1Paul and Silas went back to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a follower named Timothy. His mother was also a follower. She was Jewish, and his father was Greek. 2The Lord's followers in Lystra and Iconium said good things about Timothy, 3and Paul wanted him to go with them. But Paul first had him circumcised, because all the Jewish people around there knew that Timothy's father was Greek. 4As Paul and the others went from city to city, they told the followers what the apostles and leaders in Jerusalem had decided, and they urged them to follow these instructions. 5The churches became stronger in their faith, and each day more people put their faith in the Lord.
What would you give up to be an effective disciple? Without being salacious, Timothy gave up his foreskin. And, we all know circumcision is not a requirement for salvation. Paul was demanding an awful lot. Most of us wouldn't have blamed Timothy if he'd have said "no thanks!"
Today we're more interested in what we can get away with than what we might have to do without. We no longer believe in abstinence from alcohol "because the bible doesn't require it". Some of our clergy no longer abstain from marrying divorced people "because the bylaws have changed".
"Oh, those are just cultural things" we say. Well, believe me when I tell you, drinking is every bit as much a "cultural thing" as not drinking.
What's next?
The question should never be "Why do I have to give this up?" The question should always be "Is there anything in my life that looks like the world?" Remember...as believers we are not citizens of this world so we shouldn't derive our well-being from partaking of the things in this world. In fact, it is axiomatic...the more we look like this world the less we look like Christ. It's unavoidable.
In Timothy's case...he didn't want to look like his father...a Greek, because it would surely impact his ability to be an effective disciple.
So the question naturally follows...how much of the world can we reflect and still be an effective disciple?10%? 20%? Of course. when we ask such a question we only show that we aren't serious about being a disciple.
Live boldly out there today...
May 27, 2011
Acts 15:36-41, Paul and Barnabas Go Their Separate Ways
36Sometime later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit the Lord's followers in the cities where we preached his message. Then we will know how they are doing." 37Barnabas wanted to take along John, whose other name was Mark. 38But Paul did not want to, because Mark had left them in Pamphylia and had stopped working with them.
39Paul and Barnabas argued, then each of them went his own way. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, 40but Paul took Silas and left after the followers had placed them in God's care. 41They traveled through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the churches.
Mali is good at saying "get over it!" Mostly she says it when I'm obsessing over a disappointment of giving too much creedence to a slight by somebody.
Actually, very good advice. "Get over it...!"
I've always been curious about this passage. It might be here to remind us Paul is not the fourth part of the God-head, but it's probably more than that.
Certainly, Paul bears some of the responsibility for breaking up a powerful missionary team. Looking back, we might be tempted to say God ordained this event to multiply his missionary resources. I disagree because if God was the author of this separation there would have been no argument. So, what's this about?
I' d like to suggest the message is a positive one. When we work in concert with other believers we always face the potential of human discord. It just happened to the best of them. In this case, however, this discord did not let either of them take their eyes off the strategic vision. They agreed to disagree and both pressed on with their missions.
As it should be...
So...two questions come to mind:
1. What is the strategic vision God has given you? (Believe me, He has...so you should examine this)
2. Are you still actively focused on (and pursuing) this vision? (in spite of discord or distraction)
This will help you evaluate your spiritual maturity.
Live boldly out there today...
39Paul and Barnabas argued, then each of them went his own way. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, 40but Paul took Silas and left after the followers had placed them in God's care. 41They traveled through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the churches.
Mali is good at saying "get over it!" Mostly she says it when I'm obsessing over a disappointment of giving too much creedence to a slight by somebody.
Actually, very good advice. "Get over it...!"
I've always been curious about this passage. It might be here to remind us Paul is not the fourth part of the God-head, but it's probably more than that.
Certainly, Paul bears some of the responsibility for breaking up a powerful missionary team. Looking back, we might be tempted to say God ordained this event to multiply his missionary resources. I disagree because if God was the author of this separation there would have been no argument. So, what's this about?
