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The Paul Pattern

God often transforms His greatest opponents into His most powerful evangelists. Those who once fought hardest against the Gospel frequently become its most compelling advocates, wielding their former opposition as testimony to God's transformative power.

Biblical Example: Saul of Tarsus (The Apostle Paul)​

Phase 1 - Zealous Opposition: Saul was Christianity's most feared persecutor, "breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples" (Acts 9:1). He wasn't a casual opponent but a religious zealot who "persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it" (Galatians 1:13). His credentials were impeccable: "circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless" (Philippians 3:5-6).

Phase 2 - Divine Encounter: On the road to Damascus, Christ personally confronted Saul: "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4). This wasn't gradual persuasion but overwhelming divine intervention that left him blind and helpless. The very Jesus he thought was dead and defeated revealed Himself as risen Lord.

Phase 3 - Complete Transformation: Paul's conversion was so radical that early Christians initially feared it was a trap (Acts 9:26). The man who had dragged believers to prison now proclaimed "Jesus is the Son of God" (Acts 9:20) with such power that his former allies plotted to kill him (Acts 9:23).

Phase 4 - Unmatched Authority: Paul's former opposition became his greatest qualification. He could say "I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Corinthians 15:9-10). His testimony carried unique weight precisely because he had been Christianity's chief enemy.

Paul's journey: zealous opposition → divine confrontation → radical transformation → apostolic authority through former opposition.

Another Biblical Example: The Thief on the Cross​

Phase 1 - Active Mockery: Initially, both criminals crucified with Jesus "hurled insults at him" (Matthew 27:44). This thief wasn't just a passive observer but actively participated in mocking the Son of God during His darkest hour.

Phase 2 - Recognition of Truth: Something shifted as he witnessed Jesus' response to suffering. He rebuked the other criminal: "Don't you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:40-41).

Phase 3 - Bold Faith: In his final moments, this former mocker made perhaps the greatest statement of faith in Scripture: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). He recognized Jesus as King while others saw only a dying criminal.

Phase 4 - Immediate Salvation: Jesus responded: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). The man who hours earlier had mocked Christ became the first person promised immediate entry into paradise.

Another Biblical Example: The Centurion at the Cross​

Phase 1 - Professional Opposition: As a Roman centurion, he represented the very system that crucified Christ. He had likely participated in countless executions and viewed Jesus as just another condemned criminal.

Phase 2 - Witnessing Divine Response: He observed Jesus' supernatural response to crucifixion—forgiving His enemies, caring for His mother, the darkness, the earthquake, and Christ's final words: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).

Phase 3 - Public Declaration: This hardened soldier, who had seen countless deaths, proclaimed: "Surely this was a righteous man" (Luke 23:47) and "Surely he was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54). His professional skepticism became powerful testimony.

Modern Example: Lee Strobel​

Phase 1 - Militant Atheism: Lee Strobel was an award-winning legal affairs journalist for the Chicago Tribune and a committed atheist who viewed Christianity as "an irrational leap into wishful thinking." When his wife became a Christian, he was determined to expose the "foolishness" of her newfound faith.

Phase 2 - Investigative Challenge: Using his journalistic skills and legal training, Strobel set out to systematically debunk Christianity by interviewing leading scholars, examining historical evidence, and applying rigorous investigative methods to disprove the Gospel claims.

Phase 3 - Evidence-Driven Conversion: After nearly two years of investigation, the cumulative evidence—historical, archaeological, scientific, and philosophical—convinced this skeptical journalist that Christianity was not only true but the most reasonable worldview. His expertise in evaluating evidence became the very tool God used to convict him.

Phase 4 - Apologetic Authority: Strobel's books like "The Case for Christ" have reached millions precisely because he approached faith as a hostile investigator. His former atheism gives him unique credibility with skeptics who know he didn't come to faith easily or emotionally.

