We Don't Speak Great Things...

An excellent book that I would like to recommend is "We Don't Speak Great Things - We Live Them" published by Scrool Publishing. The title is a quote within by an early Christian named Octavius. The book is merely a translation and republication of two second-century letters written by Christians. The first letter 'Octavius' was written by a Christian lawer named Mark Felix somewhere between 160-250 (according to scholars in that field) and the second is titled 'The First Apology of Justin Martyr' said to have been written between 150-160.

I specifically wanted to comment on the first letter, Octavius. It is written, as I said, by Mark Felix from his point of view about a discussion held between himself and two friends, Octavius & Caecilius (Octavius a believer, Caecilius a non-believer). The three walk on a beach of Ostia on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It being the first time Octavius & Caecilius meet, Felix has an uncomfortable moment when Octavius gives Felix some sharp spiritual criticism when failing to say anything to his unbelieving friend Caecilius when he blows a customary kiss to a statue of a Roman god they pass on their walk.

What follows is a fair, yet heated debate between Caecilius and Octavius, with Felix as the mediator. Caecilius delivers his argument first, criticizing Christianity in many ways making many strong arguments and even perhaps slightly shaking Felix. Felix interjects briefly to ensure that both sides of the argument are heard and Octavius tactfully yet sharply and convincingly retorts and answers the questions and accusations laid down by Caecilius.

I'll save the ending for you. You don't even have to buy the book to read it... Since it is an early church writing, you can find it online at many different places. I'll put a link to it here to one resource I found if you're not able to find it on your own, but be aware that it is very King James-ish in the language department. For a more modern translation that may be a bit more readable, the Scroll Publishing one I originally recommended is excellent. Enjoy the reading and maybe we all can do a bit more of the 'Living' part.

Post Script:
One of the main reasons for this post was a paragraph I ran across while re-reading this book tonight. I'll quote a bit of it for you:

(Mark Felix, in regards to hearing a convincing argument from Caecilius)... "I fear that most listeners are swayed by the beauty or power of words rather than by their truth. Something can sound very logical and still be false. Or something may sound unbelievable and be true. Unfortunately, people tend to accept something as true simply because it's boldly asserted. So they are deceived both by the cleverness of the speaker and by their own foolishness.

"Others would rather leave all questions unanswered, instead of pondering over matters that aren't clear. But surely we don't want to become like them and reject all teaching. Nor do we want to end up hating and distrusting everyone. For those who are gullible are often deceived by those they trusted. Once they realize this, they begin to suspect that everyone is a deceiver. They then reject people they would have otherwise viewed with respect."

This hit me because I know I have felt this way. I am admittedly gullible in nature and have been hurt and felt deceived by some. I know that this has caused a feeling of general distrust in many, though subtle. I certainly do not want to distrust everyone, because I know that there are so many people who care deeply for me and my family with genuine concern, and to shut those people out would be the real tragedy.