Acts 5: Ananias, Sapphira, and Gamaliel

No more will God’s people stone the ungodly.

In the Old Testament, the Law called for the people to stone their fellow Israelites found guilty of murder, idolatry, and other capital crimes. The lesson I draw from the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira is that in the Kingdom, capital punishment flows only from the hand of God. God’s people must never pick up stones of judgement again.

Sapphira – the “enabler” half of this sinful couple – seems as guilty as Ananias, who actually “did the deed”. Couples are one flesh. Sometimes the flesh is corrupted. I am reminded of an elderly Vermont couple that has spent their lives laboring on behalf of abortion and euthanasia. They love each other and walk hand in hand to and from the legislative hearings at which they push for laws that would result in the unnecessary deaths of the very young and the very old. They are united in their anger at activist Christians. Should grace break through to one or the other, I hope he or she will be willing to choose the Kingdom over corrupted oneness.

Ananias and Sapphira pretended to holiness while loving money. In fact, it is the sin of the Pharisees, and Spirit of God is jealous, jealous, jealous over His bride and will not share her with that wicked spirit.

And speaking of those Pharisees – not all of them were ungodly! Witness Gamaliel, one of the great teachers of the Hebrew faith. His “leave them alone and let God sort it out” is at odds with the practioners of the Stamp Them Out School of Religious Discipline, but is more in line with the stone-free Kingdom and, practically speaking, with the new reality that Israel is no longer a free theocracy, but a people subjected by its own idolatry to pagan rule. It also reminds me of advice an aged John Wesley gave to a young William Wilberforce: if God is directing your work to end slavery in the British empire, never give up, because if God wills it, you cannot fail.

On the subject of Gamaliel, Wikipedia agrees with Luke: he “was a leading authority in the Sanhedrin in the mid 1st century CE. He was the grandson of the great Jewish teacher Hillel the Elder, and died twenty years before the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (70 CE).” Jewish literature has him instructing the king and queen, probably Herod Agrippa and his wife Berenice. Hillel, by the way, was the sage who was asked to explain the Law of God while balancing on one foot. He answered, “do no harm to your neighbor. All else is explanation.”

Acts 3: the Wonder of Listening (plus a reader comment)

Thirty-five years ago, as my youth pastor, Dick Lawson showed me what a Christian man looked like. Two months ago, as a man who many years ago lost his first wife in a traffic accident, he showed me what "godly grief" looks like. He is now a missions executive with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. This morning he continued his seemingly lifelong ministry of "schooling" me with the following perceptive comment about yesterday's blog post:

"‘We’ don’t see miracles as in Act 2. Define ‘we.’ When ‘sophisticated’ Westerners, Christians or not, see a miracle we rationalize it away, look for natural reasons—as per the book Christian Atheists—confessing to believe but interpreting life as an atheist. If ‘we’ are in the developing world, a world that expects supernatural interactions—be they positive or negative—miracles are embraced. Many within a Muslim context are coming to a saving faith in Christ through dreams and visions which are acceptable vehicles to transmit truth. The hand of the Lord is still active in the land of the living for those alive enough to notice."

The signs and wonders continue in Acts 3. Peter says to a lame beggar, "silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I you." Peter has the gift of healing and soon the man is "walking and leaping and praising God," as the old Sunday School song goes. I dwell on those words, "such as I have give I you." I have the ability to pray. I have the ability to bless in Jesus' name. And I can listen. I can, if I choose, stand in front of someone and make eye contact and keep my mouth shut and concentrate on what someone else is saying. I know this because I have, on occasion, successfully done it. I have entered in the Spiritual Discipline of Active Listening.

I remember being very angry and "culture shocky" when I got out of jail (for abortion rescuing) in the summer of 1989. I am not blaming anyone for "making me" feel that way, but I remember that exactly one person, of all my friends and acquintances, took the time to really listen to what I was thinking and feeling. Strangely enough it was a multi-millionaire construction company owner with whom I served on a local non-profit board. This guy's life was busier than mine by far but he took the time to listen to the person in front of him. I wish I could say that since then I have honored that sacrifice by doing likewise. Maybe a good way for me to wash someone else's feet is with my ears. Healing may not flow from my fingers; but I can listen. Will salvation and revival result? I dunno. But at least "they will know we are Christians by our love." And maybe God will honor loving ears with healing hands and an apt word. "He who has been faithful in little...."

And speaking of faithful - there is Peter, still a leader but by grace no longer a bragging coward. Giving glory to God for the healing, he fearlessly tells the onlookers they have disobeyed God by killing his annointed, but may still receive mercy by the very death they cheered. On this rock the church is built. 

Acts 2: Why don't we still have miracles like this?

