acts part 21 - the subversive mission
TRANSCRIPT
7/31/2019 Acts Part 21 - the Subversive Mission
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a subversive
mission
R W GLENNDATE: 5.20.2012
SCRIPTURE: acts 17: 1-15
SERIES: acts series #21
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IntroductIon
Ideas can be dangerous.
• In1543,Copernicushadtheaudacitytoarguefortheideaofasolarsystem–thatthesundoesn’trevolvearoundtheearth,butthat
theearthrevolvesaroundthesun.Thestruggleoverthatidealasted
almost150years.
• Aroundthesametime,theProtestantReformersarguedthatall
ChristianshadtherighttointerprettheBibleforthemselves.Thisidea
blewassuresowideinthewesternchurchthatithasneverbeen
closed.
• Andinthemid-nineteenthcenturyamannamedCharlesDarwin
hadanideathatnotonlyhasforeveralteredthelandscapeofthestudy
ofbiology,butalsoofthestudyofthesociology,psychology,and
economics.Thatideahasconsequencesandisincitingcontroversyeven
tothisday.
Allthatistosayideascanbedangerous.Ideasleadtorevolution–notless
thanpoliticalrevolution(thinkoftheUnitedStatesandFrance),butmore–torevolutionthattoucheseverysphereoflife,dependingonthenatureofthe
idea.
WhatIamarguingaboutthismorningisthatthemessageofChristianityis
oneofthoseideas.ItisTHEidea.Properlyunderstood,ithasthecapacityto
overthrowEVERYTHINGaboutyouANDthecitywhereyoulive.Christianity
isGod’sdangerousidea,andthedangerousnessofthatideacomesintosharp
focusinthismorning’stext.
TurnwithmeinyourBiblestoA 17:1-15andreadwithme.
NowwhentheyhadpassedthroughAmphipolisandApollonia,theycame
toThessalonica,wheretherewasasynagogueoftheJews.AndPaulwent
in,aswashiscustom,andonthreeSabbathdayshereasonedwiththem
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fromtheScriptures,explainingandprovingthatitwasnecessaryforthe
Christtosufferandtorisefromthedead,andsaying,“ThisJesus,whom
Iproclaimtoyou,istheChrist.”Andsomeofthemwerepersuadedand
joinedPaulandSilas,asdidagreatmanyofthedevoutGreeksandnot
afewoftheleadingwomen.ButtheJewswerejealous,andtakingsomewickedmenoftherabble,theyformedamob,setthecityinanuproar,
andattackedthehouseofJason,seekingtobringthemouttothecrowd.
Andwhentheycouldnotndthem,theydraggedJasonandsomeof
thebrothersbeforethecityauthorities,shouting,“Thesemenwhohave
turnedtheworldupsidedownhavecomeherealso,andJasonhasreceived
them,andtheyareallactingagainstthedecreesofCaesar,sayingthat
thereisanotherking,Jesus.”Andthepeopleandthecityauthoritieswere
disturbedwhentheyheardthesethings.Andwhentheyhadtakenmoney
assecurityfromJasonandtherest,theyletthemgo.
ThebrothersimmediatelysentPaulandSilasawaybynighttoBerea,and
whentheyarrivedtheywentintotheJewishsynagogue.NowtheseJews
weremorenoblethanthoseinThessalonica;theyreceivedthewordwith
alleagerness,examiningtheScripturesdailytoseeifthesethingswere
so.Manyofthemthereforebelieved,withnotafewGreekwomenofhigh
standingaswellasmen.ButwhentheJewsfromThessalonicalearnedthat
thewordofGodwasproclaimedbyPaulatBereaalso,theycamethere
too,agitatingandstirringupthecrowds.ThenthebrothersimmediatelysentPauloffonhiswaytothesea,butSilasandTimothyremained
there.ThosewhoconductedPaulbroughthimasfarasAthens,andafter
receivingacommandforSilasandTimothytocometohimassoonas
possible,theydeparted.
