David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 5:33-42

When they heard [Peter’s message about Jesus and the Apostles’ commitment to obeying God rather than man], they were enraged and wanted to kill them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee in the council namedGamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, ⁴⁰ and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. ⁴² And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

I first was introduced to the concept of long-term change as opposed to flash-in-the-pan adjustments by a Kent Hunter, a church consultant. We engaged him to provide recommendations to our church for effective ministry and missional effectiveness. He told me, “We tend to over-estimate what we can do in the short term and under-estimate what we can do in the long term.” That was good advice and insight. But I have since changed it, by one word: “God.” Now it is, “We tend to over-estimate what we can do in the short term and under-estimate what God can do in the long term.” It’s a relative to the saying, “Man proposes, but God disposes.”

In the case of the beginnings of the Early Church, this certainly was the case. Once Jesus was killed, the Jewish leaders thought that they had taken care of their problems. But those pesky Apostles just wouldn’t go away! Even in the face of threats and prison the message of Jesus continued to be proclaimed. They just wouldn’t stop. The world is being turned upside down by these twelve men; or better, “God is turning the world upside down through these twelve men!”

Gamaliel offers his counsel in regard to these stubborn witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection and identity: If this is of God you will not succeed in opposing it; you might even find yourself opposing God. Not a good position to take. The conclusions of the council: beat these men, charge them not to speak anymore in Jesus’ name, and let them go.

The only problem with that conclusion is that God is at work. Daily and from house to house the Apostles continued to teach and preach that Christ is Jesus. For two thousand years that preaching and teaching has continued, and the Christian Church has grown from hundreds, to thousands, to tens of thousands, to hundreds of thousands, to millions. This is a work of God that continues today one person at a time, on a daily basis, and through the steady efforts of faithful witnesses. There may be special crusades.  We may experience momentary set-backs and even some major victories. But the long-term work of God will produce a harvest of souls.

That’s because Christ is Jesus. The anointed one is Jesus, once dead, but now alive and reigning at the right hand of God. He will reign forever and ever. His kingdom comes among and through us. What is God calling you to do today, as a small and consistent witness to his reign?