Tongues of flame, the Spirit roaring and rushing like the wind, people speaking foreign human tongues, signs and wonders:

Why aren't these things still part of our daily life, or even episodic?

The Cynic says they never happened and never will and the only immortality I will ever experience will be the natural recycling of my remains.

The Modern Missions Leader says we don't need tongues because we have bible translators, we don't need healings because we have missions doctors, and we don't need signs and wonders because we have God's word, church histories and teachings, and missionary strategies.

I say God has performed signs and wonders episodically during the life of the church and does so today. I see Acts 2 as a "Big Bang" of the creation of God's church. All of the elements of the kingdom burst forth when God spoke. Since then, worldliness and a "life is a marathon, not a sprint" attitude towards revival and the kingdom have diminished our own appetites for them. And as for God, he prizes above all faith born of the Spirit. 

For the bride of Christ, at least, some of the wedding night sizzle has gone after all these years of marriage. As Jim Morrison sang, "C'mon baby light my fire!" May our temples be once again pure and fit for Shekinah.

Mother's Day: Acts 1

Today is Mother's Day. My family will celebrate my wonderful mother Janet Page and remember my kids' wonderful mother Diane Page; or, as she often liked to call herself with a laugh, "the other Mrs. Guy Page." We are also celebrating Joe's 18th birthday (May 6), and the party at my mom's house today will do double duty as his FOURTH birthday party celebration. The cake my sister Sarah made him Friday was decorated with emblems of adulthood: a credit card, a toy soldier, a pack of candy cigarettes, even the Playboy bunny logo (gee thanks, Sarah!).

And speaking of Mothers: two godly moms who read this blog referenced the same scripture after reading the post about the death of OBL. Ezekiel 33:11 says, "As surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live."

So on a day of departures and new beginnings and visions for the future, I ponder Acts 1. Jesus the Messiah, described in Isaiah 53 as the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, has already told his disciples that they will be sad at his leaving but that their sorrow will turn to joy, eventually. And now it is time for Jesus to leave them for once and for all, rising into the clouds, until that great gettin' up mornin' when he returns in the same way.

[Long paranthetical defense of the Ascension: if this were Psalms or other poetic scripture, I might say that it's artistic imagery, but Luke is scrupulously factual in his narrative. If he writes it, you can believe he believed it happened, either because he witnessed it himself (as in some of the missionary journeys described later in the book) or heard it firsthand from an apostle or other reliable eyewitness account (Mary in his first book, for example.) So to dismiss the ascension of Christ as embarassing religious folderol, as some do, not only shows a prejudice against the uniqueness of Christ and the power of God, but also does a disservice to the book's terrific author.]

I give the disciples credit for being visionaries: "Then they gathered around him and asked him, 'Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?'”

Not unlike many American believers today, they long for godly restoration of their land. Today we pray for the Kingdom to come to America, a restoration of the puritan "shining city on a hill": stronger families, protection of the youngest and the oldest, little crime, peace within and without our borders, victory over addiction and all forms of ungodliness, and above all churches new and old packed with people hearing and obeying the Word. Were these things to happen even in part, I for one would shout loud hallelujahs and thank God for "thy ikingdom come."

There is an old Yiddish proverb that says, "man plans, God laughs." Unfettered by space, time and culture, his Kingdom perspective is so much BIGGER than mine. He told them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

He DOESN'T tell his friends that their country will be restored to its Davidic glory. Because, well, it won't. That's not the plan. History tells us that Israel became even more of a hotbed of insurrection and a thorn in the Roman lion's paw. So Rome did what you might expect: in the eighth decade of the first century, they laid waste to Jerusalem and sold many Jews and presumably Christians (remember Peter being led by others with hands outstretched, as in a line of slaves) into slavery throughout the Empire. And in this way and many others was the Kingdom brought to the Empire and "to the ends of the earth." Not the way I would choose for my family, church or country. Is it possible that some day America's army will be defeated and large armies taken prisoner, and that godly POWs will preach the word to their captors (Islamic? Communist? Who knows)? That would resemble the first century strategy of the Holy Spirit: Saving the World, One Spirit-Filled Slave At A Time. Sometimes the only catalyst for positive change is crisis. As another spiritual says, "I'll be a witness for my Lord." And may those who are enemies of the gospel "turn from their evil ways, and live."

John 21: the passing of the shepherd's mantle

Nightime on the Sea of Galilee. Amid the rhythm of wind, wave and work, the men's thoughts turn to their teacher and lord, his brave death, and the strange events since. So much has changed, the men not least of all. Peter, humbled, but still a leader. Nathanael of Cana, hallowed site of the great wedding miracle. Thomas, without a doubt. The sons of Zebedee, no longer the vengeful Sons of Thunder. Together they work and wonder: what happens next? Then the teacher appears and another fish miracle happens and they share a meal with Jesus, for the last time on this earth.

