Keeping the Faith

The opening chapters of the book of Acts illustrate the duality of Christian life. On the one hand the people are witnessing the Holy Spirit work in their lives and bring followers to Christ at record pace. Miracles are being performed and the Good News of Christ is being spread further and further.

On the other hand, persecution is on the rise as well. As the Christian church grows in number, Jewish leaders start to become uneasy, and seek to stop the ministry of the disciples, going so far as to call them time and again before the Sanhedrin—the Jewish High Court!

I think the lessons found in these first few chapters are very important for us today. It’s one thing to praise God in the face of a growing church, new friends, an awesome health plan, and a grass roots social welfare program. It’s another to praise God in the face of persecution by the very keepers of the law you are trying to fulfill. The disciples, however, did both.

If you pay attention to one thing during your next read through of these chapters, watch the disciples as they stand before the Sanhedrin. Their muscles are relaxed, their eyes are focused, their feet are firm, their tongues are quick, and their hearts are light…a perfect model of how Christians should face their accusers when being held accountable for their faith. Especially Peter. We know Peter from the Gospels as Jesus’ right-hand man, but the Gospels also show us that he wasn’t exactly the bravest of the brave, the boldest of the bold, or the wisest of the wise. He was the guy who, after gathering the courage to step off the boat, fell down into the water. He was the one who couldn’t shut up, even in the presence of Moses and Elijah. He was the guy who tried to take on a dozen Roman soldiers, and managed to fell half of an ear. He was the Defender one moment and the Denier the next.

Now fast forward a little bit, and put that same man in front of the Jewish High Council. If you’re on the sidelines shaking your Magic Eight Ball, it will come up “Outlook not so good” every time. But what happens? He’s great! He not only stands up for what he believes in, the Truth of Jesus Christ, but even manages to use his time before the Council to proclaim that Truth to the very faces of those trying to beat it down!

Okay, so for many of us it is unlikely that we will ever be hauled before the Supreme Court to give an account of our beliefs, but persecution takes all forms. While persecution takes on many different forms today in our schools, our jobs, and our politics—the remedy remains the same as it has for 2,000 years. Stand strong in your faith in the face of persecution, rejoice that you have been found worthy to suffer for the Name, and use every attack on yourself to glorify the One who has given you new life! Are you being persecuted right now? By co-workers, bosses, neighbors, friends, or even family? If so, just remember Peter: The Sinker, The Talker, The Denier…The Defender, The Leader, The Martyr.

By Aaron Blackwell