Thoughts on the Christian's Perspective of Life

Thoughts on the Christian’s Perspective of Life

Acts 16

How the World Views Christianity

I’m sure that, however the world views Christians, or rather, the Truth, they all have one thing in common in their views of Truth: We’re wrong. Granted, that statement may seem very simple to a lot of people. Of course they think we’re wrong. Ah, but that’s just it. They are willing to subject their entire religion to any other, for the sake of unity. They are willing to compromise all for the sake of friendship with all religions. And every religion, in its entirety, strives for world peace, be it through politics, war, or just asking people to be their friend. Yet none are actually willing to accept the Truth. They want no part of it, because it utterly rejects their idea of “world peace”, saying instead that there is only one reality, and that all must repent of sin, not just little mistakes, lest they be cast into hell. Not only that, but the Truth is that God controls all, down to the smallest of detail, which makes the religions go crazy. “That’s not fair!” they claim. “A loving god would never cast anyone into hell!” Oh really? Well, my opinion, or the reality, of that statement, has already been written down in previous writings. However, this does affect how people think Christians view the world. Now, this doesn’t really matter. It doesn’t matter what the world thinks of us, as Christians, but alas, I do find it very interesting how the professing “Modern Church” has changed how the world views the actual Church.

When one utters the word “church”, the same general concept comes into the minds of just about everyone. Church is a place that is either boring, overly exciting, or simply a place no one cares about anymore. Or even worse, the world views the church as a place where miracles are shown daily. Christians themselves are shown a bit more attention. Arrogant, stupid, ignorant, lacking, wealthy, liars, miracle workers, demonic beings… so many ideas. Christians are the type of people that like to damn people to hell, just for the fun of it, and to make themselves feel better. Christians just ignore the facts of science, and go on with their self-focused view of a god who just likes to hurt people. And really, the “Modern Church” hasn’t helped in the least. Then of course, we have the other extreme view. Christians think everyone is going to Heaven, and this creates a false sense of security for a lot of people, like Catholics, who think they simply need to do a few good works, and that’s all for ya. They’re going to Heaven. Jesus has to take everyone, because everyone has some good in them. And this view isn’t far at all compared to the rest of the world. “Compassion” they say, yet without justice.

The Biblical Truth

The main chapter for this little… note… is Acts 16, starting at verse 16. Now, the context of this passage is quite odd, compared to other accounts. Paul had taken Silas with him to go into Macedonia, as he was commanded to in a dream (vs. 9-10). Paul, had just entered Philppi, and everything seemed to be going quite fine. They had just had a new convert, which is recorded in verses 14 and 15, and they had yet to face trouble. However, the trouble wasn’t too far away. The trouble begins in verse 16, when a slave girl begins to follow Paul and Silas. Her masters earned money through a “gift” of hers, which was fortune telling. I see no reason to doubt that she could actually do this, as it never says she was fake, and she really was possessed. And not only was she following them, but harassing them with mockery. She is continuously yelling out, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation” (vs. 17). This was not belief, but sarcasm. She obviously did not believe them, nor did her masters, and tried to make the Truth a laughing matter- a joke. And this went on for days, not just hours. She followed them everywhere. Now, at this point, most people would have blown up by now at her, and returned the favor, or simply run away. Yet Paul does something rather odd. In verse 18, it does not say “And Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the girl, ‘Would you shut up???’” Nay, quite the opposite. “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” Huh… Not the typical response. Surely he could have done better. Yet, he did not blow up at her, nor did he strike her, but he directed all of his anger towards the evil spirit within her. And he didn’t say “I command you to…” He said “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” His focus was properly directed, and his authority was based in Christ. He didn’t take the arrogant position as most would have, and shown his own wrath. And something that some may miss, is that as soon as he said it, the spirit left her, “at that very moment.” This alone says quite a bit as to how the Christian should view the world. It’s not a “Nothing is worth getting angry at” position, nor is it “Make war with everyone!” When annoyed, a Christian should always direct whatever they are feeling towards the sin. Shooting the horse does no good, as the rider still lives. And anger may not always be the right response either. In fact, it rarely, rarely is, as is shown shown here in this chapter.

