No Dogmatic Statement

“Here’s what we want you to do. We have four men here who have completed their vow. Go with them to the Temple and join them in the purification ceremony, paying for them to have their heads ritually shaved. Then everyone will know that the rumors are all false and that you yourself observe the Jewish laws. [Acts 21.23-24]

I suppose it had to happen some way. Paul had been warned over and over that bad things lay in store for him in Jerusalem. And, sure enough, as soon as he arrived it was made known that the Jews in Jerusalem had been hearing "reports" that Paul was steering Jews away from Jewish customs.

So, a plan was hatched. I must admit, to me, this plan seems like a knee-jerk reaction, not to mention, a little manipulative. Or worse, it was downright deceptive. Would Paul have done that thing anyway if they hadn't recommended it? Or, was it only because they needed a facade to try to avoid criticism? Each reader will have to understand for himself, but it just seemed hokey to me.

Hokey or not, the plan did not accomplish what they had intended. Instead, it backfired and Paul wound up beaten and incarcerated anyway. On the other hand, it accomplished exactly what Paul had intended to go to Jerusalem for anyway as per what he told the folks in Caesarea just a few days earlier:

But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” [Acts 21.13-14]

So, what's the deal? Really.

Here is a little background on Paul's Christian journey.

But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” [Acts 9.15-16]

This was Jesus talking to the believer Ananias telling him to go over to where "Saul of Tarsus" was (the zealous and well-known persecutor of believers in Christ) to lay hands on him to receive his sight back. 

So, the question must be asked, "Did Paul know about this conversation?" I would say, "Yes," simply because of Paul's headstrong journey right into trouble contrary to all the people prophesying "by the Spirit" that if he went to Jerusalem, he would be in peril.

Many other questions rise from this, not the least of which is, "If Jesus said Paul must suffer, why would those speaking "by the Holy Spirit" warn otherwise?"

I think, at some point, we have to concede that God gives us choices with our lives. It is simply not fair to judge Paul by everyone else any more than it is to judge everyone else by Paul. As we saw Paul himself say in yesterday's OYCB reading, the standard for all of us is Christ. Period.

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. [2 Corinthians 13.5]

It is of no significance that my life look like the Apostle Paul, Billy Graham, or any other famous minister of the Gospel. What matters is that my life in distinctly identifiable as "in Christ."

We also saw this when Jesus had the following conversation with Peter.

“I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” [John 21.18-23]

Jesus indicated here that His relationship with every believer is unique. I am not at all advocating for a spiritual free-for-all, but just noting here that, when it comes to suffering, it seems there is a unique call from Jesus to that end upon a select few. But this does not negate Jesus' blanket call to all to "take up their cross, and follow Me."

Does that make sense? I have no dogmatic statement on this topic.

Father, as Your Holy Spirit dwells in us and leads us, may we have the confidence of relationship with Jesus enough to faithfully follow - whether our journey is in fellowship with many or few.