Thoughts From Acts 17 - Part 2

  While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. Acts 17:16-23

        Paul left Berea for safety reasons. I'm sure it wasn't his idea, but his "bodyguards" got him out of there and sent him to Athens where it was safe as he waited for his entourage to meet him there. If that was me, I go to the hotel, relax, watch some TV, maybe work on some messages while I wait for the guys to show up. Instead, he walks through the city and is grieved that these people are worshipping everything but the true God. They don't even know about Him, so Paul uses their idol of an unknown God, which they are paying homage to in case they are inadvertently missing one (which they are) as a jumping off point to introduce them to the true God.

      This makes me ask a few questions of myself. First, am I grieved by the lostness around me? The Milwaukee Brewers just won the World Series, a feat I never thought I'd see in my lifetime, and the celebration went on for days. What kind of celebration? A whole lot of drunkenness both of players and fans and I must confess, I scrolled the shorts on my phone with glee wasting hours. I must confess, my first thought wasn't - what lostness but rather, this is amazing, they are living the life! My mind finally went there but Paul saw with lasered focus the condition of the Athenians and gieved.

     The second question is what am I doing about the lostness? Here I am in Memphis again for 9 days. How am I going to reach people for Jesus? What is my plan? Paul observed the city, the poets they were reading, what they were worshipping and formulated a plan. The residents all love "Harry Potter". Maybe in slow times, if there are any, I watch it with them and point out things like isn't it amazing that all the great stories have similar themes - good versus evil, sacrificing yourself for your friends, being willing to give your life for your friends, the danger of seeking power but the joy of sacrificial love. These all point to the Biblical account of Jesus. One objection, like the Athenians accused of Paul, "You're a babbler." The Greek of that is "seed picker". In other words they said Paul took ideas from everywhere and came up with his beliefs. One resident said to me that Christianity took their ideas from a bunch of other religions. The problem is that the Bible goes back to the beginning. It is the original thought.

    The midterm elections happen tonight. Maybe I comment that it really doesn't matter who wins because God is in control and Jesus is coming back. I don't know, but the main thing is to have a plan and always be laser focused on why I'm here, not to make money but to reach the lost. God help me to stay focused!

Thoughts From Acts 17 - Part 1

 

17 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.5 But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14 The believers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. 15 Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. Acts 17:1-15

        Charlie Kirk was fun and informative to watch as he set up on college campuses and had intellectual debates with college students from a conservative, Christian, Republican foundation. I especially enjoy his clips where he is defending Christianity which I felt became more and more frequent and concise the closer he got to his end on earth. I picture Paul to be like him (although Paul couldn't care less about politics, in fact his main message was submit to authorities because God put them in place, even the bad ones) setting up a place at the synagogue, pontificating about Jesus and entertaining questions and objections. If you've watched Charlie's clips, you can see the vehemence in some of the questioners, and we see the hatred that Paul experienced. Charlie had bodyguards to protect him, and you can see Paul had men who would whisk him away at the sign of trouble. Bryce Crawford is beginning to do this, too and Ray Comfort from Living Waters Ministry and Cliff Kinechtle and his son have been doing it for years.

       On Ray's videos you can see the responses that Paul got from mockery to walking away, to listening and in some cases praying a prayer of salvation. With Charlie, his events became so famous that organized dissidents would follow him from city to city just like they did with Paul and there were riots at Kirk's and Paul's sites.

       The noble response, like the Berean's is to listen, study, and see if there is validity and if not, throw out the arguments. If there is, then rethink your position and grow. I hope that I am teachable. The problem is when we become so dogmatic and unteachable we become ungracious, angry, and unloving. We should be able to be unwavering and convinced in our beliefs without being unkind but because of our insecurities, different beliefs are seen as threats to us. Let's be confident in what we believe yet loving enough to listen to others and gently share the truth as we leave open lines of communication with unbelievers in hopes to win some.

 

Thoughts From Acts 16 - Part 5

  When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. 40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.  Acts 16:35-40

       Should Christians stand up for their rights, or should they just thank the Lord for their opportunity to suffer for His name knowing that we'll be rewarded in Heaven and God will judge those involved and they are in trouble?

      In this passage Paul stands up for his rights. He didn't deserve the beating and he wanted an apology. This probably protected the believers in Ephesus from unfair beatings and enabled Paul to check on Lydia. Had he not done this and was caught at Lydia's when he had been kicked out of town, he probably would have been re-arrested. Romans 13:5 says that the authorities have authority to protect the innocent and punish wrong doers and Paul was calling on that.

       Remember though that the book of Acts isn't necessarily a prescription for living but a record of how the early church was formed and the actions of the founders, warts and all. Therefore, to claim that we should always follow Paul's example and fight for our rights would be overstepping. Jesus didn't do that - if He had He wouldn't have been crucified. He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. The disciples were beaten in Acts 3-5 for healing and preaching and they left rejoicing for being considered worthy to suffer for the name.

     So each person and situation is unique and we must trust the Holy Spirit to lead our behavior. I appreciate the Christians who are out there fighting for our rights. It's making our lives a lot easier. That being said, we aren't called to live an easy life, nor are we citizens of earth but rather citizens of Heaven. We shouldn't expect fair treatment because our Savior certainly didn't receive it nor are we guaranteed it.

