 

As a postscript, Paul has once again been jailed for causing riots and subversion, further troubling the churches.  He also speaks of his own impending death (very morbid talk, you’d agree) which may serve, sadly, as a relief to many. We wish him well. 

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