Modern Example: Gary Sheng (Myself)​

Phase 1 - Intellectual Atheism: Growing up in a non-religious household and attending a math and science academy, I carried skepticism toward faith "like a badge of honor." I saw religion as "outdated, almost laughable," and I was shaped by observing "religious hypocrisy, wars and genocides in the name of God."

Phase 2 - Secular Activism Failure: Even my search for purpose through social justice activism—creating a Facebook page with 800,000 followers that generated "a billion impressions" and "anti-cop hatred"—left me empty. I realized I was "only contributing more to the madness" and abandoned my "Woke Folks" page, recognizing I had been "playing Trump's game, except just on the other side."

Phase 3 - Overwhelming Evidence Required: My conversion required extensive intellectual proof: "I needed such an overwhelming amount of evidence to start walking the path." This included philosophical arguments (cosmological, design, moral), historical evidence (fulfilled prophecy, resurrection), experiential evidence (healing ceremony, personal transformation), mathematical evidence (statistical impossibilities), and understanding Christ as Logos—the rational principle that makes reality coherent.

Phase 4 - Evangelistic Testimony: My former atheism now serves my evangelistic calling. I can write: "As someone trained in data analysis, I wanted concrete, verifiable evidence" and "My scientific training taught me to consider alternative hypotheses." My engineering background and former skepticism give unique authority to my comprehensive case for following Christ.

How The Pattern Works​

God delights in using former opponents because their transformation demonstrates His power more dramatically than gradual conversions (1 Timothy 1:16 - "But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life").

Former skeptics possess several advantages as evangelists:

  • Credibility with opponents - They understand objections from the inside
  • Intellectual rigor - Their conversion required overcoming serious doubts
  • Powerful testimony - The greater the transformation, the greater the witness
  • Apologetic authority - They can address skepticism with lived experience

Paul could say "I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man" (1 Timothy 1:13) precisely to demonstrate that "if anyone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more" (Philippians 3:4). His former opposition became his apostolic credential.

Biblical Precedent for This Pattern​

This pattern appears throughout Scripture:

  • Moses - Fled Egypt as a murderer, returned as deliverer (Exodus 2:11-15, 3:10)
  • David - Outlaw hiding in caves became Israel's greatest king (1 Samuel 22:1-2, 2 Samuel 5:4)
  • Matthew - Despised tax collector became Gospel writer (Matthew 9:9)
  • Peter - Denied Christ three times, became the rock of the early church (Matthew 26:69-75, Acts 2:14-41)
  • John Mark - Abandoned Paul's first missionary journey, later became valuable minister (Acts 13:13, 2 Timothy 4:11)

God specializes in redemptive reversals where the greatest weakness becomes the greatest strength, the deepest failure becomes the highest calling, and the most unlikely candidates become the most powerful witnesses.

How To Recognize This Pattern in Your Life​

  • Past opposition to God may be preparation for future ministry
  • Intellectual objections you once held equip you to help other skeptics
  • Your former worldview gives you unique access to those still trapped in it
  • The evidence that convinced you can convince others facing similar doubts
  • Your transformation story carries weight precisely because it wasn't easy

The very skepticism, rebellion, or opposition that once separated you from God can become the foundation of your testimony and ministry to others walking the same path.

How To Walk This Pattern Well​

  • Embrace your past - Don't hide your former opposition but use it as testimony
  • Study deeply - Former skeptics often become the most thorough apologists
  • Maintain humility - Remember you were saved by grace, not superior intellect
  • Target your former tribe - You have unique access to those you once were
  • Document your journey - Your conversion story can help others facing similar struggles

Paul never stopped referencing his past as a persecutor because it magnified God's grace and gave him authority with both Jews and Gentiles. Your former opposition to God, properly understood, becomes evidence of His transformative power.

The greater the opposition, the greater the potential for evangelistic impact. God doesn't just forgive former enemies—He commissions them as apostles to demonstrate that no one is beyond redemption and no objection is beyond His power to overcome.