Wearegoingtolookatthispassageunderthreemainheadings:(1)
Christianityisrational;thatis,theChristianfaithappealstoyourmind;(2)
Christianityisrevolutionary,whichmeansthatit’sdangerous.Ithasthe
capacitytooverthrowthesumtotalofyourlife;and(3)whichisreally
acombinationof1and2,isthatyourparticipationintherevolutionof
Christianitycanonlybesustainedbyit’sreasonableness.Orwecouldsayit
thisway–therevolutionissustainedbyreason.
SoChristianityisrational.It’srevolutionary,anditsreasonablenessmakesit
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revolutionary.
chrIstIAnIty Is rAtIonAl
WhenIsaythatChristianityisrational,Iwanttomakeadistinctionbetween
whatisrationalandwhatisrationalistic.(-isticmakesanywordabadword.
“Simple”isgood;simplisticisbad.Personal“piety”isgood;being“pietistic”
isbad).Well,thesameistruewiththeword“rational.”“Rational”isgood;
“rationalistic”isbad.
IfIweretosaythatChristianityisrationalistic,Iwouldbesayingthatthe
Christianfaithisheldcaptivebyreason.RatherthanbeingsomethingGod
reveals,Ireasonmywayuptoit.AndifIcan’ttitinmyunderstandingof
whatisreasonable,thereforeitmustnotbetrue.Thatwouldberationalistic.
Instead,whattheologianshavebeensayingforcenturies,isthatreasonis
thehandmaidoftheology.Christianitydoesn’tservereason.Reasonserves
Christianity.Christianityisrational,notrationalistic.
Byfailingtomakethatdistinction–betweenwhatisrationalontheonehand
andwhatisrationalisticontheother–manypeoplehavethrownChristianity
outassomethingirrational.
Themostcommonwayyouseethismanifestitselfinourcultureiswhen
peoplesaythatsciencedisprovestheChristianfaith;thatscienceproves
thateventslikethevirginbirth,theincarnation,Jesus’miracles,andthe
resurrectionofthedeadsimplydon’thappen.
TimKellerinhisexceptionalbook,TheReasonforGod,addressesthis
questiondirectlyinChapter6.Hesaysthatembeddedinthestatementthat
sciencedisprovesmiracles“isaleapoffaith”:
Itisonethingtosaythatscienceisonlyequippedtotestfornatural
causesandcannotspeaktoanyothers.Itisquiteanothertoinsistthat
scienceprovesthatnoothercausescouldpossiblyexist.
[Thescientist]isquiterighttoassertthat,whenstudyinga
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phenomenon,[he]mustalwaysassumethereisanaturalcause.[That’s]
becausenaturalcausesaretheonlykind[science]canaddress.It’sanother
thingtoinsistthatsciencehasproventherecan’tbeanyotherkind.
Therewouldbenoexperimentalmodelfortesting[it].Itisthereforea
philosophicalpresuppositionandnotascienticnding.[Thescientist’s]argumentisultimatelycircular.Hesaysthatscience,byitsnature,can’t
discernortestforsupernaturalcauses,andtherefore,thosecausescan’t
exist.1
See,it’sassumedthatifit’snotscientic,youcan’treasonyourwayintoit.
Youcan’tprovethesupernaturalqualitythroughsciencebecausescience
doesnotdealwiththesuper-nature.Sciencedealswithnature.
Sowhoisrationalnow?
Inpointoffact,thereisnothingrationalaboutthesupernatural.Itdoesn’tdefy
logic.ButitisonlywhenyoubecomerationalisticthatChristianitycanappear
tobeirrational.
SowhenItalkaboutChristianitybeingrational,Imeanthatitmakesitsappeal
fundamentallytoyourmind.Itinvitesyoutothinkcritically,toassess,to
measure,toexamine,touseyourhead.Christianityneversays,“Checkyourbrainatthedoor.”Insteaditsays,“Thinkdeeply.”Andthatnoteisstruckloud
andclearinthispassagewithvewords:
• V 2:“Reasoned”:WhatthismeansisthatPaulwasn’t
engaginginamonologue,butadialogue,aninterchange,a
conversation,adiscussion,adebate.