And then, the passing of the shepherd's mantle. From the beginning the Good Shepherd has fed and protected the sheep. Now he must leave, and Peter must tend the flock. He somewhat painfully reminds Jesus that above all a shepherd must love Jesus. He also impresses on Peter that is he no longer a hired man free to go where he will. He must willingly be led to death with outstretched hands, dressed by another. Some traditions have Peter sent with hands bound to Rome with countless other Jews sold into slavery after the fall of Jerusalem in AD 72. It is a fact that Christians who refused to denounce Christ were wrapped in skins of goats and other animals and then fed to the lions in the arena. It is also a fact that the first 10 or so of the Bishops of Rome died martyr's deaths. Is this what Jesus predicts? Some day I will wade into the great cloud of witnesses, find Peter, and ask him myself. On the shores of Galilee, however, Peter knows no more than you or I do. But he knows is the Lord's command: "Follow me!"

John's gospel closes with a piece of literary hyperbole about how writing down everything Jesus did would result in more books than the world could hold. But - maybe not hyperbole. Now we see in part and know in part, but if everything Jesus did were known, how many science books could  be written about His mastery of the wind and waves and fish? How about a comprehensive chemistry book on turning water into wine? Or, turning nothing into the entire universe? This multi-volume set could be called "Genesis 1:1, Unabridged." How about the Acts of the Saints (ALL of them) describing every amazing grace of the Savior? Christian Book Distributors, eat your heart out.

I expect the list of books could go on literally into infinity. "We've no less days, to sing God's praise, than when we first begun."

What a blessing it has been to read and meditate over the gospels. The last time I read the gospels nonstop, I was struck by his powerful sense of his unique identity. This time, I have been struck by his refusal to compell any person to do anything, except by faith-led choice: "If any man be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me." Only the wind, waves and demons were commanded to obey.

 

John 20: Jesus and Osama

Late last night I was watching the Phillies-NY Mets game and heard people chanting, "USA, USA." Soon the play-by-play man announced that Osama Bin Laden had been killed by US forces.

How do we understand a murdering zealot like OBL? Maybe by changing his name to Osama Bar Abbas. Truly this man was a son of Barabbas. The world knew his crimes, knew the death sentence upon him, and still chose him over the Prince of Peace who told his sword-waving follower Peter to put down his weapon, and said "those who live by the sword will die by the sword."

The death of this latter-day Bar Abbas was an act of justice. The state does not wield the sword for nothing; it punishes evil doers. What would the Jesus I have studied since Jan. 1 say about the events of last night? Would he celebrate? Say, "finally, the enemy is vanquished?" This is an open question, I really don't have the answer, and I hope to learn from the perspectives of my brothers and sisters.

But my initial thought is that Jesus wouldn't be running any victory laps. I think he might pray, "they Kingdom come, thy will be done" over BOTH the prideful Kingdom of the West, soaked in the greed and hedonism of godless liberty, and the equally prideful Principality of Sharia, subject to Pharisaical religious tyranny. He would pray that the Holy Spirit convict them of sin, righteousness and judgment.

And, apropos to John 20, he would pray that the power of the resurrection would overwhelm even the most stubborn disbelief. When Thomas sees Jesus, nail holes and all, Jesus calls him blessed to have seen and believed, but those who believe without seeing are even more blessed. Lord God, deliver the slaves from their chains by the resurrection freedom and power that comes through belief in your son. Your Kingdom come, your will be done. And as brother Francis prayed, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace."

John 19: The Man Vs. The System

Yesterday a sister commented on the John 18 post. Her good and gracious point about Peter's training and potential is included in the amended version of the post, which can be seen at http://oneyearbibleblogentry.blogspot.com/.

For any who might doubt the physical and moral courage of Jesus, read John 19. Flogged, mocked, tortured and beaten by Roman soldiers, he is then brought before their governor, the one man with the power to make the suffering end. It is not Jesus but Pilate who who is afraid and he responds with the empty threat of the middle-man trapped in an authoritarian system, "Don't you realize I have power to free you or to crucify you?"

Bloody, bruised, but unbowed, the Son of Man stands alone before his executioner and admonishes without hate or accusation, "you would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." This is not bravado. It is courage born of truth and a rock-solid sense of his calling and identity. In some ways it resembles the old-fashioned military virtues of honor and duty: "because this is who I am, this is what I must do." The Nazarene is a truly free man, speaking and living truth unfettered by fear of what others may think, say and do. Behold the Man. Behold the Man. Behold the Man.