I' d like to suggest the message is a positive one. When we work in concert with other believers we always face the potential of human discord. It just happened to the best of them. In this case, however, this discord did not let either of them take their eyes off the strategic vision. They agreed to disagree and both pressed on with their missions.
As it should be...
So...two questions come to mind:
1. What is the strategic vision God has given you? (Believe me, He has...so you should examine this)
2. Are you still actively focused on (and pursuing) this vision? (in spite of discord or distraction)
This will help you evaluate your spiritual maturity.
Live boldly out there today...
May 26, 2011
Acts 15:30-35, We send our best wishes.
30The four men left Jerusalem and went to Antioch. Then they called the church members together and gave them the letter. 31When the letter was read, everyone was pleased and greatly encouraged. 32Judas and Silas were prophets, and they spoke a long time, encouraging and helping the Lord's followers.
33The men from Jerusalem stayed on in Antioch for a while. And when they left to return to the ones who had sent them, the followers wished them well. 34-35But Paul and Barnabas stayed on in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached about the Lord.
"What...no more meat offered to idols?"
That's what we'd hear today if we delivered a similar letter. We can't even get people to leave their coffee outside the sanctuary...if we even have a "sanctuary". That's because the god we worship in our culture bows at the altar of individual rights. Outside of a minority of churches there is no comprehension of personal sacrifice for the good of the whole.
Remember, that's what the letter was asking..."we'd like you to give up a few things for the sake of unity".
But, in Antioch, everyone was pleased and greatly encouraged. Their attitude was simple: "you want me to become a vegetarian? No problem!"
The Purpose Driven Life begins with the phrase "it's not about you". Next time God...or a fellow believer...asks us to make a sacrifice, this might be a good axiom to remember. Remember, it's all about the Body of Christ. As I think about it, the more we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the more likely we will hear more of these requests. That's how it works.
Live boldly out there today...
33The men from Jerusalem stayed on in Antioch for a while. And when they left to return to the ones who had sent them, the followers wished them well. 34-35But Paul and Barnabas stayed on in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached about the Lord.
"What...no more meat offered to idols?"
That's what we'd hear today if we delivered a similar letter. We can't even get people to leave their coffee outside the sanctuary...if we even have a "sanctuary". That's because the god we worship in our culture bows at the altar of individual rights. Outside of a minority of churches there is no comprehension of personal sacrifice for the good of the whole.
Remember, that's what the letter was asking..."we'd like you to give up a few things for the sake of unity".
But, in Antioch, everyone was pleased and greatly encouraged. Their attitude was simple: "you want me to become a vegetarian? No problem!"
The Purpose Driven Life begins with the phrase "it's not about you". Next time God...or a fellow believer...asks us to make a sacrifice, this might be a good axiom to remember. Remember, it's all about the Body of Christ. As I think about it, the more we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the more likely we will hear more of these requests. That's how it works.
Live boldly out there today...
May 25, 2011
Acts 15:21-29, A Letter to Gentiles Who Had Faith in the Lord
22The apostles, the leaders, and all the church members decided to send some men to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Silas and Judas Barsabbas, who were two leaders of the Lord's followers. 23They wrote a letter that said: We apostles and leaders send friendly greetings to all of you Gentiles who are followers of the Lord in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
24We have heard that some people from here have terribly upset you by what they said. But we did not send them! 25So we met together and decided to choose some men and to send them to you along with our good friends Barnabas and Paul. 26These men have risked their lives for our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We are also sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things that we are writing.
28The Holy Spirit has shown us that we should not place any extra burden on you. 29But you should not eat anything offered to idols. You should not eat any meat that still has the blood in it or any meat of any animal that has been strangled. You must also not commit any terrible sexual sins. If you follow these instructions, you will do well.
This is all about unity in the Body of Christ...
I like the idea of the letter...it formalizes and codifies the deliberations of the Council. Probably the most important phrase of the entire letter is "the Holy Spirit has shown us..." I've read a lot of things by a lot of church leaders that never included this phrase.