• V 3:“Explaining”:LukeusedthiswordattheendofVolume
OneofLuke-ActsinLuke24:32whenhetalkedaboutJesusexplaining
tothedisciplesthetruesignicanceoftheBible–thatitallpointedto
him.SotheideaisthatPaulwalkedhisaudiencethroughspecictexts
ofScripturestoshowhoweverybiblicalroadledtoJesus.Heisnot
askingthemtohaveafeeling.Heissaying,“Lookatthistext.Examine
this.”
1TimothyKeller,TheReasonforGod:BeliefinanAgeofSkepticism(Dutton,2008),85.
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• V 3:“Proving”:Inotherwords,Pauldemonstratedthe
truthfulnessofhisclaimswitharguments.Christianityneversays,“JUST
believe”…likeyou’reinDisneyworld.ItNEVERsaysthat.Itisalways,“Let
mePROVEthistoyou.LetmeDEMONSTRATEthisforyou.Lookhere!
Thinkaboutthis.Putyourmindtothis.”
• V 4:“Persuaded”:LukedescribesapositiveresponsetoPaul’s
teachingwithawordthatmeanstobeconvinced.Theyareconvinced
byarguments.TheyfoundPaul’sargumentspersuasive,convincingto
theirminds.
Andthen,fth,ifyoujumpdowntoverse11,you’llseetheBereans’approach
toPaul:
• V 11:“Examining”:Thistermmeans“toengageincareful
studyofaquestion.”Andapparently,astheycarefullystudiedPaul’s
argumentsfromScripture,theybelieved–verse12(“Manyofthem
thereforebelieved”).Clearly,theydidn’thaveblindfaith,butfaith
basedonacarefulconsiderationoftheevidence.Theywereexamining
thesethings.Itisactuallylanguagefromthelawcourt–it’sacross-
examinationterm.
Sovewords–reasoned,explaining,proving,persuaded,andexamining–all
ofwhichleadtooneconclusion.Christianitymakesitsappealtoyourmind.It
isnota“checkyourbrainatthedoor”kindoffaith.
ThisiswhatImeanbysayingChristianityisreasonable.Itassumesthatyou’re
anintelligentpersonwhocandiscernthetruthifthecaseisputbeforeyouin
good,logicalfashion,whichisexactlyhowPauldoesitinthispassage.2
Verse3actuallyhasalltheconstituentpartsofpartsofwhatinlogiciscalled
asyllogism.Readv 3withme.
[Hewas]explainingandprovingthatitwasnecessaryfortheChristto
sufferandtorisefromthedead,andsaying,“ThisJesus,whomIproclaim
toyou,istheChrist.”
2BenWitheringtonIII,TheActsoftheApostles:ASocio-RhetoricalCommentary(Eerd-
mans,1998),506
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Hereisthemajorpremise:TheChristmustsufferandriseagain.Heshows
fromtheHebrewBiblepassagesthattalkaboutthesufferingsofChristand
thegloriestofollow.HeshowshowtheChristwouldbearthesinsofmany
(fromIsaiah“TheLordwillnotallowtheHolyOnetoundergodecay).Paul
showedthemthesethingsfromtheBibleandsays,“TheChrist,theMessiah,issomeonewhowouldsufferandriseagain.”
Theminorpremise(assumed):JesusofNazarethsufferedandroseagain.
Thatiswhyitsaysinthemiddleofversethree“‘ThisJesus,whomIproclaim
toyou…’”.Sohereisthemajorpremise:TheChristmustsufferandriseagain.
Now,letmetellyou,thereisaguyfromNazarethnamedJesuswhosuffered
(justlikethissays)andwhoroseagain(justlikethissays).
