How do people respond when they hear the message we proclaim about Jesus? Luke show’s us five reactions to the proclamation of the Gospel in our reading today. We should be aware of these for the sake of understanding the reactions we receive when we share God’s Word with others, but also because we ourselves respond like this sometimes.
In Thessalonica, Paul experienced both the full acceptance of faith and violent rejection. In Berea people also came to faith, but there were others who tested the message according to God’s Word. Then when he was in Athens, Paul again saw people come to faith, but he also experienced amused rejection as well as casual interest.
The times that Christians experience rejection highlight the distance between mankind and God that sin has brought into this world. That such rejection should sometimes be violent serves to reinforce the truth that the kingdom of this world is in conflict with the kingdom of God. I sometimes think about what is happening in this world in terms of military strategy and spiritual warfare. There is an agenda in our world that seeks to stamp out the faith by whatever means possible. We should pray for our brothers and sisters who experience such persecution, and pray for courage when we face similar reactions.
I believe we North Americans are more likely to experience amused rejection, though. Like the Athenians, our culture is one that is tolerant and generally open to ideas. However, as we share God’s Word, people who reject the message are inclined to let us believe what we want to believe, but to shake their heads at us and write us off as kooks or weirdoes. Recently my son was reading a book that had a very strong suggestion throughout it that if you believe in God (any god) there is something wrong with you. This rejection doesn’t physically harm anyone, but discounts the message as unworthy of thought.
Sometimes as we tell people about Jesus, they are interested in what we have to say, but only in a general philosophical kind of way. Some of these people may even consider themselves as Christians because they like the teachings and moral structure the Bible teaches about. We must take care, because this is not the same thing as faith, and no amount of morality can save us.
Those who test the message are of most interest to me, because I believe that this is the kind of person we should be. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing full acceptance of the message, but I love it even more when that acceptance is tied to searching the Bible and finding the message consistent with God’s Word. Every sermon, every Bible Study, every thought, every program, every plan comes under the thought, “How does this square with God’s Word? How does this fit with what He says?” This is faith that is more than blind acceptance of a teachers words or a charismatic leader’s ideas. This is faith that finds its footing in the pages of scripture.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Tim 3:16-17. Let’s take up our Bibles and found our lives on the message and especially the salvation God has placed in it, and test all things according to it.
Father in Heaven, thank you for your Word. Help me cherish it, read it, and live by it. Especially let me cling to the forgiveness you proclaim and deliver in it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
In Thessalonica, Paul experienced both the full acceptance of faith and violent rejection. In Berea people also came to faith, but there were others who tested the message according to God’s Word. Then when he was in Athens, Paul again saw people come to faith, but he also experienced amused rejection as well as casual interest.
The times that Christians experience rejection highlight the distance between mankind and God that sin has brought into this world. That such rejection should sometimes be violent serves to reinforce the truth that the kingdom of this world is in conflict with the kingdom of God. I sometimes think about what is happening in this world in terms of military strategy and spiritual warfare. There is an agenda in our world that seeks to stamp out the faith by whatever means possible. We should pray for our brothers and sisters who experience such persecution, and pray for courage when we face similar reactions.
I believe we North Americans are more likely to experience amused rejection, though. Like the Athenians, our culture is one that is tolerant and generally open to ideas. However, as we share God’s Word, people who reject the message are inclined to let us believe what we want to believe, but to shake their heads at us and write us off as kooks or weirdoes. Recently my son was reading a book that had a very strong suggestion throughout it that if you believe in God (any god) there is something wrong with you. This rejection doesn’t physically harm anyone, but discounts the message as unworthy of thought.
Sometimes as we tell people about Jesus, they are interested in what we have to say, but only in a general philosophical kind of way. Some of these people may even consider themselves as Christians because they like the teachings and moral structure the Bible teaches about. We must take care, because this is not the same thing as faith, and no amount of morality can save us.
Those who test the message are of most interest to me, because I believe that this is the kind of person we should be. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing full acceptance of the message, but I love it even more when that acceptance is tied to searching the Bible and finding the message consistent with God’s Word. Every sermon, every Bible Study, every thought, every program, every plan comes under the thought, “How does this square with God’s Word? How does this fit with what He says?” This is faith that is more than blind acceptance of a teachers words or a charismatic leader’s ideas. This is faith that finds its footing in the pages of scripture.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Tim 3:16-17. Let’s take up our Bibles and found our lives on the message and especially the salvation God has placed in it, and test all things according to it.
Father in Heaven, thank you for your Word. Help me cherish it, read it, and live by it. Especially let me cling to the forgiveness you proclaim and deliver in it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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