If we've lost anything in 2,000 years this is surely the most significant...
Which brings me back to yesterday's point. If we wait for the Holy Spirit to show is, we really never have to worry about doing the wrong thing...because we all know the Holy Spirit would never lead us in that direction.
However, waiting takes a lot of patience and discipline...usually when we think we've waited long enough we go ahead and use our own judgment. What is it about us that keeps us in such a hurry? I'm willing to venture that every mistake any of us has ever made can be traced to not waiting until the Holy Spirit showed us the right way...or most likely, not even attempting to wait.
I shouldn't gloss over the meat offered to idols, etc. This issue was emphasized because once gentiles joined the Church there was a real chance of disunity in the Body unless some cultural issues were resolved. In the first century most butchers sold meat that had recently been offered to idols. No point in wasting a good New York strip, right? A pious Jew would never countenance such a thing. Even once he or she became a Christian they would have great difficulty overcoming their training. On the other hand, a gentile would never view this as a spiritual isue.
This is naturally what happens when various traditions come together into one group. I have led a number of people to Christ who had no concept of the "rightness of wrongness" of their habits. Simply because the became Christians didn't mean they immediately understood they should not live with (have sex with) their girlfriend/boyfriend. From their background, they didn't see a connection between that and sin.
They had to be instructed...Why? Because the Church will not, and should not, countenance that lifestyle. So, we might as well make some of these things clear up front, before they become divisive. Although...I have no idea what a "terrible sexual sin" is. I thought it was all pretty terrible.
We can do it in fraternities and sports teams: sacrifice our own desires for the group. I'm always curious how the free-will I willingly sacrificed for the Air Force seems so precious when I'm expected to give it up for the church.
Live boldly out there today...
24We have heard that some people from here have terribly upset you by what they said. But we did not send them! 25So we met together and decided to choose some men and to send them to you along with our good friends Barnabas and Paul. 26These men have risked their lives for our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We are also sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things that we are writing.
28The Holy Spirit has shown us that we should not place any extra burden on you. 29But you should not eat anything offered to idols. You should not eat any meat that still has the blood in it or any meat of any animal that has been strangled. You must also not commit any terrible sexual sins. If you follow these instructions, you will do well.
This is all about unity in the Body of Christ...
I like the idea of the letter...it formalizes and codifies the deliberations of the Council. Probably the most important phrase of the entire letter is "the Holy Spirit has shown us..." I've read a lot of things by a lot of church leaders that never included this phrase.
If we've lost anything in 2,000 years this is surely the most significant...
Which brings me back to yesterday's point. If we wait for the Holy Spirit to show is, we really never have to worry about doing the wrong thing...because we all know the Holy Spirit would never lead us in that direction.
However, waiting takes a lot of patience and discipline...usually when we think we've waited long enough we go ahead and use our own judgment. What is it about us that keeps us in such a hurry? I'm willing to venture that every mistake any of us has ever made can be traced to not waiting until the Holy Spirit showed us the right way...or most likely, not even attempting to wait.
I shouldn't gloss over the meat offered to idols, etc. This issue was emphasized because once gentiles joined the Church there was a real chance of disunity in the Body unless some cultural issues were resolved. In the first century most butchers sold meat that had recently been offered to idols. No point in wasting a good New York strip, right? A pious Jew would never countenance such a thing. Even once he or she became a Christian they would have great difficulty overcoming their training. On the other hand, a gentile would never view this as a spiritual isue.
This is naturally what happens when various traditions come together into one group. I have led a number of people to Christ who had no concept of the "rightness of wrongness" of their habits. Simply because the became Christians didn't mean they immediately understood they should not live with (have sex with) their girlfriend/boyfriend. From their background, they didn't see a connection between that and sin.
They had to be instructed...Why? Because the Church will not, and should not, countenance that lifestyle. So, we might as well make some of these things clear up front, before they become divisive. Although...I have no idea what a "terrible sexual sin" is. I thought it was all pretty terrible.