Then,hereistheconclusion:Therefore,JesusistheChrist.TheChristmust
sufferandriseagain.ThatiswhattheBiblesays.Jesuststhatbill.Therefore,
JesusmustbetheMessiah.
Doyouseehowreasonablethatis?Thelogicistight.Thisiswhat’scalleda
validsyllogism.Assumingthepremisesaretrue(assumingthatit’struethe
Christmustsufferandriseagain,assumingthatit’strueJesussufferedand
roseagain),theconclusionisinevitable(JesusistheChrist).Nowyoumight
objecttotheideathattheChristmustsufferonthecrossandrisefromthedead.AndyoumightobjecttotheideathatJesusdiedandroseagain.But
whatyoucouldneversayisthattheconclusionisirrational.Itisrational.The
onlyquestioniswhetherornotit’strue.
Iwillgiveyouanotherreasonablesyllogism:alldogscany.Fidoisadog.
Therefore,Fidocany.Didyouknowthatconclusionisnotirrationalatall?
Thatisacompletely,totally,utterlyreasonableargument.Theproblemwithit
isthatthemajorpremiseisfalse.Alldogscan’ty.
Thelogicisairtight.Butisthepremisetrue?
ThesameappliestoChristianity.Christmustsufferandriseagain.Isthattrue?
Jesussufferedandroseagain.Isthattrue?Wellifthosethingsaretrue,then
theconclusioninvariablyfollowsandthereforeitiscompletelyrational.
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Thatisthequestionyouhavetooccupyyourselfwith.IstheChristianfaith
true?Ihopeyou’renotaChristianbecauseyouhavea“feeling”.Thatisnot
goingtosustainyouoverthelonghaul.ThatisTHEquestion.IsChristianity
true?Becauseifit’snot,donotwasteyourtimewithit!Abandonit,becauseit
isgoingtocostyousomethingtobelieveit.
ThepointhereisthatChristianitymakesitsappealtothemind.Truegospel
communicationNEVERasksyoutosuspendyourthinking.Italwaysappeals
tothemind.
OneNewTestamentscholarexplainsitthisway:
OneofthesignicancesofthissortofpresentationofPaul’sapproachis
thatitsuggeststhat…thegospelcouldbesubstantiatedandbeshownto
bereasonable…atthesametimeitwasassumedthatthegospelshouldbe
respondedtofreelyonthebasisoftheappealtothemind….Proclaiming
thegospelwasnottobeseenasanattempttodupeanunsuspecting
publicandsucktheminbymererhetoricwithoutrationalsubstance. 3
AndthereasonforthisisthatChristianityisTRUE.ChristianityIStrue.This
iswhatmakesitsocompelling.Examineit.Testit.Applyyourgreatest
intellectualpowertoit.Itwillbeabletostanduptoanythingyouthrowatit.
Nottoolongago,myoldestsonwasgettingreallyintothelateChristopher
Hitchens,theauthorofGodIsNotGreat.Thisisprobablybecauseofmy
inuenceasI’vealwayscalledhimmyfavoriteatheist.Andhewassaying
thingslike,“IwanttomakesurethatChristianityismineandnotjust
somethingIbelievebecauseyouguysdo.”Andsohewasaskingalotof
questions,theologicalandphilosophicalquestionsaboutChristianity.
AndasGayleandIweretalkingaboutit,Gaylewasfeelingalittlenervousfor
Noah.SoIremindedherofthistruth.ChristianityisTRUE.Itcanwithstand
anythinghebringstoit.Itanswersthequestionsaboutultimaterealitybetter
thananyotherphilosophyorreligiononEARTH.IfNoahjettisonsthefaith,it
won’tbeforintellectualreasons;itwillbeformoralreasons.
3Ibid.,506,fn.159.
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Yousee,intheend,ifapersonsaystheyhavewell-formedintellectual
objectionstoChristianity,sometimeswhattheyareobjectingtoisnot
Christianity,butastraw-manofChristianity.Theydon’treallyunderstandwhat
theChristianfaithis.Let’sputthattoonesiderightnow.
