Déjà Vu All Over Again
“These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.” Acts 16:20-21 NASB
Being Jews/ being Romans – This century is the second first century. It is exactly like the first century view of religious practice twenty centuries later. If we don’t understand this parallel, we will entirely miss the point of the complaint against Paul and Silas. We will think that these Gentiles, the Roman citizens of Philippi, are illegitimately complaining against the salvation message of the gospel. We will read this story as if it is about our worldview based on the truth of the Bible. Therefore, we won’t comprehend the real reason for this legitimate complaint and we won’t see that the 21st century is repeating the same story as the 1st century in Philippi.
The crux of the argument of the citizens of Philippi hangs on these two phrases, “being Jews” and “being Romans.” Why should this make any difference? Wasn’t Philippi a pagan colony of Rome, replete with pagan gods and their devotees’ practices? Who would care if one more deity showed up? No one – except if the new practitioners claimed that all other gods were fictitious, useless lies. You see, in Roman civilization you could have as many gods as you wished as long as you didn’t impede others from worshipping whatever gods they wanted to worship. Religion was not a matter of conversion. It was a matter of birth. Every person was born into a particular cult and Rome was quite willing to embrace them all. The real offense was the claim that there was only one God! That was a crime because it threatened the peace of profligate polytheism. Believe whatever you wish – just as long as you don’t start telling others that they have to believe it too. Paula Fredriksen remarks, “For pagan Gentiles, multiple religious allegiances were entirely normal; indeed, traditional polytheism encouraged this sort of openness.”[1] Hmm. Does that sound like today’s “Your beliefs are yours and mine are mine. You have no right to tell me what to believe!”? If we want to believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, no problem as long as we don’t push that belief on others. Once more we have arrived at the first century where religion is a matter of cultural bias, place of birth and nationality.
Once we clearly understand the impact of this first century point of view, we can settle the constant confusion about the Jerusalem council in Acts 15. The decision to hold Gentile converts to four things is not about a minimal Torah! It’s about the first century accommodation to polytheism. Gentiles would have been more than happy to embrace the teachings of Yeshua and the God of Israel as long as they didn’t have to give up any of the other gods. That’s what James requires. To have table fellowship with followers of the Way, you must abandon the behaviors of pagan worship. Exclusivity is the big issue in that day. It is the same today. There is THE WAY and then there are all the pretenders to THE WAY. You simply can’t have it all. You have to choose.
Topical Index: polytheism, Gentiles, Acts 16:20, Acts 15
[1] Paula Fredriksen, “What Parting of the Ways?”, The Ways that Never Parted, p. 52.
Good morning Skip.
This supports some of the things I’ve been seeing. There seems to be a return, or maybe a re-CYCLE of a lot of things of late. This post kind of takes me back to the previous discussion concerning the book of revelation and things that concern the end of days. Although I agree with the statement that the left behind series is fiction through and through, and I certainly am not in alignment with the pop culture teachings that are prevalent in large segments of the visible church, these cyclic conversions (there seem to be a number of them) certainly makes one wonder what time it is. I’m not into hyperboyle, in either direction, and am not trying to fan a flame, but what are your thoughts concerning these things. My apologies if I’m not clear enough, there’s a lot of thoughts and implications that are difficult for me to define, yet when I study the Word they seem to jump out at me.
The biggest problem with all this apocalyptic frenzy is that it dishonors God’s name. Each time someone claims that the “end” is here (or near) and uses the Bible as the guarantee, the result is loss of faith in God’s word. No one seems to care that this kind of literature is NOT about the future. As an example, I will post a picture of a billboard I saw in South Africa. Imagine what people thought the day after. The newspaper ran the headline, “End of the world postponed.”
My apologies if I offended in any way, that certainly wasn’t the intention. All discussion about “the end of days” aside, the gist of the post was concerning the cycle of events currently in motion and what they may imply. One can hardly read the scriptures without noticing an order of events that progess in cycles right from the beginning. My question is how do you see these things in their progression?
No apology needed. There was no offense at all! As for cycles, biblical historicity is built upon cycles (not like our Western view) but they are cycles that also progress, like a wheel that turns but also moves forward. We are in cycles that increase the disorder of the world, accelerating sinfulness. As salt and light, we believers are called to resist these spin cycles and bring order to the world. But I am afraid that it is a loosing battle were it not for God’s sovereign intervention at some point. The natural course of human beings is disintegration. Furthermore, all history shows that every culture that has lost its spiritual moorings has declined and eventually disappeared. I see no evidence that suggests the West is becoming more Torah observant, therefore I am confident that the West will also sink into the pages of history as a “once prosperous civilization that lost sight of God.”
Where would you recommend as a good place to start studying about jewish apocalyptic literature? Thank you
Start here: http://www.amazon.com/Apocalyptic-Imagination-Introduction-Literature-Biblical/dp/0802843719/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3
but first join us, the worldwide community of At God’s Table, so that you can share what you learn with all those who read each day.
