Doing Gods Work.
Every now and then I like to poke Christians with a pointy stick. This I believe may be one of those times.
The book of acts records,
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Acts 5:28-39.
Over the years I’ve seen this quote used by Christians to justify them protesting against gay rights, abortion and other things they disagree with. They used it wrongly.
True we as Christians must obey God rather than man. We must stand up for our rights to worship and evangelise as we wish. That however does not justify us protesting against those we disagree with.
The Apostle Paul tells us,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
According to Paul we are not to judge those outside the church. That is God’s job. In the quote from acts the Peter a Jew (this was before the church split from Judaism) was brought before a Jewish religious court and told not to preach in the name of Jesus. Thus he a Jew had the right to tell those Jewish leaders he was to obey God not men.
Jesus in the past had, had conflict with the religious leaders and spoke against them but that was his right as a member of the Jewish faith.
Jesus and His apostles never once spoke against, protested against or raised a sword in anger against the secular Roman government.
The apostle Paul under the emperor Nero who would eventually execute him said,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1,2.
The apostle Paul, Jesus and the other apostles lived in a world in which there were many laws and practices that they would have disagreed with. Yet they never spoke against them.
They did as Jesus told them they presented the Gospel of Christ to all who would listen to them.
Billy Graham said,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
They didn’t spend time and money on protesting or lobbying their government official about things they thought were wrong or needed changing. They couldn’t, the Romans wouldn’t have listened anyway.
The men that followed Christ spoke with everyone mixed socially with everyone and presented the gospel in word and in deed to everyone. In doing so by the end of the first century the Gospel message had been taken throughout the Roman Empire.
Those early disciples of Christ took seriously the words of Jesus who said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20.
My question to the Christians reading this are you truly doing what God wants you to do? Are you presenting the gospel to all people no matter who they are?
Please think about it.
Every now and then I like to poke Christians with a pointy stick. This I believe may be one of those times.
The book of acts records,
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Acts 5:28-39.
Over the years I’ve seen this quote used by Christians to justify them protesting against gay rights, abortion and other things they disagree with. They used it wrongly.
True we as Christians must obey God rather than man. We must stand up for our rights to worship and evangelise as we wish. That however does not justify us protesting against those we disagree with.
The Apostle Paul tells us,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
According to Paul we are not to judge those outside the church. That is God’s job. In the quote from acts the Peter a Jew (this was before the church split from Judaism) was brought before a Jewish religious court and told not to preach in the name of Jesus. Thus he a Jew had the right to tell those Jewish leaders he was to obey God not men.
Jesus in the past had, had conflict with the religious leaders and spoke against them but that was his right as a member of the Jewish faith.
Jesus and His apostles never once spoke against, protested against or raised a sword in anger against the secular Roman government.
The apostle Paul under the emperor Nero who would eventually execute him said,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1,2.
The apostle Paul, Jesus and the other apostles lived in a world in which there were many laws and practices that they would have disagreed with. Yet they never spoke against them.
They did as Jesus told them they presented the Gospel of Christ to all who would listen to them.
Billy Graham said,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
They didn’t spend time and money on protesting or lobbying their government official about things they thought were wrong or needed changing. They couldn’t, the Romans wouldn’t have listened anyway.
The men that followed Christ spoke with everyone mixed socially with everyone and presented the gospel in word and in deed to everyone. In doing so by the end of the first century the Gospel message had been taken throughout the Roman Empire.
Those early disciples of Christ took seriously the words of Jesus who said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20.
My question to the Christians reading this are you truly doing what God wants you to do? Are you presenting the gospel to all people no matter who they are?
Please think about it.
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