Intheend,apersonDOESNOTrejectChristianitybecauseitlacksrational
substance.YourejectChristianitybecausedeepdownwithintherecessesof
yoursoulyouareviscerallyopposedtotheideathattherewouldbeaGod
whohasownershiprightsforyourexistence,whodemandsyoursubmission
tohisrule,andwhogaveyouhissoninordertosaveyoubecauseyouwere
tooweak,feeble,andpowerlesstodoityourself.Thereisapartofyouthat
isSOfundamentallyresistanttothegospelthatnoamountofintellectual
argumentcangetyouthere.
Ourpassageisacaseinpoint.TherearesomeThessalonianswhodon’t
believethegospel.Istheirunbeliefrootedinwell-formed,intellectual
objectionstothetruthofthegospel,orisitrootedinsomethingelse?Read
v 5.
ButtheJewswerejealous,andtakingsomewickedmenoftherabble,they
formedamob,setthecityinanuproar,andattackedthehouseofJason,
seekingtobringthemouttothecrowd.
Lukeissettingupadeliberatecontrastherebetweenthebelievers’rational
andreectiveapproachandtheunbelievers’jealousandemotionalresponse
tothemessageofthegospel.Itisthedifferencebetweenrespondingand
reacting.It’slikemedicine:ifyouareresponding,that’sagoodthing.Ifyou
arehavingareaction,that’sabadthing.Herearethebelievers–theyare
respondinginaveryreective,rationalway.Herearetheunbelievers–why
aretheynotembracingtheChristianfaith?Becausetheyarejealousandthey
areemotional.4
ThisiswhyIsaythatyourjettisoningofthefaithwouldneverbefor
intellectualreasons,butformoralones.Youreadtheevidencethrough
eyeglassesthathavebeendistortedbyyourrebellionagainstGod.Anduntil
Godtakesthemoff,youwilleetowhateverwillmakeyoufeeljustiedin
4DavidGPeterson,TheActsoftheApostles(Eerdmans,2009),484.
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continuingyourrebellion–inthiscase,yourintellect.
Sothen,Christianityisreasonable.Itappealstothemind.It’snota“check-
your-brain-at-the-door”kindoffaith.Anyapproachtotruththatasksyouto
suspendyourthinkingshouldbeheldinsuspicion.TrueChristianitydoesn’thavetoresorttoanti-intellectualismtoreachtheworld.Thegospelcanhandle
it.Thetruthalwayssays,“Shinealightonme.Examineme.Idon’thaveany
aws.”
chrIstIAnIty Is reVolutIonAry
ThesecondthingyouneedtoseeinthistextisthatChristianityis
revolutionary.Youseethisveryclearlyinthetrumpedupchargethatis
broughtbeforetheauthoritiesin v 6-7.
Andwhentheycouldnotndthem,theydraggedJasonandsomeofthe
brothersbeforethecityauthorities,shouting,“Thesemenwhohaveturned
theworldupsidedownhavecomeherealso,andJasonhasreceivedthem,
andtheyareallactingagainstthedecreesofCaesar,sayingthatthereis
anotherking,Jesus.”
Theyareaccusedofbeingrevolutionaries.
Nowwhat’sinterestingaboutthischargeisthatit’sSOplausible.Andve
thingsmadeitplausible:
• Jesushimselfisonthebooksforhavingbeenexecutedfor
sedition.SotheleaderoftheChristianmovementisacriminalwhohad
beenofciallycondemnedforassertinghiskingshipoverandagainst
Caesar’s.Now,thisisn’ttrue.Butthatiswhathappened:itisonthe
books,soitwouldmakesensethathisfollowerswouldadoptthesame
adversarialposturetoRome.
• TheapostlesproclaimedthekingdomofGod,theruleofGodas
overandagainstCaesar.Acts14:22:Itisthroughmanytribulationsthat
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wemustenterthekingdomofGod.”Theyareproclaimingtheruleof
anotherkingratherthanCaesar.