We can do it in fraternities and sports teams: sacrifice our own desires for the group. I'm always curious how the free-will I willingly sacrificed for the Air Force seems so precious when I'm expected to give it up for the church.
Live boldly out there today...
May 24, 2011
Acts 15:1-21, The Church Leaders Meet in Jerusalem
1Some people came from Judea and started teaching the Lord's followers that they could not be saved, unless they were circumcised as Moses had taught. 2This caused trouble, and Paul and Barnabas argued with them about this teaching. So it was decided to send Paul and Barnabas and a few others to Jerusalem to discuss this problem with the apostles and the church leaders.
3The men who were sent by the church went through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling how the Gentiles had turned to God. This news made the Lord's followers very happy. 4When the men arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, including the apostles and the leaders. They told them everything God had helped them do. 5But some Pharisees had become followers of the Lord. They stood up and said, "Gentiles who have faith in the Lord must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses."
6The apostles and church leaders met to discuss this problem about Gentiles. 7They had talked it over for a long time, when Peter got up and said:
My friends, you know that God decided long ago to let me be the one from your group to preach the good news to the Gentiles. God did this so that they would hear and obey him. 8He knows what is in everyone's heart. And he showed that he had chosen the Gentiles, when he gave them the Holy Spirit, just as he had given his Spirit to us. 9God treated them in the same way that he treated us. They put their faith in him, and he made their hearts pure.
10Now why are you trying to make God angry by placing a heavy burden on these followers? This burden was too heavy for us or our ancestors. 11But our Lord Jesus was kind to us, and we are saved by faith in him, just as the Gentiles are.
12Everyone kept quiet and listened as Barnabas and Paul told how God had given them the power to work a lot of miracles and wonders for the Gentiles. 13After they had finished speaking, James said: My friends, listen to me! 14Simon Peter has told how God first came to the Gentiles and made some of them his own people. 15This agrees with what the prophets wrote, 16"I, the Lord, will return and rebuild David's fallen house. I will build it from its ruins and set it up again. 17Then other nations will turn to me and be my chosen ones. I, the Lord, say this.18I promised it long ago."
19And so, my friends, I don't think we should place burdens on the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20We should simply write and tell them not to eat anything that has been offered to idols. They should be told not to eat the meat of any animal that has been strangled or that still has blood in it. They must also not commit any terrible sexual sins. [c] 21We must remember that the Law of Moses has been preached in city after city for many years, and every Sabbath it is read when we Jews meet.
Now it's come up for the second time...the notion that a person had to become Jewish before he or she could become a Christian. This time the entire leadership of the church in Jerusalem decided to convene and settle the issue.
Peter, once again, was eloquent in the truth but added the thought that when we make it difficult for people to find Christ...we make God angry.
Paul agreed and added...We should simply write and tell them not to eat anything that has been offered to idols. They should be told not to eat the meat of any animal that has been strangled or that still has blood in it. They must also not commit any terrible sexual sins. 21We must remember that the Law of Moses has been preached in city after city for many years, and every Sabbath it is read when we Jews meet
None of the things Paul added were "prerequisites" to becoming Christians. They were meant to offer a construct for Godly living. Generally speaking, he stated that the Law of Moses was a good and familiar guide...because it was well known throughout the world.
We've been struggling with this ever since. We just can't get it into our heads that God's grace is sufficient. We take Paul's words to their extreme and live our lives burdening people with long lists of "do's and don'ts". In the process, I believe we risk making God angry.
If we've learned anything from the first Church is is that the life of a Christian is intended to be a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. Where the Spirit is, there is liberty. Is there anything we need to add? Which one of us wants to remind Paul, or Peter, that they shouldn't have a glass of wine?
I'm not going to walk out on that limb...
Live boldly out there today...
3The men who were sent by the church went through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling how the Gentiles had turned to God. This news made the Lord's followers very happy. 4When the men arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, including the apostles and the leaders. They told them everything God had helped them do. 5But some Pharisees had become followers of the Lord. They stood up and said, "Gentiles who have faith in the Lord must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses."
