Over the nearly 25 years that I have been trying to follow Jesus, I have taken great comfort in the portrayal of the heroes of the faith recorded for us in the Bible. If I were inventing a religion, I would use the power of the editing floor to soften or eliminate the less than desirable attitudes and actions of those who are being used to help build up and spread the faith. My version of David, for example, may emphasize the giant killer, sensitive songwriter, and highlight his given description as a man after God’s own heart. The voyeurism, adultery, murder and lousy parenting probably would not been included, unless they were to show how bad he was before God changed him.
There are some individuals in the Bible we readily acknowledge their flaws and failures, and yet still acknowledge their contributions to advancing God’s work on earth. Peter may be one of the prime examples of this sort of individual.
On the flipside, there are others that their flaws are often overlooked, or even admired, which may lead to warped thinking in today’s world.
There are some individuals in the Bible we readily acknowledge their flaws and failures, and yet still acknowledge their contributions to advancing God’s work on earth. Peter may be one of the prime examples of this sort of individual.
On the flipside, there are others that their flaws are often overlooked, or even admired, which may lead to warped thinking in today’s world.
Real quick, tell me one of the Apostle Paul’s flaws after his Damascus Road experience? Did you think of any?
I’ve been thinking about a flaw of Paul’s that seems commonplace in today’s western church. Starting in Acts 21 we see that Paul didn’t listen to Spirit led council, relied upon his own understanding/gut and demanded his rights as a citizen of Rome.
Acts 21:4, 7-14
After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.
…
7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brethren, we stayed with them for a day. 8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. 10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”
Paul doesn’t explain why he felt compelled to go to Jerusalem. He doesn’t say that the Spirit led him to do so, or not. However, this passage tells us that several godly individuals, controlled by the Spirit, were telling him not to go. The passage says that those discouraging Paul were telling him “through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem” (vs. 4), as well as warning him of “what the Holy Sprit says” that if he went, he’d be bound and turned over to the Gentiles. And yet, in spite of their warnings and those of the disciples and towns people not to go, Paul insisted that he was ready to face arrest and even death in Jerusalem.
One part of me admires Paul’s willingness to pay the ultimate price for the cause of Jesus. But another part of me wonders if his ministry and mission was cut short by following his own path, and not listening to the message the Holy Spirit was sending his way through many Spirit filled individuals. In the end, those seeking to warn Paul were unsuccessful, and Paul proceeded with his plan of going to Jerusalem.
Once in Jerusalem, the Jews seized Paul wanting to kill him (25:30). The Romans came to his aid, sparing him from a beating that may have led to Paul’s death. The Roman commander eventually orders him “examined by scourging” (25:24). Paul, literally being prepared for a beating, pulls the citizen trump card: “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?” (25:25). The same Paul who told those trying to warn him “I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem…” (21:14), the same Paul that told the church at Phillipi “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phillippians 1:2), demanded his rights when push came to shove. Scholars debate when Philippians was written, which means Paul may have written them while in prison or before his arrest and appeal to Rome.
How does this compare to Jesus and the other Apostles when they were arrested?
How does this compare to Jesus and the other Apostles when they were arrested?
When Pilot and others questioned Jesus, how did Jesus respond? “And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. 13 Then Pilate *said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14 And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.” (Matthew 27:12-14 see also Luke 23 where Jesus did not answer Herod when questioned). Granted, in the case of Jesus, a case can be made that He did this to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).
But, what about Paul’s fellow Apostles? What about the early church leaders? We are told that when Peter and the apostles were arrested and jailed, they stood boldly saying that ultimately they were not bound by human authority that was trying to sway them from obeying the Holy Spirit’s leading. Peter and the others responded to orders from the governing authorities “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). We are told these Apostles, arrested, jailed, questioned, flogged, and so forth, after all was said and done, they were “rejoicing” that they “had been considered worthy to suffer for the shame of (Jesus’) name” (5:41). Not too long after, when another early church leader was being oppressed, Stephen, whom we are told was “full of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:55), willingly accepted the wrath of man against him, and even prayed that God not hold the atrocities being committed against him against his attackers (7:60). Stephen’s martyrdom took place in the presence of Paul, named Saul at the time (7:58).
Paul seems to be the exception when it comes to the early church in regards to imprisonment and or death for obedience to God. While others were remaining silent or rejoicing at being found worthy to suffer or praying for their attackers, Paul wasted no time in claiming his earthly citizenship when it was expedient.
Maybe my assertion here is unfair. Maybe it was God’s will for Paul to claim his Roman citizenship for a greater purpose. I struggle to see this in light of all the Holy Spirit filled people prophesying to Paul not to go to Jerusalem. But I acknowledge that I may be wrong.
What I find interesting is that Paul’s call for his rights to be honored is something I see repeatedly in many members of the American church, sometimes over things that ultimately are not of eternal importance. Yet, the cry of the other Apostles that they rejoiced to be found worthy to be persecuted for following Jesus, is downplayed. I see Paul’s accusation against his would be floggers to be more in line with American Christianity today than Stephens begging God with his final breaths to not hold his murders’ sins against them.
As we consider our testimony and witness in our society today, will we live out our faith in a way that points people toward Jesus? When difficult times come, as we are told they will (2 Timothy 3:12), will we demand our rights or will we praise God that we were found worthy of suffering for the name and cause of Jesus Christ?
Maybe my assertion here is unfair. Maybe it was God’s will for Paul to claim his Roman citizenship for a greater purpose. I struggle to see this in light of all the Holy Spirit filled people prophesying to Paul not to go to Jerusalem. But I acknowledge that I may be wrong.
What I find interesting is that Paul’s call for his rights to be honored is something I see repeatedly in many members of the American church, sometimes over things that ultimately are not of eternal importance. Yet, the cry of the other Apostles that they rejoiced to be found worthy to be persecuted for following Jesus, is downplayed. I see Paul’s accusation against his would be floggers to be more in line with American Christianity today than Stephens begging God with his final breaths to not hold his murders’ sins against them.
As we consider our testimony and witness in our society today, will we live out our faith in a way that points people toward Jesus? When difficult times come, as we are told they will (2 Timothy 3:12), will we demand our rights or will we praise God that we were found worthy of suffering for the name and cause of Jesus Christ?