• TherewasadecreeofCaesarthatmadepredictinganykindof
regimechangeacrime.Well,theapostlestalkedaboutthecomingkingdom,thecomingregimeofJesusChrist,theKingofkingsand
Lordoflords.PaulmentionsthathetaughtthisinThessalonicain1
Thessalonians4-5and2Thessalonians1-2.
• TheapostlesproclaimedJesusasLord,whichwasatermreserved
fortheemperor.Acts16:31:“BelieveintheLordJesus,andyoushallbe
saved.”TheytakeatitlebelongingexclusivelytoCaesarandputiton
Jesus.
• TherewasalreadyalotofJewishpoliticalunrestthroughout
Palestine.AndtooutsidersJewishunrestwouldbeindistinguishable
fromChristianunrest.FromRome’sperspective,Christianitywasjust
anothersectofJudaism.
Thisamountstoaperfectstormfortheapostles.Theyareaccusedofturning
theworldupsidedown,ofbeingrevolutionaries,treasonousdisturbersofthe
peace,politicalagitatorsstirringupunrest,ofbeingsociallyandpoliticallydangerous.Anditseemedthattheirpreachingonlyfunctionedtosubstantiate
theseclaims,astheypreached(verse7)ANOTHERking;namely,JESUS!
Now,ofcourse,itshouldalmostgowithoutsayingthatChristianswerenot
politicalagitators.That’snotourmission.Ourmissionistopreachrepentance
fortheforgivenessofsinstoallnations.Infact,ifyoureadPaul’sepistles,his
letterstothechurches,you’llseeexplicitcommandstobecompliantcitizens:
• Romans13:1:Leteverypersonbesubjecttothegoverning
authorities.
• 1Timothy2:1-2:Prayforkingsandallwhoareinhighpositions,
thatwemayleadapeacefulandquietlife.
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Youareprayingthelyricsofthesongbeforethesermon:
OGreatGodofhighestheaven
OCCUPYmylowlyheartOWNITALLandREIGNSUPREME
CONQUEReveryREBELPOWER
LetnoviceorsinremainthatRESISTSyourHOLYWAR.
That’smilitarylanguage.Wedon’tsingitlikethat,though.Butthatiswhatwe
arepraying.Thatisthelanguageofoverthrow.You’resaying,“Occupy,ownit,
reign,conquer.”
Youaresayingthatyou’retooweaktodefendyourself,toopowerlesstoght
foryourself.You’resayingthatyou’redirectionless–thatyouneedaleader.
You’resayingthatyoucan’trunyourownlifeandthatyouneedsomeoneelse
torunitforyou.Yousay,“Ineedaking.I’mterribleatrunningmyownlife.”
You’reprayingforREGIMECHANGE.YouareprayingthattheBenignDictator
wouldhavemercyonyou,wouldgiveyougracebyaregimechangeinthe
centerofyourheart.
Thisissucharevolutionarymessage!It’soneofthethingsthatmakeChristianityunique.ChristianitybeginswithSURRENDER–withadmittingthat
youdon’thavetheresourcestobeacceptabletoGod.Andyet,fromhead
totoe,youwanttothinkthatyoucanbegoodenoughforGod.Youwantto
believethatbybeingagoodpersonyoucanenterthekingdomofGod.
ButthekingdomofGodissofaraboveyou,soholyandrighteousandgood,
sobeyondyourreach,thattheonlywayyoucangetoverthemoatintothe
castleisforthekingtocomedownfromthetower,pickyouupandbringyou
inhimself–whichisexactlywhathehasdonewithJesusChrist.
InChrist,thekinghascome.He’scometorescueyoubyrulingyou.Submit
tohisruleandyouwillbesaved.Wavethewhiteagandsay,“Comeintomy
countryandruleme.Reignoverme.”Whatarevolutionarymessage!
