In a Corner…Or Not

Acts 26:24-27:8

In addressing the King Agrippa, Paul uses an interesting turn of phrase to describe the events surrounding his own conversion to Christianity. “Indeed the king knows about these things,” says Paul, “and to him I speak freely; for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner” (Acts 26:26). Paul is telling the king about events that were not hidden or obscured, but which were out in the open.

The expression, “not done in a corner” is apt in some ways, but curious in others. There are times when Christians are challenged to be open in profession their faith. Those who believe are to avoid the darkness and to live in the light, are to live with boldness, making the good confession to any who would listen. This was Paul’s own practice, to speak in the synagogues and anywhere else he might find an audience. But there are other elements of the faith that almost seem to require corners. Jesus condemns those who sit in the seats of honor or who pray loudly in the temple or on street corners, who make much of their own practices. Jesus says that it is better to pray in private than to make a show of prayer. Luke’s telling of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the temple would seem to support a more personal practice of the faith. The one who was justified in that story was quiet and unobtrusive in his prayer.

So which is it? Should Christianity be practiced out in the open as was so often the case with Paul, or should it be a private matter confined to prayer closets, as Jesus seems to suggest on more than one occasion? Of course the answer is yes…yes to both. There are times when our faith will essentially require us to make a public profession of faith, to keep our lamps on the lamp stand so that everyone may see and rejoice. But there are other times when we must remain “in the corner” so as not to call attention to ourselves, leaving our left hand ignorant of what our right hand is doing. As with so much else in the Christian faith it becomes a matter of appropriateness. It is good when we can give glory to God so that the world may see, but there are also times when it is best to stay behind the scenes and to allow the lamplight to fall on others.

As Paul gave his defense before King Agrippa he called attention to the work of God through Jesus Christ. But Paul would also know that at times he himself needed to be alone, to pray, to mediate, to seek God’s guidance in his own life. It is a matter of balance and of spiritual maturity that we learn and develop over time. Sometimes we need to be out of the corner, but other times a corner is the very best place for us to be.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to discern the times when we should act boldly, and the times when we should remain withdrawn, so that in either case we may give you the glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Nothing We Haven’t Heard Before

I'd like to wish our son, William a very happy 18th birthday today. We are blessed to have two wonderful children.

Acts 26:1-23

When Paul is given an opportunity to speak before King Agrippa concerning the charges for which he was being held he offered what one commentator claims was a “model defense of Christianity” (New Oxford Annotated Bible NRSV, p. 198 NT n.). “…And so I stand here,” Paul said, “testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place…” (Acts 26:22). In other words, why wouldn’t the Jews accept his preaching about Jesus and the resurrection since they themselves have been waiting for generations to see these very events?

Why indeed? Yet the Jewish leaders resist Paul’s message about the Messiah in part because Jesus did not act the way they thought the Messiah would. They were looking for glory, a restoration of Israel, a dominant national presence. Jesus offered none of that, instead telling his followers to take up their crosses and follow him in faithful obedience. To some this was not a word about the Messiah, this was a story about a wimp. In no way would the leaders of Israel accept this message as long as it included the death of God. But Paul was right. This was nothing new, and if the leaders of the people had simply listened with their hearts they, too, would have understood.

But they didn’t. And what about us? How carefully are we listening to Paul? How much do we even want to understand about this man Jesus? Wouldn’t we rather trust our own opinions, our own assumptions about what God is doing than to follow after Jesus, a convicted blasphemer who died on a cross? Maybe, but Paul is persistent and the truth continues to dawn in our world and in our lives. The one we follow died, yes, and was raised again. We’ve heard it a million times. Maybe it’s time we actually began to believe it, fully, and to trust what God is doing in our world.

Prayer: Lord, help us to believe the good news of the gospel, the stories we’ve heard over and over again, with all our hearts and minds. Amen.

Return to Sender

Acts 26:1-23
Luke 8:26-39
In our reading from Luke this morning Jesus heals a Gerasene man possessed by a number of demons. Near the end of the account Luke tells us, “the man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you’” (Luke 8:38-39). In Acts, Paul tells King Agrippa the story of his Damascus-Road conversion. There the risen Lord said to Paul, “I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light…” (Acts 26:17-18).

Sometimes we concentrate so much on what it means to be “called” by God that we forget that we are also “sent” by God, often in the very same moment. Yes, the disciples were summoned to walk with Jesus during his ministry, and yes, Paul was drawn into the early church as a convert. Likewise, we are called to enter into the community of Christian fellowship. But the disciples were frequently sent throughout the countryside to perform tasks, on Pentecost Sunday they were practically propelled into the streets to proclaim the good news, and Paul found himself traveling the known world sharing the new of Jesus Christ. In the same way we, too, are sent as disciples and followers of Jesus into the world to “declare how much God has done” for us. This is where the doctrine of election can be seen as a two-way street of sorts. God chooses a people and sets them aside. But election is not solely a matter of salvation; it has every bit as much to do with service. To be one of God’s people, to follow Jesus Christ, is to embrace opportunities to share the good news, to bring light to those who face darkness, to live as though the faith has really made a difference in who we are.

The Gerasene demoniac was so utterly changed that others became frightened. Some who heard Paul speak remained angry and unmoved by his words. We can expect similar circumstances. But every so often we will find ourselves ministering to someone who is touched by the Holy Spirit through our words or actions. At moments like this we will have made the transition from those who are called to those who are sent. Each is vitally important. Each is the will of God.

Prayer: God, help us to live faithfully as your people, praising you and seeking your forgiveness, but also reaching out to others that they may know the good news of the gospel. In Jesus’ name. Amen.