You wouldn’t think that simply expressing your opinion could get you into this much trouble…
Paul apparently had a plan for what he did when he entered a new town. If they had a synagogue, he went there first and spent several weeks sharing (if they would let him). After that, he would ministers to whoever appeared to be interested, and invited him to speak. It seems that the attacks against Paul also had a predictable pattern: the first couple of weeks were fine, not many problems, no real resistance….until the message began to change lives, alter behavior and move people away from past practices.
I suspect that the same is true today. No one cares what you believe or teach, as long as things don’t change very much. The world is comfortable with the way things are, and changing them creates discomfort. Discomfort brings resistance, and that’s exactly what Paul experienced. As soon as the crowd began to listen more to Paul than the Jewish leaders, those leaders began to stir up trouble. Since they couldn’t confront Paul directly with the message, they chose to attack him through the secular leaders. So here’s what’s happening: Paul is delivering a religious message about new spiritual life, that has no adverse impact on society or government, and the religious leaders are appealing to their oppressors to make him stop teaching it! What an upside down, inside out situation!
It occurs to me that the modern day disciple who shares the truth of the Gospel will encounter the same results.
Everyone loves the idea of a God who loves everyone, and forgives and shows mercy. But as soon as you mention that God has expectations and standards which He insists upon, you run into resistance. When you say that God isn’t pleased with some behaviors that society has become comfortable with, you run into resistance. So it’s not surprising that the clear presentation of the Gospel is often resisted by a few misdirected people from WITHIN the church. In Paul’s day, those who should have been leaders of this new movement had become roadblocks. They were so entrenched in past practice that they couldn’t embrace the prophesied unfolding of the Gospel. Even as it was explained by a fellow converted Pharisee they were compelled to contact the secular authorities…which was a violation of the law it itself. From their own mouth they claimed “no king but Caesar”.
But that was in Thessalonica. In Berea, things were slightly different. The chapter records that they were “more open-minded” in Berea. But what I see is a humble people who were willing to accept that God might be speaking to them through Paul. They didn’t accept it without research or study…they dug into Scripture to see if what he was saying was right. Since it lined up, they accepted it. In Berea we see a godly model of what the church is supposed to be like.
When the troublemakers came from Thessalonica, these true and genuine disciples made every effort to protect Paul and company, so that the message could continue to be spread across the country. This seems to be the same thing that we do today when we support missionaries, pray for their protection and advance their cause.
Today I am encouraged to be more humble and teachable, without being naïve. After all, God has instructed us to study to present ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15) and not be swayed by every new teaching (Ephesians 4:14).
I think we should also pray for those who care enough about their relationship with the Savior to share the message with their friends…because that act will eventually be resisted, and they will need to be supported in prayer. While on that thought… each of us should be sharing clearly, and in love with those around us. And we should not be surprised when the occasional resistant person appears on the scene to make an attempt to derail our progress.
Thankfully, God is able! He will not allow the message to be sidelined, even as the message itself is handed down from generation to generation, across neighborhoods, cities, countries and the globe.
Serving in love,
PR