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Sowhenyoupraythisforyourselfandforothers(Ipraythisforourchurch,
astheLord’sPrayerisacorporateprayer),youareprayingthatyourworld
wouldbeturnedupsidedown.Thatisadangerousprayer.There’sgoingtobe
arevolutioninyourlife.Youcancountonit.
Andsecond,you’realsoprayingtobeaninstrumentoftheadvanceofthe
kingdomthroughouttheworld.KingJesusisonthemoveaswespeak.And
he’susingyouashisinstrumentstobringtherevolutionofthegospeltoevery
people,tribe,nation,andkingdom.
Andyouareaninstrumentinhisrevolutionasyouwagewarbylovingyour
neighbor–bylovingtheminword(preachingthegospel)andlovingthem
indeed(byhelpingthemwiththeirneeds).Thegoal,ofcourse,isforthe
revolutionarychangeofheartthatwillbringthemundertheswayofKing
Jesus.
Butnotonlyareyouprayingforaninternalrevolutionandtobeusedasan
instrumenttobringrevolutiontoyourfriendswhoaren’tyetChristians,you’re
alsoprayingfortheoverthrowofeveryearthlyregime.Comeback,Jesus.Set
upyourkingdom.Usherinyourruleinanutterandcomprehensiveway.
You’resaying,“JesusdeposeCaesar.”You’resaying,“Jesus,deposeTheUnitedStatesofAmerica.”You’reprayingthatrepresentativedemocracywouldbe
replacedwithaMONARCHY!Doesthatfeelweird?Probablyfeelsweirdon
theFourthofJuly!
Soinverse6,whentheJewishleaderssaythat“thesemenhaveturnedthe
worldupsidedown,”thereisaveryrealsenseinwhichtheyhave–theyARE
andtheyHAVEandtheyWILL.Christianityisrevolutionary.ItbringsJesus’
revolttoyourheart,andthroughyoutotheworld–arevolutionofmercy,
grace,love,andjustice.
s ,Christianityisrational;itappealstoyourmind.Christianityisalso
revolutionary;it’sadangerousthing–itthreatenstounearthandoverthrow
thesumtotalofyourlife,toturnyourworldupsidedown.
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Mythirdpointisthis.IfyouandIaregoingtobesustainedoverthelonghaul
inthisrevolutionarymission,itneedstoberootedinandnourishedbyour
reasonablefaith.OrasIputitearlier:therevolutionissustainedbyreason.
the reVolutIon Is sustAIned by reAson
Revolutionisrevolution.Itismessyanddifcult.Itisfullofperil.Opposition
tothemissionthroughoutthebookofActsisaconstant.Chapter17isno
different.
Lookagainatv 5-7.
ButtheJewswerejealous,andtakingsomewickedmenoftherabble,
theyformedamob,setthecityinanuproar,andattackedthehouseof
Jason,seekingtobringthemouttothecrowd.Andwhentheycouldnot
ndthem,theydraggedJasonandsomeofthebrothersbeforethecity
authorities,shouting,“Thesemenwhohaveturnedtheworldupsidedown
havecomeherealso,andJasonhasreceivedthem,andtheyareallacting
againstthedecreesofCaesar,sayingthatthereisanotherking,Jesus.”
Gettinginvolvedisgoingtocostyousomething.Jasonandthebrothers(theotherunnamedChristians)whoarementionedheremusthavebeenreally
afraid.Theyaregettinglumpedinwiththeapostlesforjustgivingthema
placetostay.
Andtheywouldhaveknown,livinginThessalonica,thattheircitygotalotof
moneyandprotectionfromRome.Theywouldhaveknownthattheirofcials
werehighlyincentivizedto“enforceloyaltytoCaesarinordertomaintainthe
peaceandhelpthecitystayinthegoodgracesoftheemperor.” 6
Fortunatelyforthem,theygetoffwithaslaponthewrist– v 9.
AndwhentheyhadtakenmoneyassecurityfromJasonandtherest,they
letthemgo.
6Witherington,Acts,504.
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PayaneandpromisethatPaulandSilaswillleavethecity.Still,itcostJason
somethingjusttobeassociatedwiththeapostles.
