In this week's passage from Acts the Apostles are arrested for a second time by the religious authorities and thrown in to jail for preaching and teaching in Jesus name. But instead of remaining in jail until they can be questioned an angel of the Lord appears and frees them from prison and sends them off with the mandate that they are to go and tell the people "the whole message about this life."
There are several important things that jump out in this passage. When the high priest had the apostles arrested it is said that he and all who were with him where filled with jealousy. Another translation says that they were filled with righteous indignation. The religious authorities needed the Temple to remain the center of the religious life of the people. The apostles represented a threat to this status quo. If the people followed the apostles they might begin to question what was going on in the temple, undermining the authority of the leaders. When people feel threatened they easily act out of their emotions to keep things how they are, and the results are rarely good. Change represents a risk and often we are not ready to jump in with both feet and embrace the waters of the unknown.
When the angel released the apostles from jail he did not just let them go, he sent them forth with a commission. They were sent forth to proclaim to those around them what God had done in their life. They could not simply go home and wash off their wounds, they needed to share their experience. We are let out of our own prisons every day. We lock ourselves up and we are locked up by others, but God sets us free. What prisons have you been released from? What prisons do you need to be released from?
Remember that our own stories do not end with our release. We too are sent forth to proclaim the goodness of God.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Acts 5:12-17
In this short summary piece of scripture we learn a lot about how the early church was growing and the power that the apostles had both in terms of power from the Holy Spirit and power of influence over the people.
The apostles had gathered right outside the Temple and were attracting large crowds of people who were coming to be healed and to hear them teach and preach. In a scene very reminiscent of Jesus own ministry people were bringing the sick out into the streets so that perhaps Peter’s shadow might fall on them and heal them (remember the woman who thought that if she could only touch the hem of Jesus’ garment she would be healed). The apostles were preaching and healing and offering new hope to the people. The people were beginning to realize that there was more to following God than rules and regulations. They could have a life giving relationship with God that would change the way the viewed the world.
They offered the opportunity to really live into faith, to be fully alive in God, something that the people were probably not feeling living under the temple structure. In the temple people lived by rules. If you did all that was required of you you would be close to God and be a good follower. But where does this leave you? Does it really evoke a true faith in God or just in the structure of religion? This is a question that we have to ask ourselves today. Are we really living our faith, or are we just trying to follow the rules? Why do you come to church? Is it to be closer to God and to be a part of the community, or do you come out of guilt because you feel that you have to?
We live our lives in many different spheres--home, work, friends, church--but none of them can be totally sectioned off from the others. Even though my son is in daycare while I am at work he is never far from my mind. I don't forget I have a family when I go to work. Our faith should be so integrated in to our lives as well, but many times it is not. It is a challenge for us to keep let our faith weave its way through our daily lives. We cannot forget we are Christians when we go to work, we need to let our faith permeate every part of our life. What ways are you working to integrate your faith into your whole life? God wants for all of us to be in a life giving relationship with him, he has issued the invitation, are you ready to accept?
The apostles had gathered right outside the Temple and were attracting large crowds of people who were coming to be healed and to hear them teach and preach. In a scene very reminiscent of Jesus own ministry people were bringing the sick out into the streets so that perhaps Peter’s shadow might fall on them and heal them (remember the woman who thought that if she could only touch the hem of Jesus’ garment she would be healed). The apostles were preaching and healing and offering new hope to the people. The people were beginning to realize that there was more to following God than rules and regulations. They could have a life giving relationship with God that would change the way the viewed the world.
They offered the opportunity to really live into faith, to be fully alive in God, something that the people were probably not feeling living under the temple structure. In the temple people lived by rules. If you did all that was required of you you would be close to God and be a good follower. But where does this leave you? Does it really evoke a true faith in God or just in the structure of religion? This is a question that we have to ask ourselves today. Are we really living our faith, or are we just trying to follow the rules? Why do you come to church? Is it to be closer to God and to be a part of the community, or do you come out of guilt because you feel that you have to?
We live our lives in many different spheres--home, work, friends, church--but none of them can be totally sectioned off from the others. Even though my son is in daycare while I am at work he is never far from my mind. I don't forget I have a family when I go to work. Our faith should be so integrated in to our lives as well, but many times it is not. It is a challenge for us to keep let our faith weave its way through our daily lives. We cannot forget we are Christians when we go to work, we need to let our faith permeate every part of our life. What ways are you working to integrate your faith into your whole life? God wants for all of us to be in a life giving relationship with him, he has issued the invitation, are you ready to accept?
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