Monday, December 24, 2012

Advent Archive: Acts 4


When Jesus met with Nicodemus, He told him that ‘men love darkness’ by nature. He went on further in John 3 to say that because they ‘love darkness’, they ‘hate the light.’ It isn’t good enough to like ignorance, they can’t help but absolutely despise the telling of the truth. This is the case in Acts 4. The Gospel has begun to take root in the areas around Jerusalem. In doing so, however, it is starting to reveal the discrepancies in the theology of the ruling Jewish leaders. Because those in darkness not only love darkness, but have an aggressive dislike for light, verses 1-3 tell us how that these leaders attacked the preachers of the Gospel and locked them up in prison. The oppression began here, and did not stop until the blood of Christ-following martyrs flowed in the streets of Israel. This is the case among all who hate God’s work. The call is for Bible-believing Christians to be ‘tolerant’ or to pay the consequences. The irony is those who claim we should be tolerant do so in a very intolerant way. Be loving. Christ told you to, but “to love” doesn’t mean the same thing as “to accept.” Oh yeah, and don’t be afraid, because 1 John 4:4 says “greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” Spoiler alert: Your side wins anyway.
Food For Thought:  What is the dual reaction of those that dwell in darkness in regards to truth and ignorance?

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