Gospel Prism

(AP) AD 50, Ephesus - In this urban setting where Artemis is worshipped, a group of rabble-rousers headed by Paul the Jew and his co-horts have been arrested for inciting a riot. It seems these ‘Christians’ or Way followers, a Jewish sect, were overly aggressive in their so-called mission. Without any strategy or plan, these Christians have gone into the this center of Artemis worship and have attempted to proselytize their religion to those who would be receptive to their cause. Mr. Paul of Tarsus had incited the crowd by actually casting out a demon from a girl who provided an income to some of the local silversmiths and idolmakers. Mr. Paul’s obvious lack of consideration for the economic stability of Ephesus is a clear indication of these Christians insensitive methods. Strangely, they have not sought government intervention to obtain their release, but instead have depended on their God to grant them their release from captivity.

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How far missions has come where bringing a Gospel to the lost is now something pastors publicly repent. And yet, 100 pastors in Korea and 6 church groups made this statement:

We regret that Christians did not follow the government’s regulations and caused the nation a lot of trouble,” the statement read, according to The Korea Times. “We now promise to comply with the guidelines of the government in the future.

Hmmm…if Christians always followed government regulations, then the Gospel would have never left Jerusalem. Since the Jewish authorities were the ruling power of Peter and John’s day, according to these pastors’ logic, when the Sanhedrin said to stop preaching to Peter and John, they should have stopped. But Luke records:

But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Luke 4:17-20)

I am not saying Christians should completely disregard the government. But when is missions subject to government regulations? When is it ever right to listen to God rather than man, as Peter said?

Here is perhaps a radical solution to that terrible problem of the Korean hostages being taken. What if those hostages, their families, and those churches said to the Korean government, the Taliban, and the world, “We trust our lives into God’s hands. We refuse to ask the Korean government to intercede. If we perish, we perish. Only, may it be for Christ’s glory.” I know this is easier to say for me because I was not held captive, or my child is not one of the hostages. But I think the Korean pastors have it wrong. They need not ‘repent’ to the Korean people and the government for sending a team to Afghanistan to care for the lost. Rather, Christians need to see that at any time, there actually might be true suffering for the Gospel, even on these short-term missions trips. No one goes on these trips thinking they will die for the Gospel. But what if Christians actually thought about missions in this light? Is that so radical or is it merely thinking as the church in Acts thought?

John Piper notes that the Bible promises that God’s people will suffer. The greatest problem from this hostage crisis was NOT the fact that this team went to an area that the government warned against. If government warnings were reasons to stop missions activity, the Great Commission would never be fulfilled. The greatest problem that this hostage crisis reveals is that Christians today are not willing to suffer for the Gospel. And so when we ultimately depend on government help in such a crisis (hostage payments were made at the cost of $20 million and government negotiators working on release), is it any wonder that the world begins to mock the church rather than stare in wondrous amazement at the glory of Christ?