6The apostles and church leaders met to discuss this problem about Gentiles. 7They had talked it over for a long time, when Peter got up and said:
My friends, you know that God decided long ago to let me be the one from your group to preach the good news to the Gentiles. God did this so that they would hear and obey him. 8He knows what is in everyone's heart. And he showed that he had chosen the Gentiles, when he gave them the Holy Spirit, just as he had given his Spirit to us. 9God treated them in the same way that he treated us. They put their faith in him, and he made their hearts pure.
10Now why are you trying to make God angry by placing a heavy burden on these followers? This burden was too heavy for us or our ancestors. 11But our Lord Jesus was kind to us, and we are saved by faith in him, just as the Gentiles are.
12Everyone kept quiet and listened as Barnabas and Paul told how God had given them the power to work a lot of miracles and wonders for the Gentiles. 13After they had finished speaking, James said: My friends, listen to me! 14Simon Peter has told how God first came to the Gentiles and made some of them his own people. 15This agrees with what the prophets wrote, 16"I, the Lord, will return and rebuild David's fallen house. I will build it from its ruins and set it up again. 17Then other nations will turn to me and be my chosen ones. I, the Lord, say this.18I promised it long ago."
19And so, my friends, I don't think we should place burdens on the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20We should simply write and tell them not to eat anything that has been offered to idols. They should be told not to eat the meat of any animal that has been strangled or that still has blood in it. They must also not commit any terrible sexual sins. [c] 21We must remember that the Law of Moses has been preached in city after city for many years, and every Sabbath it is read when we Jews meet.
Now it's come up for the second time...the notion that a person had to become Jewish before he or she could become a Christian. This time the entire leadership of the church in Jerusalem decided to convene and settle the issue.
Peter, once again, was eloquent in the truth but added the thought that when we make it difficult for people to find Christ...we make God angry.
Paul agreed and added...We should simply write and tell them not to eat anything that has been offered to idols. They should be told not to eat the meat of any animal that has been strangled or that still has blood in it. They must also not commit any terrible sexual sins. 21We must remember that the Law of Moses has been preached in city after city for many years, and every Sabbath it is read when we Jews meet
None of the things Paul added were "prerequisites" to becoming Christians. They were meant to offer a construct for Godly living. Generally speaking, he stated that the Law of Moses was a good and familiar guide...because it was well known throughout the world.
We've been struggling with this ever since. We just can't get it into our heads that God's grace is sufficient. We take Paul's words to their extreme and live our lives burdening people with long lists of "do's and don'ts". In the process, I believe we risk making God angry.
If we've learned anything from the first Church is is that the life of a Christian is intended to be a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. Where the Spirit is, there is liberty. Is there anything we need to add? Which one of us wants to remind Paul, or Peter, that they shouldn't have a glass of wine?
I'm not going to walk out on that limb...
Live boldly out there today...
May 23, 2011
Acts 14:21-28, Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Syria
21Paul and Barnabas preached the good news in Derbe and won some people to the Lord. Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch in Pisidia. 22They encouraged the followers and begged them to remain faithful. They told them, "We have to suffer a lot before we can get into God's kingdom." 23Paul and Barnabas chose some leaders for each of the churches. Then they went without eating and prayed that the Lord would take good care of these leaders. 24Paul and Barnabas went on through Pisidia to Pamphylia, 25where they preached in the town of Perga. Then they went down to Attalia 26and sailed to Antioch in Syria. It was there that they had been placed in God's care for the work they had now completed. 27After arriving in Antioch, they called the church together. They told the people what God had helped them do and how he had made it possible for the Gentiles to believe. 28Then they stayed there with the followers for a long time.
Near the end of his life my dad loved to quote Harry E. Fosdick (he told me not to tell anybody). Mostly he loved Fosdick's view of richness in ministry at old age. Fosdick alluded to the idea that God saves the best for last. He used the beauty of the autumn colors as evidence.
