Do you slink behind the curtains when asked to say a few words in front of a crowd? Many people identify public speaking at their #1 fear in life. Not so much during these days of covid and limited gatherings, but when the virus fades (someday), we’ll return to our familiar fear of saying something stupid in front of a room full of people.

Hints in scripture suggest that the Apostle Paul spoke poorly. He wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians: When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God (I Corinthians 2:1), this being his second reference in his opening remarks to lacking eloquence.

Paul’s critics piled on as well, complaining: His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing (2 Corinthians 10:10). Ouch—one star review.

Apparently Paul was a lousy speaker. Hard to believe, since his speeches fill our Bibles and his writings influence the Christian faith like no others. Paul also struggled with a thorn in the flesh, possibly poor or declining eyesight.

So, the guy can barely see, and stutters and squeaks when he talks, but changed the world—what was his secret?

Not hiding anything, Paul wrote: Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24), and what we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God (1 Corinthians 2:12).

The Lord doesn’t need a person of good looks or silver tongue—often these prove to be impediments. The Lord uses anyone open to Him. I find that immensely encouraging. My talents matter little without the Spirit working through me. Less of me, more of Him.

Finally, in perhaps a shot at his critics, Paul reminded the church: the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

Good for me to remember in my world of words and persuasion, of social media posts and twitter feeds, to search for the power of God in the haystack of talk.

1 Corinthians 1&2 in week thirty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Kane Reinholdtsen