Acts 25 – 26
Verse 25:5 has Paul before the Roman authorities with the Pharisees wanting to have him put to death:
“So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him
It’s amazing how much of a fight these early Christians endured to profess their faith. I think this alone would be an indication that Jesus’ story was true. Think about it, would you DIE for a lie? Sure you may put up with a load of ridicule and torment, but death is different. Really think about this because it’s key. We as Christians today believe we know the truth based on “feelings” and “experiences”, but if someone had a gun to your face and you knew the trigger would be pulled if your Christianity was exposed, would you profess Christ.
The disciples all died professing Christ. This was not something anyone would do for a lie. But they experienced and wrote about the events that many consider “allegory” or “tales” and then died for this story. I may understand one or two taking it for a lie, but every one of them? How about the many others who were persecuted for their faith who witnessed the events? The only way to believe this was not true is to claim it was a story and that there is no specific corroborating evidence to support it. There is plenty of evidence to support early Christians being put to death and there is no counter claims documented that this was a story, other than claiming Jesus was not the Messiah.
Verses 26:20 -21 describe why Paul was before the court:
20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
All Paul was doing was spreading the good news and the Pharisees were protecting their system. It amazes me how people fight to protect something they know against something they have been waiting for their entire lives. The Pharisees were legalistic and Jesus showed the problems with legalism. They needed to crush the rebellion before it took hold and destroyed their positions of power.
Interesting how this has taken hold in today’s Christian churches and it can be summed up in blue jeans. Some churches are strict with the Sunday best idea and other way would be disrespecting God. Other churches say it’s not the outward appearance but the inward and blue jeans are ok. What’s the right answer? There isn’t! If you believe God needs to be respected in a suit and tie and in your heart you believe that, good. At the same time if you believe in you heart that jeans are ok, good. What did Jesus say about this? NOTHING!!
Now does that mean we are free to do what we want? No way!! But don’t start a new level of legalism that Jesus freed us from. The key point is if something is done in selfless love and not if it’s done for selfish ambitions or obeying a set of rules to become “holy”. Jesus never said this in his ministry. When asked about the law, he showed how absurd it was to try to keep it. Not that we should “give it all to the church” for true salvation, but rather to give lovingly, joyfully and freely. Show the fruits of the Holy Spirit and not what suits your desires.
So wear jeans or wear a suit, it doesn’t matter. Live like Jesus and love everyone like you love yourself and all will be fine. Judge what needs to be judged and ignore the silly stuff. We cannot have random moral laws, but at the same time we need to listen to the Holy Spirit more to learn what is right and wrong. This can be tricky are a new believer much less and old one, they key is learning to know when it’s Jesus or when it’s you. You will make mistakes and learn, that is the key never give up!!