Acts 28:22 “But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”
Why do the jews want to hear what Paul believes? Have they not read his letters? Has he written the Romans yet? Did his letter to them not get to these specific folks in this scripture? Why is the movement denounced everywhere? What does it challenge? Is it insane? Why are people everywhere afraid of it? What other movements are familiar to these people that turned out to be hoxes? It seems that there is this longing to hear from a respected source the true meaning of this early Christian movement. These jews are sincerely interested in hearing it from the horses mouth; maybe they recognize that what they’ve heard and the real message may be two different things. Perhaps they want some clarity. Does this mean they are interested in joining? Are they just wanting to know more information to make a better argument against the movement? Are they looking to trap Paul? Maybe there is something in them that longs to hear the truth and a hope that indeed Paul may offer them the truth through explaining his belief.
I certainly see my life, my world in this verse today. I think there is something inside each of us that longs for the truth. Perhaps it is God’s divine imprint upon our lives that longs to know the truth. Perhaps it is God’s prevenient grace at work in our lives that draws us to what is good and true. At the same time we are equally turned off by false truth. Perhaps it is this same something that sends red flags to our souls when we hear this false truth. We know when we see someone, a church acting like Jesus; we are drawn to this movement of truth. At the same time, we know when it is all a charade, but if we are caught up in the charade its hard to see the falseness. However, to someone looking in from the outside, they see right through the lies. I know of five churches I would got to within a 200 mile radius. Granted, there are probably more; but my point is that if I get real honest I know truth when I see it and I’ve only seen it in five communities of faith in a 200 mile radius of where I am right now. And none of those five are in my home town. No wonder so many denounce the “movement of Jesus.” But what they don’t realize is that they are not denouncing the movement of Jesus but some offshoot generic brand where the movement in rooted in a human selfishness and it uses Jesus as the cover boy. In fact, I denounce it too; its repulsive to see a Church that takes Jesus’ name and uses it to pursue their own personal/selfish agenda. However, I am hopeful; I am hopeful that other disciples see this same truth. I am hopeful that there in something inside all of us everywhere that longs to hear the truth; as painful as it is; I believe there is something inside of us that wants to hear it; we want to be compelled to respond. I am hopeful that Jesus is still moving in this world and constantly inviting us to be a faithful true witness to the gospel. I am hopeful that people genuinely want to hear from the horses mouth what the true meaning of the Jesus movement is. I am hopeful that people want to see this false discipleship exposed; I am hopeful that we ultimately long to be restored back to our Creator and join with God in making the world into the place God first intended it to be.
Lord Jesus, I come to you today knowing that you are near. Lord, I lift up the churches and families here in Fayetteville that are going through times of transition. I pray that your truth would shine down on this place. I pray that you would help Crossroads to listen that we might be an instrument of this truth. Show us (me) those areas where we are allowing the falseness of our sin to slip in; may your grace be the driving force of our life together. Empower us to preach a message rooted in truth; empower us to live a message rooted in truth that others who long for the truth will see it in us and be connected to the work of that truth that is already present in their lives. Amen!!!
We long to be connected to truth; We long to believe in truth; We see through manipulation and false hope.
