'Bout time to get back on here and write again. I am definitely not in a great place for eloquence being on break, relaxation, and increased TV watching, but here goes. The next few posts are gonna be offerings of some of my favorite bible verses and what speaks to me about them. So, number one...
1. Gamaliel, Acts 5: 38-39
A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."
Gamaliel is a Pharisee, preaching mercy to the Christian missionaries in the early Church. He speaks from the authority of his role and as a man of the Law. But his words are not the doubt and hypocrisy so often heard by these men in the New Testament. Gamaliel speaks wisely and suggests open-mindedness in discerning the intentions of people. He defers to God, knowing that those in line with God, doing His will on earth, will endure with God's blessing and Providence.
There is so much good stuff going on here. I love the basic litmus test that this verse sets forth. Many people can claim divine rights, origins, and blessings, but only those who are genuine and honest will endure in their causes.
The difficulty in this principle is that it doesn't kick in instantaneously. Just as the righteous ones will endure over long periods of time, it will often take long periods of time for erroneous and misled groups to sputter out. It's a difficult reality because one might hope people claiming God's authority disingenuously would be eradicated quickly for their deceptions.
Perhaps these groups have something offer as well? Does Gamaliel's statement allow for limited success by those who carry at least some proportion of honesty and piety? God foreknows all that transpires, and aware of evil acts before they happen, He already knows what good He will make of those actions. Such misguided groups undertake their activity freely. Although their ends are not completely good and they may be destined for failure, God is able and acts to find or make good in/from all things. Is there maybe some relation between the endurance of certain institutions and their honest direction towards a God-befitting end?
Conversely, the Church has endured and grown since its establishment by Jesus on the rock of Peter. An institution of God and for God that has not been disintegrated because of its true divine origin. The Church continues to develop and assemble believers into the Body of Christ with Jesus as its head. Those who fight the Church fight against God; though the Church is comprised of fallible humans, it is guided by the Holy Spirit that orients the Body towards it proper end. The Church remains prominent and universal because its charism and origin are righteous and of God. So we who belong to it are not fighting against God but with Him, behind Him, and serving Him as our head and protector.
1. Gamaliel, Acts 5: 38-39
A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."
Gamaliel is a Pharisee, preaching mercy to the Christian missionaries in the early Church. He speaks from the authority of his role and as a man of the Law. But his words are not the doubt and hypocrisy so often heard by these men in the New Testament. Gamaliel speaks wisely and suggests open-mindedness in discerning the intentions of people. He defers to God, knowing that those in line with God, doing His will on earth, will endure with God's blessing and Providence.
There is so much good stuff going on here. I love the basic litmus test that this verse sets forth. Many people can claim divine rights, origins, and blessings, but only those who are genuine and honest will endure in their causes.
The difficulty in this principle is that it doesn't kick in instantaneously. Just as the righteous ones will endure over long periods of time, it will often take long periods of time for erroneous and misled groups to sputter out. It's a difficult reality because one might hope people claiming God's authority disingenuously would be eradicated quickly for their deceptions.
Perhaps these groups have something offer as well? Does Gamaliel's statement allow for limited success by those who carry at least some proportion of honesty and piety? God foreknows all that transpires, and aware of evil acts before they happen, He already knows what good He will make of those actions. Such misguided groups undertake their activity freely. Although their ends are not completely good and they may be destined for failure, God is able and acts to find or make good in/from all things. Is there maybe some relation between the endurance of certain institutions and their honest direction towards a God-befitting end?
Conversely, the Church has endured and grown since its establishment by Jesus on the rock of Peter. An institution of God and for God that has not been disintegrated because of its true divine origin. The Church continues to develop and assemble believers into the Body of Christ with Jesus as its head. Those who fight the Church fight against God; though the Church is comprised of fallible humans, it is guided by the Holy Spirit that orients the Body towards it proper end. The Church remains prominent and universal because its charism and origin are righteous and of God. So we who belong to it are not fighting against God but with Him, behind Him, and serving Him as our head and protector.
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