Acts 22:21-22 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” 23The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
Prejudice is nothing new. The first male children had a disagreement, and one killed the other. You read that correctly, murder in the first family. Not the best way to start the happy human family. It shows that the results of sin can have immediate affects.
We read so much today about “racism” and the negative affects it has on peoples and societies. But I am not always sure that the affects spoken about in the media and the causes attributed to those affects are the actual causes. But that is another lesson for another day.
We have a serious situation with Paul in Jerusalem. He has returned there, having been warned that he will be in danger. Well, it turns out that is exactly the situation. You would think that a well educated Jew with all the right credentials would be accepted in the haven of Jewish education and culture. He should fit right in!
But not so fast. As we read our text, something has happened that has turned this man who should be an automatic friend of Jews into an enemy. And it isn’t what you would think, if you have been reading the book of Acts. Jesus has always been the dividing force up until this point in the book. But something is about to change, and Paul happens to be the focal point of that change.
There has been a riot in Jerusalem centered around Paul’s presence and the assumption made that he desecrated the Temple of God by bringing non-Jews into its boundaries. Non-Jews were not allowed to enter that sacred ground. They had to become Jews first, then they could enter.
But the antagonizers gather the crowd against Paul and a riot ensures, only stopping when the Roman officials, who are in charge of Temple safety, intervene. They think Paul is an Egyptian revolutionary. Of course they want to stop revolution.
But when Paul corrects their assumptions he is given the opportunity to address the crowd. He recounts his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. They seem to be fine with this. No uprising, no threats of stoning, no out of control mob.
But all of a sudden things change radically. Paul makes the mistake of telling the crowd that Jesus has told him to go to the Gentiles, the non-Jews. This is almost a fatal mistake for Paul. If he had just left out this detail, all would have been just fine.
But this brings out a prejudice of that day. Jews hated Gentiles. Non-Jews were thought to be less than human. Sound like familiar statement in reverse? Or perhaps the recent anti-semitism has escaped your notice! This is the very definition of racism, judging someone based on an inherited trait.
Paul was fine until he mentioned the Gentiles, then it was game on! “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” These words ring all to true in our current political monologue. And white males are the new Gentiles. They are on the receiving end of this type of hatred.
And the “Karens” of the world are the ones shouting, throwing off their clothes and flailing in rage. They are the ones who are intolerant, as is demonstrated by their actions.
You see, the Gospel has no room for this type of unloving attitude and behavior. Jesus died for all! There are not outcast groups, none excluded from the opportunity for life. The Gospel is universal Good News. Everyone comes equally before God because we are all alike made in His image and likeness.
Are there people for whom you have difficulty extending grace? If you do, welcome to the human race. But the story doesn’t end there. God is able to change our hearts and love the way He loves. But we must admit that we have prejudice. Then He can work on our heart and change us.
Are you willing to be changed?
The Arnold Journey 