The ugly face of intolorance

They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!”  Acts 22:22

Intolerance is not new to our times...

In Acts 21, we see Paul journeying to Jerusalem. His friends had heard rumors of a plan to assault him when he arrived in Jerusalem so they begged Paul not to be stubborn and persist in going. But Paul wouldn’t budge. He asked “Why all this hysteria? Why do you insist on making a scene and making it even harder for me? You’re looking at this backward. The issue in Jerusalem is not what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the Master Jesus does through my obedience. Can’t you see that?” 

Some Jews from around Ephesus spotted him in the Temple. At once they turned the place upside-down. They grabbed Paul and started yelling at the top of their lungs, “Help! You Israelites, help! This is the man who is going all over the world telling lies against us and our religion and this place. He’s even brought Greeks in here and defiled this holy place.” What had happened was that they had seen Paul and Trophimus, the Ephesian Greek, walking together in the city and had just assumed that he had also taken him to the Temple and shown him around.

Paul did his best to explain himself but the mob still wanted him dead. Not for committing any crimes but , for simply doing things they deemed unacceptable. They listened to him briefly, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!”

It was ugly then, it's ugly today...

We observe a lot of this intolerance. It is no more acceptable today than it was then. My reminder, for believers, is this: which side of this Biblical story would you prefer to have been on? Don't be fooled into believing that somehow the issues today are different. Refusal to join in the anarchy may make us unpopular but, as Paul said, "The issue in Jerusalem is not what they do to us, whether arrest or murder, but what the Master Jesus does through our obedience". 

Can’t you see that?” 

Live boldly out there today...

The Lion's Den

“My God sent his angel, who closed the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me. I’ve been found innocent before God and also before you, O king. I’ve done nothing to harm you.” Daniel 6:22

There is a lesson here...

Darius reorganized his kingdom. He appointed one hundred twenty governors to administer all the parts of his realm. Over them were three vice-regents, one of whom was Daniel. The governors reported to the vice-regents, who made sure that everything was in order for the king. Daniel, brimming with spirit and intelligence, so completely outclassed the other vice-regents and governors that the king decided to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.

The vice-regents and governors were jealous and got together to find something in Daniel’s life that they could use against him, but they couldn’t dig up anything. He was totally exemplary and trustworthy. They could find no evidence of negligence or misconduct. So they finally gave up and said, “We’re never going to find anything against this Daniel unless we can cook up something religious.” They conspired together and then went to the king and said, “King Darius, we’ve convened your vice-regents, governors, and all your leading officials, and have agreed that the king should issue the following decree: For the next thirty days no one is to pray to any god or mortal except you, O king. Anyone who disobeys will be thrown into the lions’ den.

King Darius signed the decree.

The conspirators found Daniel praying, asking God for help. They went straight to the king and reminded him of the royal decree that he had signed. Then they said, “Daniel, one of the Jewish exiles, ignores you, O king, and defies your decree. Three times a day he prays.” The king caved in and ordered Daniel brought and thrown into the lions’ den. But he said to Daniel, “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The king then went back to his palace. He refused supper. He couldn’t sleep. He spent the night fasting.

At daybreak the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. As he approached the den, he called out anxiously, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve so loyally, saved you from the lions?” Daniel said “My God sent his angel, who closed the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me. I’ve been found innocent before God and also before you, O king. I’ve done nothing to harm you.”

When the king heard these words he ordered Daniel taken up out of the den and commanded that the conspirators who had informed on Daniel be thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children.

Human nature hasn't changed. Its no worse today than its been over the centuries but...that doesn't make it OK. The Lion's Den ought to be a good reminder for unscrupulous men and women who malign others for personal gain. They will pay for their evil deeds.

As people of faith, we are reminded how important it is to remain faithful to God, regardless of the possible consequences. We are also reminded...evil has no power to triumph over us.

As long as we're found innocent...

Live boldly out there today...

 

 

 

 

The Writing on the Wall

“Now this is the inscription that was written out: ‘MENĒ, MENĒ, TEKĒL, UPHARSIN.’ This is the interpretation of the message: ‘MENĒ’—God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. ‘TEKĒL’—you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. ‘PERĒS’—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.” Daniel 5:25-28 

Nebuchadnezzar, the king's father, had been granted sovereignty, grandeur, glory and majesty by the most high God, Yahweh. When he became proud and arrogant God stripped him of everything until Nebuchadnezzar humbly acknowledged Yahweh's sovereignty. His station in life was restored. 

 Yet his son, Belshazzar, learned nothing from it. He did not humble his heart, even though he knew all this. He exalted himself against the Lord of heaven and God would not have it. That evening He wrote a message for the king, on the wall, and Daniel was called in the explain it. “MENĒ’—God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. ‘TEKĒL’—you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. ‘PERĒS’—your kingdom has been divided.”

God has given most of us more glory and majesty than we've earned. In return, He expects us to be a bit humble and give credit to Him. We bathe in our own glory at great risk. Yet, many of us insist on being the smartest person in the room. I suppose, when something comes so easily, we fail to value it appropriately...until it's gone. Why not avoid the drama and give credit...where credit is due?

Live boldly out there today...

The Journey

Aliyah in Hebrew means "ascent" or "going up". Jewish tradition views traveling to the land of Israel, or traveling to Jerusalem, as an ascent, both geographically and spiritually. The Christian application reminds us our lives ought to become a journey of "going up" to meet with our Lord. Let us "make Aliya" daily. 

Live boldly out there today...