It has been a surprising pleasure to leisurely work my way through Augustine’s Confessions again—what a difference a contemporary translation makes! Today I was struck by his ability to express his longings so timelessly. He tells the story of being caught as a young man in the Manichaean heresy, all the while having a wonderful curiosity and continually asking questions of the cult leaders, who in turn were quite uncomfortable being questioned. The cult leaders kept putting Augustine off with promises that when someone named Faustus came he would provide all the answers Augustine sought. When Faustus finally did come, he proved to be a very compelling speaker and had great charisma, but had no more ability to handle Augustine’s questions than the local Manichaean leaders had. Augustine eventually concluded that the longings he had could have only been met in Jesus Christ, not the deficient Manichaean god. Reflecting on the deficiency of Faustus, who masked a profound lack of knowledge of the true God with a slick presentation, Augustine wrote:
But to what avail was a more elegant cup-bearer, since he did not offer me the more precious draught for which I thirsted? My ears were already full of such things, and they did not seem to me more convincing because they were better expressed; not were they true because they were eloquent; nor the soul wise because the face was handsome and the language eloquent.
But they who extolled him to me were not competent judges. They thought he was prudent and wise because he was pleasing in his speech.
Augustine’s observation is a comfort because I often feel that my message is not significant in that I cannot express it as eloquently as others. I am also grieved because I sense an ongoing tendency among evangelicals to seek gurus and to crave answers, moving from book to book and seminar to seminar seeking the ultimate insight. And why is it so common for me to prefer style over substance? 
Augustine was speaking primarily of those who were in flight from God. Though they had lovely china upon which to serve their message, when it came down to it the Manichaean dishes were empty. You and I are not the most handsome, nor are we the most articulate people on the planet, but if Jesus has taught us to be fishers of people we have gourmet delights on offer. Augustine continues,
From you (God) …I had now learned that a thing should not be considered true because it is well spoken; nor untrue because it came from a stammering tongue; neither true because delivered unskillfully, nor untrue because the language was fine. Just as wholesome and unwholesome food may be served in elegant or plain dishes, so wisdom or folly may come in either elegant or simple language. Either kind of food may be served up in either kind of dish.
Father, I am unskilled of pen and tongue. Thank you that we have treasure in earthly vessels and thank you that you have revealed your profound message to simple, little ones like those who follow your Son.
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