The Radical Ways of “The Way”

There’s a lot packed into the 41 verses of chapter 19. But one thing that stands out to me is the amazing impact Christianity was having on the culture of the day. It was spreading rapidly. It was changing lives. It was getting the attention of the religious elite and the political power base. Ordinary people were coming to Christ and doing extraordinary things. The Holy Spirit was coming into the lives of people and radically reforming their behavior. The message of Jesus Christ was spreading rapidly. The name of Jesus Christ was becoming associated with the miraculous. So much so, that the seven sons of Sceva (sounds like an alternative rock band) tried to use the name of Jesus to cast out a demon. The only problem was that they knew the name, but not Savior behind the name.

The Way

During the early days of the church, Christianity was simply known as The Way. It was probably a term coined by the followers of Christ themselves and was used to reflect the fact that following Christ was not only the way of salvation, but it was to be a radically new way of life. Jesus Himself had claimed, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).

The way of Jesus was anything but ordinary. It was a radical path that produced remarkable changes. And you see them all throughout this chapter. In verses 18-19 you see believers bringing their occult books containing magic spells and incantations to be burned. They destroyed thousands of dollars worth of books representing their former way of life. Life in Christ was bringing a new way of living.

In verses 23- 41, we see that The Way was causing “no small disturbance” to the community. So many lives were being changed that the sale of household idols had plummeted, leaving the craftsmen who made them in an uproar. Because of the teaching of Paul, people had not only changed their way of life by accepting Christ, they had changed their way of thinking. They were now saying, “…that gods made with hands are no gods at all.” The way of Jesus Christ had led to a radically new way of living.

Way Out of Whack

Something is missing today. We still preach and teach that Jesus is the way, but we don’t seem to be seeing the same radical change in behavior in the lives of His followers. We don’t seem to see the church having the same radical impact on the culture that it did in Luke’s day. The Way doesn’t seem to be making “no small disturbance.” It has become less a way of life, than a way of believing. It has become just another belief system. Our way seems no different than any other way. There appears to be no power, passion, commitment, or radical life transformation associated with our way. Like the seven sons of Sceva, could we be quilty of speaking the name of Christ, but lacking a real relationship with Him? Do we talk about the way, but lack intimacy with the One who is the way?

Jesus is still the way. He still has the power to transform lives in a radical way. He still has the power to impact culture in a revolutionary way. He still expects His people to live in such a way that we create “no small disturbance.” Our way of life should get peoples’ attention. Our way of thinking should stand out. Our way of salvation should be attractive to all those around us, because it really works!

Father, make me radical in the way I live my life. Make the way I speak reflect Your ways. Make my thoughts align with the way You think. Let my ways Your ways. So that the Way of Christ might make a radical difference in the world today. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

What a coincidence! I can’t help but read chapter 18 of Acts and smile. All throughout this portion of Luke’s story, he seems to have placed subtle little reminders of just how in control our God is of all circumstances. I don’t know if Luke intended to drop these little “hints” of if I just happen to read them that way, but they jump off the page every time I read this chapter. Take a look for yourself:

Isn’t it a coincidence … that Claudius had decided to issue an imperial edict kicking all the Jews out of Rome?

Isn’t it a coincidence … that Aquila and his wife Priscilla just happened to have been living in Rome when this decree was issued?

Isn’t it a coincidence … that out of all the places in the world they could have moved, Aquila and Priscilla decided to move to Corinth?

Isn’t it a coincidence … that this couple just happened to be tent-makers, the same trade that the apostle Paul had learned growing up in Tarsus? And that they would provide Paul not only a place to live while in Corinth, but a source of income to support his ministry?

Isn’t it a coincidence … that this exiled Jewish couple would end up being two of the first converts to Christianity in Corinth?

Isn’t it a coincidence … that when Paul decided to turn his back on the Jews and take his message to the Gentiles, that Titius Justus, a Gentile worshiper of God, just happened to live next door to the synagogue?

Isn’t it a coincidence … that Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, ended up coming to Christ, even though the Jews had initially “resisted and blasphemed” as a result of Paul’s ministry to them?

Isn’t it a coincidence … that Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, refused to listen to the Jews’ trumped up charges against Paul, rejecting their accusations and freeing Paul to continue his ministry there?

Isn’t it a coincidence … that Aquila and Priscilla were willing to leave their business behind in Corinth to follow Paul all the way to Ephesus?

Isn’t it a coincidence … that upon arriving in Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla just happen to find that Apollos, a Jew with a Greek name who grew up in an Egyptian city, has recently arrived in Ephesus, and is teaching about Jesus and debating with the Jews in the synagogue?

Isn’t it a coincidence … that this very educated man, who was very knowledgeable in the Hebrew scriptures, knew about Yahweh, the teachings of Jesus, and the preaching of John the Baptist, just happened to meet Aquila and Priscilla, who were able to tell him “the rest of the story” and lead him to Christ?

Isn’t it a coincidence … that Apollos had the desire to move on to Achaia, the very place where the Jews had tried to have Paul convicted?

Isn’t it a coincidence … that Apollos, this recently converted Jew, was able to help those who had come to Christ is Achaia and successfully refute the Jews there, while Paul had only stirred them up, causing them to drag him before the proconsul?

Isn’t it a coincidence …?

What a God?

You see it all throughout the book of Acts. The amazing intervention of our almighty God as He works behind the scenes to accomplish His divine will in His own unique way. There are no coincidences when it comes to God. There is just His sovereign will being worked out in the lives of men and women — including those who know and love Him, as well as those who, like Claudius and Gallio, stand opposed to Him.

God’s sovereignty is visible throughout the pages of the book of Acts. It is a not-so-subtle reminder that it’s God Who is orchestrating events and accomplishing His plan through the lives of men, not the other way around. I am sure Claudius thought he was in control when he gave the edict kicking all the Jews out of Rome. But God had a bigger plan. I am sure Aquila and Priscilla had perfectly good reasons for their choice of Corinth as the new headquarters for their tent-making business. But God had an even better reason with eternal ramifications. I am sure Titius Justus was confident that his selection of a home that backed right up to the synagogue was his idea. But God had something more important in mind that just a good real estate investment.

You see, God is always at work — even when we can’t see Him. He is working behind the scenes, moving in ways that are invisible to us, but that end up impacting us, in significant ways. We would like to take a lot, if not all, of the credit for the things that happen in our lives. But when we do, we fail to acknowledge that God is bigger than our puny plans. And chapter 18 is a reminder to remember that very fact. He is going ahead of me. He stands behind me. He always surrounds me. No politician can thwart His plan. No amount of opposition can stop His plan. No distance can limit His plan. No misguided religious establishment can confuse His plan.

What a comfort?

So what are we worried about? God is in control. He knows what He’s doing. He has a plan and He is working it to perfection. He can be trusted. And that should bring us all comfort.

Father, thank you for reminding me that You are in control. You are in heaven orchestrating the details surrounding my life. Long before I know it, You are moving behind the scenes, arranging for an Aquila and Priscilla to come into my life. You are moving politicians and people in positions of power, to make decisions they think are their own, that will end up accomplishing Your will. I have no reason to fear their edicts and decrees, because my God is bigger than their most perverse plan. What they mean for evil, You will use for our good and Your own glory. Help me to remember that each and every day. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org