In the news this past week there has been much concern in Iraq about four bullet holes that were found in a mosque. Investigations have been underway to determine whether these were Muslim bullet holes, or U.S. bullet holes. Since the war in Iraq began, the populace there has been outraged by the presence of foreigners in proximity to their holy sites. This points to the fact that the religious thinking by some individuals is such that they are bound to those things that are material and not spiritual. "Christian" history is not without the same type of thinking. In the middle ages crusades were launched to "free" the "holy city" of Jerusalem from the Muslims. Richard the Lionheart nearly drove England into bankruptcy financing his expeditions against the muslim leader Saladin to accomplish this. The point to all of this is the fact that when these "holy" sites have been threatened, there are those willing to fight and die to protect them. This really struck me this past week as I thought back to the dangers that early Christians faced in the first century as they took the Gospel to a pagan world, and to the Jewish communities in places such as Asia Minor, Greece, Macedonia and surrounding areas.
The apostle Paul comes to mind when I think of these things and have to stop and consider just how brave and filled with faith he was to face these dangers for the sake of preaching the truth. In Ephesus for example there was a riot when the religious industries there were threatened by the preaching of the Gospel. As Paul preached there were those who sought to put an end to this and were apparently willing to do anything to stop it. There were two issues that were raised. The first was money, and the second was the threat to a way of life.
Luke tells us about these events in the book of Acts. "For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth." (Acts 19.24-27). As a result of this the craftsmen were able to stir up the entire city against Paul and his preaching. "And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre." (Acts 19.28-29). The uproar was so great that the disciples would not allow Paul to enter the "theatre" where the citizens had assembled. (Acts 19.30-31). The people and craftsmen were definitely an emotional mob at this point (Acts 19.32). It was also stated later that they had endangered themselves through these actions with the Roman authorities (Acts 19.40). This is the type of religious "fervor" that could have gotten Paul killed. In our world today, while not being as prevalent, there are those who are killed for threatening the religious thinking of others.
Paul stated that he was not ashamed of the Gospel (Rom 1.16) and in this instance demonstrates that he was willing to face the dangers associated with preaching the truth. This stands as an example for us today. We might not face angry mobs who could kill us, but there are more subtle dangers that we may have to face in teaching others the Gospel. Sometimes we allow that fear to render us silent. We need to remind ourselves that we face nothing for the most part that even comes close to this type of opposition. We need to not worry about the reactions of others to hearing the truth. Our duty is to teach when the opportunities arise, and to seek and create opportunities when none are apparent. Paul, and others in the first century, were willing to face whatever happened for the sake of preaching and teaching the Gospel, in the hope of reaching those few with a good and honest heart. What stops us from seizing the opportunities that arise? Fear? If so then we need to know that God expects to do what we can. We need to question if we know what we can do. Should the situation arise that we lose our lives for the sake of Gospel, there is a better place reserved for us.
TLC