Try As You May

Acts 21:15-36

Today's reading reminds me that there are some days and situations that despite all one's good intentions, right heart, even noble actions -- you'll be misunderstood! The leaders of the church in Jerusalem and Paul are much aware of the tainted perceptions people in the church and people in that culture had of Paul and his message. And, they very deliberately planned their actions to give evidence to the truth. But when people are stuck in sin, when they refuse to be reconciled to God and each other, sometimes our best words and actions will be misread.

The church leaders' plan for Paul to appear in the temple, and participate in the Jewish purification vow seems completely to backfire. Rather than validating Paul, it becomes a venue for crowds to riot, to revile him, and further reject his message.

There will be days like that.

It strikes me significant that the 'issue' at the center of the firestorm was one that still today draws together or vastly separates crowds of people. In verse 21 the leaders of the Jerusalem church inform Paul of a misinformed perception out there affecting both believers and the larger community:

the Jewish believers here in Jerusalem have been told that you are teaching all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn their backs on the laws of Moses. They've heard that you teach them not to circumcise their children or follow other Jewish customs.

One of the most simple yet profound-to-comprehend 'watershed continental dividers' of spiritual life has to do with understanding how and why people do good and follow God's Law. The tension rests between that absolute human instinct and urge that believes God's Law is followed because of obligation, because one has to, in order to make God pleased with me. And, on the other side, the place our impossible helplessness before the Law brings us to, when we see that Jesus' death is God's sole answer and my only hope to ever fulfill God's Law and to have Him be pleased with me! When I am brought to this grace place, then, resting and trusting completely in this grace, I am renewed and enabled (albeit imperfectly) to gratefully respond by living according to God's Law. No longer is it have to, but I want to, I get to follow God!

This simple difference on why and how one follows God's will, will always in this life separate crowds of people. It taints how people understand each other, their traditions and motivations. It touches all kinds of sensitive areas of life: beliefs, personal histories, fears, hurts, prejudices, self-righteous self-perceptions, unyielded places in our lives. It presents for humanity a spiritual Scylla & Charybdis, where many wreck their lives on the rocks of rigid and heartless legalism on one side, or unloving and permissive excess on the other.

The ONLY thing that steers me straight is daily the good news of Jesus living, dying, rising for me.

Pastor Paul