Lullaby
Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. Acts 20:31
Alert – Have you been lulled to sleep by the appeal of the world, or worse, by the seemingly reasonableness of subtle changes in God’s self-revelation? Paul admonishes you to “wake up,” the root meaning of the Greek verb gregoreuo. It’s not simply a matter of having your antenna up regarding the pressures to conform to the systems of this world. Paul is specifically warning believers to be vigilant concerning church leaders. The greatest danger comes from within.
For many followers, these words turn us into spiritual cowards. Since we commoners in the faith have abrogated most of our spiritual education to the “professionals,” we are hesitant to raise any question or objection to their instruction. We feel as though we just don’t know enough. We aren’t spiritual enough. We’re just the sheep, hoping that the shepherd knows what he or she is doing. An unfortunate by-product of today’s Christian “culture” is the deterioration of our real knowledge of God’s word. The ordinary believer has been overwhelmed by the scholarly community and the icons of the faith. We have been seduced by Greek intellectualism and Post-modern pragmatism. We have forgotten that God’s heroes were almost never taken from the elite. More importantly, we have forgotten that heaven’s perspective places obedience before understanding. No scholar or leader has any standing unless his words live in his actions.
The justification for Paul’s warning to the elders in Ephesus is three years of night and day evidence of faithfulness. His words reflect his life. He walks the talk.
I wonder if we haven’t been lulled to sleep as we sit in the pews today. Where are those who will stand up and confront leaders who do not exhibit the character of the God they claim to follow? Why have we forgotten that Paul’s warning was aimed inside the flock? Let me offer one damning explanation. We don’t know the Book! If the Bible is the only authority of faith and practice for all Christians, then every one of us is called upon to know what it says. We are not asked to be passive recipients of someone’s eloquent explanations. We are required to investigate, meditate, examine and incorporate all that this Book teaches. If there is a failure of leadership in the church, we are to blame. We are supposed to be on the alert, ready to step into the breach when others slip off track, even if they are the leaders of the community of the faithful. Christianity is not a hierarchical religion. It is a flat fellowship to sinners, everyone in exactly the same standing before the only Lord.
Wake up! Rise up! Know the Book and hold it up. It is your guide, your only guide, to life God’s way. Be on the alert, you faithful followers. A clean house begins with inside work.
