An Essay – Longer than the Regular Bible Bite

Author’s Note:   Recently, an elder in our local Christian assembly spiritually cautioned us over what causes we align ourselves with. He said: “Be very, very, very careful, as a Christian, regarding the causes you identify with and support.” Those may not be his exact words – but he repeated the same caution several times. He obviously was concerned about our Christian testimony and how our support and affinity with many popular causes could reflect negatively on the Name of Christ and the Gospel. The New Testament plainly teaches that Christians are to be well-known in the world as ones “who love peace, make peace, and who are at peace.”

I have engaged in some creative writing in the essay below. With so many conflicting opinions in society today, I imagined in my mind’s eye, something of a different moral and spiritual magnitude altogether than anything else in all of history. Having said that, as you read it, perhaps some reflective thoughts will be distilled for you as possible lessons for us today.

I have imagined Reuben and Miriam, a good-living Jewish couple in Jerusalem trying to figure out why their neighbours had ‘changed’ so much and what caused them to become activists in a quasi-religious/political movement against the Healer who was doing so many wonderful things.  It’s hard to imagine the dynamics of that day and the polarization that occurred.

Our testimony for Christ is affected by our attitudes, affiliations and affinities in the community. The cautionary tale below is meant to help us reflect on the damage that is done to Christian testimony and the true cause of Jesus Christ and the Gospel when we act in ways that are contrary to the teachings of Christ and the New Testament.

Good advice for Christians who feel they should become involved in a cause that is known to be controversial, emotionally-charged and adrenalin-fed, is to first consult with an elder of your local fellowship and seek their spiritual counsel before becoming engaged. There’s nothing wrong with zeal,  but adrenalin-fed is not always Spirit-led. –Peter Ramsay 

Jerusalem, 33AD

It is shocking, to say the least. They’ve been our neighbours for a long time. But for the past couple of years, their attitude and talk have taken on a rather extreme dimension. It’s almost as if they have become radicalized. They used to say that our God was in control, and they left their times in His hands. Like so many of us, they used to quote Psalm 31.

For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together …. But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands….! Psalms 31:13-15

But I’ve talked to them and they feel they really must take things into their own hands. They say that God expects them to do more than pray. That’s how they’re justifying their activism.

I’ve tried to present facts that all the rest of us can plainly see but they seem blind to all of this. They think we are the ones who are being duped. They truly believe they have superior insights into what is really happening in our land. I’m not sure they have the ability to turn back from the frightening trajectory they’re on. Only God can change their minds.

I’m not one to quickly jump on any bandwagon and I would like to think I’m a pretty balanced person. I try to look at issues from all angles and I do my best to remain objective. Yes, these are different days and strange times – that’s for sure! Certainly not in my lifetime have I seen the headlines that I am reading pretty much every day. A lot of this news seems to be coming out of Galilee. The happenings of the past couple of years have definitely upset the applecart. I’m not sure what the status quo is anymore. Will we revert back to the way we were, or will there be a new normal?

Lesson #2 – “I’ll Cross that Bridge When I Come to It.”

Jacob and Abigail have lived on our street for a long time. We admired them for their neighbourly ways. But as I said, they have become agitated and dark. We’ve noticed that they seem to be gravitating to a certain outspoken element in our society, and dare I say – they seem like they are becoming sympathizers with the instigators. They show up at their rallies and the protests. They even travelled out to Capernaum with some of the scribes and Pharisees to disrupt the Healer’s agenda, attempting to back Him into a corner with their loaded questions.

Every time our paths cross they seem like they have more unbalanced information to support their cause, and my wife said it’s almost impossible to reason with them anymore. They hardly seem to be the same neighbours we have known for years. Actually, it makes me very sad. I feel they are lost to us now, and we can’t relate to them anymore.

Do they think the reports of miracles are all being fabricated by some secret sinister society – a conspiracy? Personally, I find it hard to ignore the fact that someone who was totally blind all his life is suddenly able to see. We heard recently that there are hundreds of people out in the country and in the towns who were ill, paralyzed, some of them were deaf, others were blind, too many were suffering from incurable leprosy and others with epilepsy – and they have been totally and undeniably healed. This stuff is not fake news. Just by constantly labelling stuff ‘fake news’ does not make this stuff fake.

I can’t explain who the Healer is or where He gets His powers from, but so far, I am not willing to say He gets his power from the devil. When Abigail told my wife she was privy to inside information from a whistle-blower who has proof that the Healer holds seances out in Capernaum and channels Beelzebub, I looked at her in disbelief. We could barely eat our supper. All we could think about was –actually, not the Teacher-Healer, but sadly, the attitude and behaviour of our dear neighbours. We fear for them. It’s almost like they need to be de-programmed. 