Continuing at verse 19, we see that her masters weren’t too happy about this. Their good source of profit was just taken away. The slave girl was no useless to them, as it seemed, and their anger was great. So much so, that the first thing they did was grab Paul and Silas and drag them into the market, before the authorities. And they brought them before the higher authorities, and began to accuse them. But they didn’t tell the truth, but rather, they accused them of being… Jews. “These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews…” My, quite the argument they had there. But alas, it goes on. “…and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.” Not only were they accusing them unjustly, but they were also accusing them because of the Truth… yet, the Truth was a secondary matter. Their anger made them drag these two men before the authorities, and they didn’t even have a decent reason ready. Yet, the authorities not only ignored the facts, but showed anger against them as well. Once the popular opinion was against Paul and Silas, the chief magistrates tore off the robes of Paul and Silas, and had them beat with rods, in front of the crowd. After Paul and Silas had been beaten greatly, they were given to a jailer, and he was commanded to hold them securely in the prison, so he threw them into the inner prison and locked their feet in stocks, which were wooden restrainers for the feet, and were certainly very uncomfortable. But then, after all of this, in the middle of the night, Paul and Silas do yet another odd thing. They began to praise the very One who put them in this position, and sing hymns. In fact, this was odd enough, that the other prisoners heard, and listened. These men, who had been shamed, beaten, mocked, treated unjustly, and thrown into prison, were praising Him who sent them here. Surely this had to be puzzling. Why would anyone do this? I’m quite sure most people today would have called for their rights, and called for a just case before the courts. They were being beaten because they were Jewish. Is that not reason enough to fight back? For a regular person, certainly. But for a Christian? Not at all. Paul and Silas endured all of this, because more than this had been taken on their behalf. These men, who could have easily avoided trouble by keeping their mouths shut, were now in a horrible situation, yet praising the Him who sent them. Is this not how all Christians should live? Despite all of the troubles and trials that come our way, and despite the unjust treatment by the world, should we not take the same position as Paul and Silas did. If anything, Silas had plenty of reason to call out his rights. He didn’t have anything to do with the slave girl. He was following Paul. Yet, both of these were teaching the Truth. The very reason they went out that day was to find a place of prayer (vs. 16), and they ended up getting shamed and beaten and then thrown into prison. Their behavior was not odd, but Christian. They followed the example of Christ, who had taken much, much more. As Christ did, they did also, keeping from mocking back. And really, nowhere does it indicate that either of them said anything during the beatings. As Christ, when they were mocked, they did not mock in return, but rather, they sang in joy. They were not focused on what was happening to them, but rather, what was awaiting them Somewhere else. They “kept entrusting [themselves] to Him who judges righteously”, because “He [Christ] Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds [we] were healed” (1 Pet. 2:23-24). If their eyes had been on this earth, they could have, and would have, fought back. All of this had to be quite odd to their fellow prisoners, and the jailer himself, but Paul and Silas knew that this was yet another chance for them to prove who they were. But a mere test.

But, things were not yet over. And earthquake suddenly begins, and opens the doors, and the chains and stocks which held all of the prisoners. Yet, all of this without harm to anyone. And the jailer, after having seen all of this, pulled out his sword, and was going to kill himself, for fear that all of the prisoners escaping would get him killed by his authorities. Now, of all the times in their lives, surely this had to be the perfect timing for escape. Everything was opened, and the only guard there was going to kill himself with his own sword. Paul and Silas, who had already had too much, could have gotten up and run off. Yet… they stayed. Not only that, but Paul stops the one guard, the jailer, from killing himself. And not only that, but none of the prisoners ran off. They all were still there, as Paul assured the jailer. Yet another odd thing! And it gets even stranger. The jailer stops himself, and runs into the prison of Paul and Silas and drops before them, and asked them “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” These two men, who were just singing while in the worst of places and times, must have an effect on him. Surely they had the key to happiness. So, he had to be wondering why they didn’t run off. Thus, Paul gives him the Gospel. “Believe in the Lord Jesus” he said. Not “…and that’s pretty much it.” “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Anyone who truly believed in the Truth would be saved. Because if one truly believes it to be Truth, they will live by it. If he believed, he would be saved, and if his household believed, they would be saved to. This is yet another reality of how we should live as Christians. Even when the perfect timing comes for us to avoid trouble because of who we are, or to break the law (for “good reasons”), we stand firm. Paul and Silas didn’t run off, because they truly did entrust themselves to Him who judges righteously. If God put them there, who were they to refuse it? Nay, they were joyous for such a privilege. To see God bring them through all of this, and keeping them in the Truth, and then bringing another man to the Truth. And the jailer loved the Truth so much, that he brought these two to his home, and Paul shared the Truth with him and his household. And the jailer was so excited about the Truth, that he didn’t help them with their wounds until after Paul had spoken to all of them. Is this not how we should live? According to the Truth, not feelings, or experience, or sight. To many this may seem like some fluffy story, yet it is the reality. If our joy is based in this world, why would we be wasting our time sitting around? This would be it. Life is just another thing. Yet, the Gospel truly does bring the true peace. From our point of view, as humans, we have to choices, like the jailer. His first thought was based on his sight, and he chose to kill himself. This is how the world reacts to bad things happening. Paul and Silas had been shamed and beaten, yet they didn’t try to kill themselves, or seek justice. The one who threw them into prison, they shared the Gospel with. Paul and Silas were enslaved to God through Christ, and with this in mind, they went through whatever their Master had for them, good or bad on this earth. And these things are merely the beginning of the Truth. The meat is far greater.

For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you. – 1 Timothy 6:7-21