Sunday, November 4, 2018

After the Vote

I just had no words!
Well, after that vote of semi-confidence, I started to think about how much I have been thinking about the other vote that’s coming in February at General Conference.  And the Father began speaking into my heart and mind several concerns, one of which is addressed by what happened to the early church when the culture began to invade Christianity.
Let’s unpack the vote of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and ruling elders of Israel in the Acts text we just heard:
1.    Confrontation by Cultural Puppets

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees.  These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead.  They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning.  Acts 4:1-3(NLT)

The culture of Judaism was so entrenched that they would not entertain anything but what their power structure dictated.  The Pharisees, religious leaders wanted to keep their power base untouched, so they had these trouble-makers arrested.  It’s amazing how people can start out in life with genuine concerns and truth to guide them, and eventually become puppets to the power structure.  There was little question then, and little question now, that speaking truth in the presence of power-puppets will get you in trouble!
2.    Courage of True Faith

But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.  Acts 4:4(NLT)

Despite the possible consequences of being arrested and even put to death, the message of Christ birthed faith in the hearts of those who heard the Gospel.  Faith knows no crippling fear.  So, the church was growing, despite the heat from the elders.  If you read the next couple of chapters of Acts it becomes clear that this courageous group in the early church got not only the attention of the in-charge group, they got their anger stirred-up.  This was the beginning of persecution that resulted in incredible growth.  The Pharisees and ruling elders were trying to stamp out this upstart bunch of Christians, but it was like pouring water on a grease fire…persecution only produced more courageous faith and growth.
3.    Conceit of the Wicked Minds

The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem.  Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest.  They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”  Acts 4:5-7(NLT)

Demanding an accounting of Peter and John about their faith, these rulers were steeped in their own self-importance.
4.    Cause-Driven Testimony

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed?  Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.  For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’  There is salvation in no one else!  God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:8-12(NLT)

This answer, given by Peter, was driven by a clear understanding of the mission to proclaim the Gospel.  This is what Jesus had told his disciples:

Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.  Mark 16:15(NLT)

5.    Confusion of the Powerful, but Lost

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures.  They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.  But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say.  So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves.  “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other.  We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it.  But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”  So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.  Acts 4:13-18(NLT)

In every way the rulers were unreasonable, not even coming close to appearing like they wanted to get to the truth.  They even ignored the fact that a man who had been paralyzed was standing whole before them.  They couldn’t say a word, so they wanted to drag the disciples down to that level and keep them from speaking.  The only thing important to them was holding together their precious organized crime syndicate.
Sticking with the Gospel as our mission (like the disciples did) will confound the so-called wise.  It will stymie and silence the powerful.  Christ’s work done in Christ’s way will be its own validation.
6.    Conquering Evil by the Spirit of God

But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”  Acts 4:19-20(NLT)

This was a question no Pharisee or Sadducee could answer without convicting himself.  This was a courageous move by Peter; his faith had grown by tremendous leaps and bounds in the few weeks since he’d denied he even knew Jesus.  He stood and put that faith to the test with the kind of boldness only a fool, or man possessing great faith can muster.  And when faith marries bold courage, Christ will always be honored.  And Christ, in turn, will always vindicate righteous faith!
The Message for Today’s Church
There is a message in all this for today’s church, and our United Methodist tribe in particular; it comes in two parts:

1.     Take Heart

As we sung earlier in the service, Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of life’s wild, restless sea to follow and love Him more than anyone or anything this world offers.
Now that would sound like a daunting task, and who feels up to it?  Most of us are over 50 in this church, probably a median age of over 60.  Who has that much strength or influence?  But do we remember that we’re not alone in this?
Scripture tells us there is a great cloud of witnesses in Heaven saying Take Heart:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.  Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.  Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.  Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.  Hebrews 12:1-3(NLT)

Stephen, one of the first martyrs for the faith, took heart to stand for, and to proclaim the truth before the powerful.  He was rejected, and the mob took him out to the edge of the city to kill him.  Stephen never lost heart, he prayed while he was being stoned to death for God to forgive his killers.
We have just passed another Reformation Day, celebrating Martin Luther nailing 95 theses of disagreement with the powerful church of his day that had grown cold, indifferent to the needs of the poor and powerless.  For thanks he was hauled before a court to defend himself.  This is what he said:
I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the
Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen
[2]
Peter, the apostle who denied faith in Christ in the cold, darkness outside of Pilate’s house while Jesus was being unfairly beaten, tried, and illegally-convicted by a kangaroo court, more than turned it around.  He was so bold to proclaim Christ it got him in trouble over and over, until finally he was crucified.  When it came time to be put on his cross, he begged to be turned upside down, declaring he wasn’t even worthy to be killed right-side-up.
These early believers, and many to follow through history took heart and served their Lord.  That is what their testimony calls us to do in this current tumult of our days.  Whatever happens in the vote of General Conference 2019, take heart; Christ is in your heart, and He will not abandon us.
The second part of this message for the tribe known as United Methodist is to…

2.      Take Responsibility

There’s a more important question than what will happen after the vote at General Conference.  That question is what will you DO after the vote?  The possibilities are: 
·      We can take our ball and go home…let this church fall apart on its foundations.
·      We can sit and wait for the wave of the powerful to overwhelm whatever is left of this denomination, until they kill it altogether, and just shake our heads.
·      We can take heart and serve the Lord with gladness
There is a great illustration of this in the story of Shawshank Redemption.[3]  Two men,
Andy DuFrane and Red Reddington are imprisoned, and bond over nearly 20 years.  The warden is an evil man, while the two prisoners act with common decency.  At every turn the warden does what he can to beat-down all the prisoners, breaking spirits.  
The ordeal nearly robs Andy of all hope, but in the final minutes of the movie he turns to Red and says:  I guess it all comes down to a small choice; you either have to get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’!
If I had the right as pastor to commission you in your next steps as a church, here is what I would say:  Get busy living!
In light of all the Saints of that great cloud of witnesses, and the Great Commission of Christ, himself, do not let bishops, delegates, District Superintendents, unbelieving clergy, or anyone else of evil desires cause you to fail in serving Christ. 
With bold faith and unending courage, take heart, take responsibility, and serve the Lord with gladness!
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Let the church say “Amen”!

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[1] Title Image: Courtesy of Pixabay.com
[2] Martin Luther’s answer to charges by the court at the Diet of Worms
[3] 1994, Columbia Pictures

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