But here’s why I am writing this today – my heart is truly broken. There was a convoy that came into our city earlier this week and I thought it started off not too bad. In fact, it seemed to be all about the Healer – He was on display. Interestingly, He was on a donkey. That made me think. But crowds can become so volatile! What seemed almost like a carnival spirit turned dark as the week progressed. I couldn’t believe what I read on some of the placards people were carrying. Not everyone, of course – but far too many. “Crucify Him today!” Another said: “Our One God Reigns. Release Barabbas!” There is nothing reasonable about their demonstrations. Rational thinking and civil discourse have been totally missing. These people are shouting!

Some of the language and behaviours of the bad actors in the mob were just so arrogant, vile and vulgar. It made me cringe to think that good people could get entangled in all of this and allow themselves to be seen with all of them. Just being associated with this loud movement damages their reputation in my mind.

Fine people in our city that we’ve seen at the markets for years; we know their children – they seemed totally normal to us – respectable citizens and they are acting like this. We stood shoulder-to-shoulder at Temple services and when we travelled, we did synagogue together. But they are literally waving and cheering on this convoy of disruptive activists. I think they really believe they are supporting a worthy cause.

When I saw Jacob and Abigail marching with their fists high in the air and cheering on those who were punching the Healer in the face and spitting at Him, I was devastated. Did they know it would get this ugly? They are the last people I ever thought would get swept up in mob-like mentality like this. I wish they had exercised more caution and discernment before they ever publicly identified themselves with this cause.

I wish they realized that a small group of powerful bad-actors and agitators, under the banner of our religion, no less, are organizing all of this. They are just using our people and the Romans to muster support for their own selfish purposes. They don’t want their power to be eroded and their privileged lifestyles as members of the Sanhedrin to be disrupted – and they seem to be brandishing the sword of faithfulness to God and religion to accomplish their purposes.

My wife reminded me that neither Abigail nor Jacob were actually spitting in His face; and, as far as either of us could tell, they weren’t carrying placards either. That’s good. But it just bothered us so much that they were even identified or associated with the crowd that was engaged in that behaviour.

Sadly, my wife and I are watching the convoy just now with horror. They are just about at our street. The noise is deafening. Everyone seems to be incredibly angry, and now, I think we can see who is the focus of their hatred. The mob and the religious people seem totally united. Other than their attire, we can’t tell one from the other. They are slowly walking by our house now. There’s a young man with a cross on His back, and to tell you the truth, I have never seen a human being so beat-up and bruised and bloodied.

He’s totally surrounded. I said to Miriam, the scene reminds me of Psalm 22.

Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. Psalm 22:11-13

All we can hear are loud hostile shouts. But He Himself doesn’t look angry; in fact, under duress, we wonder how He could still look so loving and kind. But it is consistent with all the reports we have ever heard about Him. He is surely not the Beelzebub-energized rabble-rouser that Jacob and Abigail and the crowd made Him out to be. I think our religious leaders must be totally wrong this time. By the way, we are just now noticing that Rabbi Nicodemus doesn’t seem to be with them.

The Healer is now talking to some women on the sidewalk who are crying. I have come outside to see if I can hear what He is saying to them:

“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Luke 23:28-31

I think He is warning that this movement is going to be on the wrong side of history. I know this is not going to end well today. History will prove how wrong our people were. I have two questions haunting me: how did our good and nice friends, Jacob and Abigail, ever fall prey to this dark movement? And who really is this Man I just saw with a cross on His back? I do want to know more about Him.

Miriam, my wife, just suggested we quote a Psalm of David together. I need to. I feel defiled by even my own negative sentiments towards our neighbours I should love, regardless of our differences and their actions. We need to have our minds refocused on the promised Messiah who will right every wrong in our broken world when He comes to reign. Our nation will be on the right side then.

Christians, Government, Law & Order

Video Teaching Charlottetown, PEI

We are praying now:

Don’t let us be distracted by the mentality, movements and mobs of our times. We want to continue to believe that our times are in Your Hands. Help us to stay sweetly focused on Your promises and our Coming Messiah. And if we have blind-spots, and I am sure we do, Lord help us to see clearly.

May all kings fall down before Him, all nations serve Him! For He delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence He redeems their life, and precious is their blood in His sight. Long may He live; may gold of Sheba be given to Him! May prayer be made for Him continually, and blessings invoked for Him all the day! May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! May His name endure forever, His fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in Him, all nations call Him blessed! Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory! Amen and Amen! Psalms 72:11-19

Signed – Reuben.