AndasPaulandSilastravel45milesawaytoBerea,thehostilitytowardthem
inThessalonicafollowsthem.Checkout v 13-14.
ButwhentheJewsfromThessalonicalearnedthatthewordofGodwas
proclaimedbyPaulatBereaalso,theycametheretoo,agitatingand
stirringupthecrowds.ThenthebrothersimmediatelysentPauloffonhis
waytothesea,butSilasandTimothyremainedthere.
ThisgospelrevolutionisaWAR.Youwillbeopposedinit.Youmayhaveto
eeyourcitytoparticipateinit.Youmaybestonedforit.Youmaybebeaten
withrods.Youmaybemockedandridiculedandostracized.JointheJesus
revolutionofgraceandmercyandyouwon’tgetmuchofitfromthehostiles
youarepersuadingtojoinyou.
Sowhat’sgoingtogetyouthrough?Goodfeelings?Awarmfuzzy?No!
What’sgoingtogetyouthroughitisyourcondencethatChristianityis
TRUE!
Youhavestudiedit.Youhaveexaminedit.Youhaveaskedthequestionsandbeensatisedwiththeanswers.You’vebecomeconvincedinyourmindthat
JesusChristreallydiddieonthecrossforyoursinsandreallydidrisefrom
thedeadjustastheBiblesaidhewould!You’vebecomeconvincedthatthe
kingofkingsandlordoflordsreallyISJesus.Andbecauseofthis,youare
abletohanginthere.
IfChristianityisagmentofourimagination,ifitisnothingmorethanan
elaboratehoaxoradelusionofthefrightenedmasses,orifyou’resuspicious
thatitmightbe,youwon’tbeabletojoinJesusonhismissiontorulethe
world.Itwouldbetoohard.
Neitherwillapurelyemotionalresponsegetyouoverthehump.Ifyour
emotionsaren’trootedinFACTS,deepdownyou’llknowit.Sowhenitcomes
timetopaythepiperforyourcommitmenttoJesus,you’llrun.IfChristianity
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17
isn’treal,ifit’sjustanice,psychologicalcushion,thenyou’llabandonitforan
alternativecushionassoonastheheatgetsturnedup.
ButifyouareconvincedthatChristianityisrational,youcanbearevolutionary
untilKingJesusreturns.
conclusIon
Sowhereareyouatthismorning?Maybeyou’vethoughtthatChristianity
isnotanintellectualfaith.Maybeyou’vedrawnthefatalconclusionthat
faithandreasonareincompatible.Nothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth.
ChristianityisafaiththatINVITESyoutoapplyyourmindtoit.Sodoit.Apply
yourmindtoitandIpromisethatitwillstanduptoundermostrigorous
cross-examination.
Ormaybeyou’reattheplacewhereyoustillfeelthreatenedbytheideaof
someoneelserunningyourlife.Maybeyou’renervousaboutthatkindof
submission.Letmeencourageyou!Thepersonyouareaskingtoruleyou
isthesamepersonwholovedyousomuchthathesufferedonthecrossin
yourplace.HegaveyouJesus.HowwillhenotwithJesusfreelygiveyouall
things?Thatisthekingwholovesyou.HeisalsoyourFather,soyoucanpraycondently,“Theykingdomcome.”HisruleisaGOODrule.It’salovingrule.
It’samercifulrule.Youcantrusthim.Andbesides,youknowwhataterrible
kingyouare!Youneedsomebodyelsetoruntheshow.Youknowthat.You
knowyoucan’trunyourownlife.YoucantrustKingJesustodothat.Jesusis
readytoruleyou–withhisloveandmercyandgrace.Youcantrusthim!
© r W G
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preferred.AnyexceptionstotheabovemustbeapprovedbyRedeemerBibleChurch.
Pleaseincludethefollowingstatementonanydistributedcopy:ByRWGlenn.©RWGlenn.
Website:redeemerbiblechuch.com
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