For that, go here: skipmoen.com/donate
Thanks for the lead Skip. I appreciate it.
True…but for G-d! This is why I left the “church”. Too much think happy thoughts and just hold on until the Rapture. Meantime, back at the ranch, either stoicism, or emotionalism run roughshod on standstill people living off a credal faith that has made them virtually indestructible, or so they think.
The Church was birthed in Egypt, however, was called away from there for good reason. Initially, the people of YHWH did what they were accustomed to, thinking they were worshipping YHWH. They had hundreds of years of idol worship defining their method of paying homage, and knew no better than to do what they had been culturally influenced by. But after the Law was given, so was the free will choice to obey or disobey. I see a huge similarity here with most Christian peaching and teaching today.
I am puzzled when I think about the “success” of Christianity historically. The waves of “revivals” that many so nostalgically reminisce over, the braggadocious claims to being the only nation on the planet to be birthed “in Christianity”, makes me wonder what happened to the days of glory; when the prosperity and status of Christian nations (Europe, Americas, etc) are crumbling. …what happened? What kind of a testmony is that?
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. (Revelation 19.7)
Who is the Lamb? and who is the bride?
Skip, I still remember your lecture on this. We are really repeating history. Thanks for reminding us again!
Mary.. our stories have a common thread, especially you beginning statement- “but G-d is faithful..”
I too was raised in the church, but I am going to say that’s a good thing. What you are calling stoicism and emotionalism we would call legalism and liberalism! (Interesting!) We may err, either to the left or the right but where is the middle? Where is the balance between left and right? Dead center..- back to the Book. I have found and I hope you have as well- there is a book that is without error. It is the word of G-d or G-d’s word. In the beginning was the Word. And the word was made flesh. Yeshua is the Incarnate Word of YHWH, He is the (now) Living Word.
Did I learn this in the church? Sadly, no. “But G-d is faithful..” Our G-d is the Hunter/Lover. He sought me out and He saw one who was in need of deliverance. Dear sister.. He came to me! The holy scriptures, the ancient writings have become my instructions for daily living. Right here, right now, where I am, the word of the LORD has come unto Carl. We may say today, “speak LORD, for your servant is listening.” We have His permission to ask (just as Moses asked) “show me your glory..” We (all) have been issued a standing, universal invitation: “come unto Me.” What was the answer of Yeshua to the halt, the sick, the blind and the naked? “Bring him to Me.” And that is exactly how we “show up.” Poor, blind, sick, deaf, dead. Christ is the ONE (the only ONE) who gives us life. He is our Source, our Savior, and our Sovereign (now reigning) King.
I attend a local body of believers and yes I go on (shudders..) on Sunday. Together we worship the LORD in spirit and in truth. The Word of G-d is proclaimed and honored and love is evident among the brethren (and the sisteren), for this local part of the universal assembly, the called out ones, honors the great commission, -go into all the world. This is an inside-out church. Not to gather, but to give. That is our proclaimed mission. We are one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. I like these people. They are who they claim to be- sinners, saved by grace- and yes, -unto good works. Not just on Sunday, but every day of the week, prayer is happening. We (this local part of a much greater whole) is involved in a multitude of mission-minded, Christ-centered good works. Our Bible simply states: “He went about doing good..” This is what we do. We go about our lives- “doing good.” What we believe (by-live) we live by, everything else is just religious talk. We live our religion, but just as the word “church” has fallen into disfavor and rejection, the word “religion” now has evil connotations. Don’t you just bristle when someone asks (do they ask?) “Are you a religious person”? lol!- I do.
I follow Christ because I want to. He has become unto me, the desire of my heart. I want to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering and if my desire (for He actually wants me to know Him!) and His desire, my will and His will are the same- it is a beautiful thing and I am rightly-related (righteous), not only vertically, (with Elohim), but horizontally (with my neighbor) as well.
I never gave up on G-d, but much more importantly- He never gave up on me. There have been difficult times and extenuating circumstances “but G-d is faithful!” and yes, “through it all!”
I would like for all who read this to know realize and recognize one thing. (just one?-lol!) G-d is never “random” in anything He says or does. G-d does not play. We do, He does not. All these things have “happened” unto us for His purposes. G-d has a way of sharpening His tools, mostly involving heat, pressure and a little bit of oil. As we return to the word(s) of G-d, we find everything we need for our comfort and instruction. If we are dependent upon our pastors, preachers, teachers to feed us once a week, we’re going to be mighty hungry and very weak by the time we hear once again from the words (from G-d’s word) that sustain and strengthen us. The word of the LORD says “daily in the temple and in every house they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus (who is the) Christ.
The church was not birthed in Egypt. This is replacement theology and it is wrong. The church is not the new Israel. We are grafted into the Vine which is Christ. We are adopted into the family of G-d and are inheritors of the covenant blessings YHWH spoke unto the patriarchs. All these blessings are (now) ours. The church, His body, the bride of Christ was birthed at Calvary. The church, His body, the bride, was a hidden, protected secret, a mystery until Pentecost.