Thoughts From Acts 16 - Part 4

 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. Acts 16:19-34        

         So far in this chapter we have seen Paul witnessing in different ways. First, he goes to the religious people who believe in God but don't understand the gospel and reaches Lydia's heart. This is akin to modern day preaching in churches, crusades, media - you have religious people gathering but some aren't saved and are reached with the gospel. I'm always amazed when a pastor gives an invitation and some go forward for salvation. I think to myself, "why is someone who isn't saved getting up at 9 in the morning on Sunday to attend church?" But they do and the Spirit opens their heart to believe and receive. This takes us back to the previous passages where I said that just because a person believes in God doesn't mean they are saved. They must believe the gospel of Jesus.

       Second, he street evangelizes. We have some guys in our church that go into Gatlinburg and preach in the streets. This usually gets people in trouble because someone will always complain about solicitation and the law will intervene. There was a guy that preached at the Island in Pigeon Forge and he's no longer there and I can only assume he's been told not to. I mentioned in the last blog about ABC making people take down religious signs at College Game Day. Paul and Silas likewise got in trouble for street preaching. Let's never criticize street preachers because they have more guts than the rest of us.

        Third, Paul witnesses in prison. In the dungeon, in shackles, publicly humiliated, physically abused, not knowing what would become of him while committing no crime, he is up in the middle of the night worshipping and praising Jesus. Being people of thanksgiving, content in whatever state we are in is a testimony to those watching - and they are watching. Do you only praise God when He's blessing you? I saw on twitter a Cubs fan hating on Brewer fans saying they just support the team in times of success. They call this "fair weather fans". Are we fair weather Christians? We garner worldly respect when we follow Christ in the good and the bad. Because of this, when the earthquake came and everyone was freed, no one ran. They listened to Paul just like they will on the shipwrecked boat in the future, because they saw something real. 

     Fourth, Paul witnessed to a man who was about to give up on life. We reach people at rescue ministries, recovery ministries, jail ministries, food banks, homeless shelters where people who are no longer deluded by the lie that this world offers hope and meaning congregate. I get to speak Monday at a meal for the poor and share the way of salvation. This jailer wasn't financially downtrodden, but he thought life was over for him. We need to reach out to people going through divorce, job loss, bankruptcies, foreclosures - anyone going through life trauma is open to the gospel because their self-sufficiency shield has been cracked and has made a way for the gospel to sneak in.

      Lastly, Paul does child evangelism. It says that the whole family believed and were baptized so I can only assume that there were kids in the house. Presbyterians use this passage to justify infant baptism except it says that they believed. Reaching kids is the easiest because they have child-like faith. They just need to hear it in a language they can understand and either Paul, Silas, or Luke were able to do this. Are you attempting to reach kids with the gospel? I got saved at a backyard Bible club one summer. How about organizing a one-day VBS at your house and invite the neighborhood. All they can do is say, "No".

     The point is, every moment of every day we should be looking for opportunities to witness as we walk in moment-by-moment communication with our Lord. Don't miss opportunities! Paul sure didn't.

Thoughts From Acts 16 - Part 3

 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So, she persuaded us.16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.  Acts 16:11-18

       Robert Griffin III, ex Heisman winner and football analyst with 2 million Twitter followers tweeted this before the BYU Notre Dame football game. ..."Battle of the Christians for the #1 spot." This is great PR for Christ, right? Christians excelling in more than just moral behavior yet being boring and wimpy and irrelevant. Suddenly "we're" on the mainstage although don't hold up a John 3:16 sign at College Game Day because they will take it down because of "pit rules." Pat McAfee, defying the rules read from the book of Mormon something about God creating the Earth to be inhabited and hath created his children to possess it, all of it sounds true and good yet ... unhelpful or irrelevant in this context. So with Christ being lifted up, what's the problem - shouldn't we be all for this?

       Paul was faced with the same situation in Phillipi. There was an unsaved, demon possessed girl known for sorcery and divination and telling the future successfully following Paul around saying, "Here's a guy that is telling you how to be saved - listen to him!" Good PR, right? She had a lot of followers. She was locally famous and made a lot of money fortune telling and she was pointing people to Jesus. What's the problem? Take the win, right? Paul faces her and rebukes her and casts out the demon. Why?

     You have to start by asking, why would Satan want to validate Paul? My guess is that it was an attempt to marry darkness and light - a type of ecumenicalism that embraces truth and lie. Paul was in effect saying, "I can't be associated with you because the Devil is a liar so be gone." Likewise true Christianity can't embrace Mormonism which says that we are all created to be gods and combines faith with temple works for salvation along with many more heresies. And we can't embrace Catholicism even though they are pro-life warriors and believe in the Bible (all 66 books and then some) because they make works necessary to salvation and treat their traditions like purgatory, papal infallibility, counsels, praying to Mary on equal footing with the Bible. To marry true Christianity to these is a win for the devil.

      I know there are some Catholics who are saved and some Mormons trusting Christ alone for their salvation. That's great. But to equate true Christianity with Mormonism and Catholicism on a tweet is wrong and dangerous to the church and Paul wouldn't have put up with it and we shouldn't either. This would better be labeled "The Marriot Inn's Apostate Bowl", and HOLY UNDERWEAR! BYU upsets Notre Dame!