But...we don't get there without being disciplined. We've all known giants of the faith who "crashed and burned". It's no easy thing to do the Lord's work for 50 or more years.
Missions don't last forever. Paul and Barnabas accomplished a great deal but they had an objective in mind. When they achieved their objective they went home.
And they stayed there for a long time...
It seems like a good idea to view our service for the Kingdom in manageable cycles. Otherwise we tend to get tired, lose focus and lose discipline. Before we know it...we are no longer productive. For those of us who have been doing this for a long time...when was the last time we took some time off? For those who are younger, how do you plan to successfully manage the demands for service that know no boundaries?
Sabbath is a reminder that we must rest. Are you tired? Are you having difficulty clearly defining your kingdom goals? Are you discouraged? How about finding your Antioch...and preparing for a big finish?
I'm not suggesting we do nothing...just something different. Remember...we have a long way to go.
Live boldly out there today...
Near the end of his life my dad loved to quote Harry E. Fosdick (he told me not to tell anybody). Mostly he loved Fosdick's view of richness in ministry at old age. Fosdick alluded to the idea that God saves the best for last. He used the beauty of the autumn colors as evidence.
But...we don't get there without being disciplined. We've all known giants of the faith who "crashed and burned". It's no easy thing to do the Lord's work for 50 or more years.
Missions don't last forever. Paul and Barnabas accomplished a great deal but they had an objective in mind. When they achieved their objective they went home.
And they stayed there for a long time...
It seems like a good idea to view our service for the Kingdom in manageable cycles. Otherwise we tend to get tired, lose focus and lose discipline. Before we know it...we are no longer productive. For those of us who have been doing this for a long time...when was the last time we took some time off? For those who are younger, how do you plan to successfully manage the demands for service that know no boundaries?
Sabbath is a reminder that we must rest. Are you tired? Are you having difficulty clearly defining your kingdom goals? Are you discouraged? How about finding your Antioch...and preparing for a big finish?
I'm not suggesting we do nothing...just something different. Remember...we have a long way to go.
Live boldly out there today...
May 22, 2011
Acts 14:8-20, Paul and Barnabas in Lystra
8In Lystra there was a man who had been born with crippled feet and had never been able to walk. 9The man was listening to Paul speak, when Paul saw that he had faith in Jesus and could be healed. So he looked straight at the man 10and shouted, "Stand up!" The man jumped up and started walking around.
11When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they yelled out in the language of Lycaonia, "The gods have turned into humans and have come down to us!" 12The people then gave Barnabas the name Zeus, and they gave Paul the name Hermes, [b] because he did the talking. 13The temple of Zeus was near the entrance to the city. Its priest and the crowds wanted to offer a sacrifice to Barnabas and Paul. So the priest brought some bulls and flowers to the city gates. 14When the two apostles found out about this, they tore their clothes in horror and ran to the crowd, shouting:
15Why are you doing this? We are humans just like you. Please give up all this foolishness. Turn to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16In times past, God let each nation go its own way. 17But he showed that he was there by the good things he did. God sends rain from heaven and makes your crops grow. He gives food to you and makes your hearts glad.
18Even after Paul and Barnabas had said all this, they could hardly keep the people from offering a sacrifice to them.
19Some Jewish leaders from Antioch and Iconium came and turned the crowds against Paul. They hit him with stones and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. 20But when the Lord's followers gathered around Paul, he stood up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas went to Derbe.
As we know, all the sincerity in the world won't get us anything if we're sincerely wrong. Even so, we are quick to positively judge those who are so passionate in their sincerity.
I was watching a 5 year old bowl. He refused to use the gutter bumpers because his dad didn't. Every ball he rolled went into the gutter. He kept telling himself he could do it. Three games...every ball a gutter ball. By the time he was finished he was weeping with frustration over his failure. His parents were encouraging him and telling him how proud they were of his efforts. What they should have done was put in the gutter bumpers. But, no...the kid didn't want them.
