The Way that Seems Normal

Today’s Thought  The Way that Seems Normal G.Ward

“Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” Acts 9:1-2

A tremendous gratitude is owed to our fore-parents of faith. In America, we have constitutional amendments that demand religious expression as free. Our foundational leadership arrived on these shores believing in Jesus as Lord. Therefore, our celebrating either Christmas or Easter has become a no-brainer. Philosophically, we’ve imposed our celebratory views on agnostics, atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, etc., even to the degree of their organizations submitting to the commercialization of all these Christian festivities. Moreover, most industries in the U.S. are shut down in view of these holidays. In this modernity, we know have other countries near and distance that now (more than ever before) look to emulate this Western celebratory group of experiences.

As we look at the early church, I believe that our un-inhibited process of worshipping Holy God obstructs our remembrance of their difficulties. The early Christians enjoyed a new system of belief referred to as the WAY. Not a way, The WAY! The Roman Empire was attempting to be their social and political leader, dictating their religious philosophy and imposing cultural relativity at the same time. Imagine this new small group of believers now saying they have what centuries before didn’t have. They didn’t have a complete Bible like we enjoy, only a few parchments with prophecy on it. Judaism, on the other hand was acceptable; it contained a moral regimen that relied on a priest’s avocations unto God. Synonymous with that era, we’re faced with great difficulty in conveying great grace and mercy as free vs. a philosophy that has pervaded un-believers that suggests they have an ability to clean up before they begin going to church, which equals a works-righteousness; nullifying the sacrifice Jesus made for every man at Calvary’s cross (cf. Eph.2:8—9). This little group of believers (i.e. The Way) was then pompously and authoritatively declaring – no other way!

If then this little group (The Way) faced all this opposition, howbeit in our not being inhibited, that our mouths remain shut, while still proclaiming “we’re blessed and highly favored (cf. Ac.1:8)?” Happy Monday!