Green Pastures and Still Waters
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Do you ever feel like you need to apologize for your faith? If you share your testimony, maybe you even start by saying, “I’m sorry, this may offend you and I don’t mean to sound like a bigot but…” It’s interesting to note the manner of Jesus and the apostles on this matter. Because they believed the Father was drawing people and the Spirit was at work, they simply shared the truth and let it stand. They believed that where there was good soil, there would be good fruit. In our text for Sunday Paul shares an “apologia,” a defense of his life and actions. That the defense caused offense was no fault of Paul’s. These days people are offended over just about everything. Cancel culture has virtually eliminated dialogue and the freedom of speech on the college campus. It’s not much better in the everyday conversations among people at work, play and business. What are we to do when so many are offended? We should honestly evaluate our message and our manner but, when the gospel is the offense, we must simply remember the words of our Lord when the disciples said that He had offended the Pharisees, “He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." Whoa! That sounds a little harsh but remember Who said that and that a disciple is not above his master.
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Sometimes we get our words mixed up after having a really good time and we say, “What a riot!” We are trying to say that we had a really “wild” time with a bunch of people but by definition, a riot is not a good time. According to Webster’s Dictionary, a riot is “wild or violent disorder, confusion, disturbance, tumult or uproar.” There have been many riots this year and while protest is legitimate, riots are not. Wanton destruction of property, looting and harming other people is not justice, it’s injustice. The Constitution of the USA guarantees our right to peaceful assembly. It does not call for violence and destruction. Would you believe that good news could cause a riot? It has, more than once. We’ll study one of those occasions this week in Acts 21. Paul’s presence in the Temple in Jerusalem caused such an uproar that several hundred soldiers were needed just to save Paul’s life. The reason for the riot was good news. Some people hate good news so vehemently they would even kill others. I hope our look at the good news will cause you to worship God with thanksgiving as we assemble for Songs, Word, Prayer, Bread, Cup and Worship on Sunday.