But bowling isn't very important. How about eternal life.
The Lysterines were so impressed this Paul and Barnabas that they were sure they were gods. They wanted to make an offering. The Apostles would have none of it. They set the record straight as soon as they knew.
In 2011 we're far more tolerant. We would have handed out certificates for religious fervor and invited them to join our church. A few wrinkles in their theology wouldn't be a big deal...we'll straighten them out in small group.
Purity of doctrine doesn't seem to be as important as it used to be. Today we seem to judge the authority of biblical doctrine by how closely it aligns with our worldly preferences. So, we ordain homosexuals because it's just not nice to discriminate. We refuse to take a stand against abortion because we want to be compassionate. We no longer require our children to go to church because they need to learn to make their own decisions.
Well...that's not my church. Fine
But, I'd never say those people lack sincerity. I just wonder how moved God is with that sincerity. And, if people who hold those views can be so wrong...while believing they are so right...what is the possibility that I'm just as vulnerable? When we are making decisions we need to constantly ask ours "What does the Bible say?" Not, "what can I make the Bible say?"
Otherwise, we're no different that the Lysterines...may just a bit more sophisticated.
Live boldly out there today...
11When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they yelled out in the language of Lycaonia, "The gods have turned into humans and have come down to us!" 12The people then gave Barnabas the name Zeus, and they gave Paul the name Hermes, [b] because he did the talking. 13The temple of Zeus was near the entrance to the city. Its priest and the crowds wanted to offer a sacrifice to Barnabas and Paul. So the priest brought some bulls and flowers to the city gates. 14When the two apostles found out about this, they tore their clothes in horror and ran to the crowd, shouting:
15Why are you doing this? We are humans just like you. Please give up all this foolishness. Turn to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16In times past, God let each nation go its own way. 17But he showed that he was there by the good things he did. God sends rain from heaven and makes your crops grow. He gives food to you and makes your hearts glad.
18Even after Paul and Barnabas had said all this, they could hardly keep the people from offering a sacrifice to them.
19Some Jewish leaders from Antioch and Iconium came and turned the crowds against Paul. They hit him with stones and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. 20But when the Lord's followers gathered around Paul, he stood up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas went to Derbe.
As we know, all the sincerity in the world won't get us anything if we're sincerely wrong. Even so, we are quick to positively judge those who are so passionate in their sincerity.
I was watching a 5 year old bowl. He refused to use the gutter bumpers because his dad didn't. Every ball he rolled went into the gutter. He kept telling himself he could do it. Three games...every ball a gutter ball. By the time he was finished he was weeping with frustration over his failure. His parents were encouraging him and telling him how proud they were of his efforts. What they should have done was put in the gutter bumpers. But, no...the kid didn't want them.
But bowling isn't very important. How about eternal life.
The Lysterines were so impressed this Paul and Barnabas that they were sure they were gods. They wanted to make an offering. The Apostles would have none of it. They set the record straight as soon as they knew.
In 2011 we're far more tolerant. We would have handed out certificates for religious fervor and invited them to join our church. A few wrinkles in their theology wouldn't be a big deal...we'll straighten them out in small group.
Purity of doctrine doesn't seem to be as important as it used to be. Today we seem to judge the authority of biblical doctrine by how closely it aligns with our worldly preferences. So, we ordain homosexuals because it's just not nice to discriminate. We refuse to take a stand against abortion because we want to be compassionate. We no longer require our children to go to church because they need to learn to make their own decisions.
Well...that's not my church. Fine
But, I'd never say those people lack sincerity. I just wonder how moved God is with that sincerity. And, if people who hold those views can be so wrong...while believing they are so right...what is the possibility that I'm just as vulnerable? When we are making decisions we need to constantly ask ours "What does the Bible say?" Not, "what can I make the Bible say?"
Otherwise, we're no different that the Lysterines...may just a bit more sophisticated.
Live boldly out there today...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)