March 24, 2010
Good morning, fine folk.
The reason I fear that the day will be too short is because I have some
important and urgent tasks to complete before Becki and I get on a
plane about 6:30am tomorrow morning bound for New York. We will
be attending the big 16th birthday bash for our granddaughter,
Joanna. Wow…sweet 16…already. Should be fun. I’ll take
along this laptop computer with the hope that I can carry on with these
little epistles.
Well…whatever you are doing today, do it with all your might…as unto
the Lord. Seems I’ve heard that somewhere before.
Blessings.
Dad/Ray
24 March 2010
Passage: Acts 25:1-12
Focus: “I appeal to Caesar!” Acts 25:10-11.
Consider
Paul’s words when he says, “I am now standing before CAESAR’S COURT
where I ought to be tried.” Then he says, “I appeal to
Caesar.” This may not be very inspirational. But I think
there is something important and instructional here that applies to a
Christian’s relationship to society and government.
Please understand that these Jewish leaders who sought Paul’s death
were not just religious fanatics. They were in fact criminals,
ready to violate their own religious laws and the civil laws of their
presiding government as well. They were liars and would-be
murderers. That is no small amount of wrong-doing aimed at one
little Christian. It was an premeditated intentional crime.
Their accusations and hatred could not be properly resolved by the
General Council of the Church or by the Jewish Sanhedrin. Paul’s
only natural hope for protection and justice was the civil law.
Even that exists by God’s design to help prevent the affairs of men
from becoming utterly corrupt. Paul understands this issue and
appeals now in the right direction.
I do not agree with some believers who take the extreme view that since
God has made provision for healing through Christ that we should not
seek the help of doctors or medicine. When my body suffers from a
sickness I will both pray to God and do everything physically and
medically available to seek a cure. When believers do all they
humanly can to solve their own ailments, there is an opportunity for
God to show Himself mighty if He so chooses. In the same way, I do not
agree with some Christians who take the extreme view that in all cases
of being wronged we as believers should simply “turn the other cheek”
and accept it as persecution trusting the Lord for His
protection. I believe that for Christians to be silent in the
face of clear and known criminal activity is actually to encourage the
sickness of crime and its consequences within that society. There
is a very important time and place for believers to stand up against
clear social evil and do what they humanly can with what is available.
Please don’t be silent and inactive when you see, receive, or are aware
of criminal behavior. Please don’t be afraid to take advantage of
CAESAR’S COURT when there is no other way to resolve wrong. Good
citizens react to social evil by enlisting police or legal assistance
for the general good, justice, and protection of all. And
Christians are supposed to be good citizens. (See Matt. 17:24-27;
22:15-22; Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17)
“Nothing is socially right that is morally wrong.”