Archive of past lessons from his series can be found here.
This is week 18 of our journey through The Acts of the Apostles. Click here to read Acts 14 & return here to read my thoughts and to post your own.
Have you ever had a value that you thought was so biblical and uncompromising, then through a series of events, this value gets turned completely upside down? Have you ever had a conviction that you KNEW beyond a shadow of a doubt was of God - a die on the hill value - only for it to be exposed as hay and stubble?
That’s where I’m at with Jesus in Acts.
I know we have a strange title this week. It would never work as a bumper sticker. But as we work our way through Acts I can’t help from noticing how true it is.
So stick with me here, let me explain.
As Presbyterians, we subscribe the this line of thinking that everything we do is done “decently and in order.” Even on huge biblical issues where no middle ground is possible, we often choose unity over confrontation. During these times of disagreement, we want to hear from everyone. Even if a persons view is in direct conflict to the very God-breathed scripture we have devoted our life to follow. Why do we want to include all voices? Because everyone has a connection with God, there is priesthood of the believer. Therefore every person’s insight and opinion matters. If there isn’t unity, God isn’t in it. God wouldn’t bring division to the body.
Most of the time there is nothing wrong with this and I am certainly not picking on us Presbyterians this week, all Christians do this in some form.
But here is what slapped me in the face as I read the scripture here in Acts 14 - this glorified idea of unity is a lie.
I’ve said this same stupid idea about unity many times. Start saying those words in a meeting and heads will nod in agreement with every word. But those words might just completely ignore scripture itself. I wish somebody had loved me enough to invite me to re-read the book of Acts.
God doesn’t author confusion but He’s completely okay with chaos and destruction, disunity, if you will.
Here is the point: Jesus will bring chaos and division to any situation that doesn’t have Him as the center.
A church can be unified in their idolatry. They were in Acts - thought Paul and Barnabas were gods. They were in Corinth - thought sexual sin was okay to ignore. They were unified in the churches in Revelation. They were unified in Jerusalem about not allowing Gentiles to follow Jesus. They were unified at Golgatha as well.
Could unity be our golden calf?
Jesus never demanded unity. He demanded to be center. His prayer was that the Father make us ONE in our love. It wasn’t for the sake of unity he said that…it was for the sake of Himself. For the sake of advancing the Kingdom.
The journeys of Paul and Barnabas emphasize that one fact well - Jesus will bring division, heat, conflict. Because He doesn’t want any company in the center of our life.
-Justin-
