In the destructive partisan chaos that defines our national identity, the principles and values in our Constitution have long been forgotten. Differences and disagreements, if approached with maturity, can be resolved, but only if both sides elect to work for reconciliation instead of just wanting to “win the fight.” When adversaries truly listen to each other, they almost always discover that they have more in common that in opposition.
But we’ve fought for
so long that we’ve forgotten why we’re fighting--what's at stake. Causes and ideals have
been discarded and now the only important thing is to destroy the “other side,” and the bloodier the better.
In the 19th
chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament there’s an interesting
story. Paul and the missionaries were successful at Ephesus, and many Ephesians
believed. Consequently, the economy took a dip.
The economy centered
on the Temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It stood 60 feet tall, was octagon
shaped, 340 feet by 160 feet with 127 pillars, and was the largest stone
building in the world at that time. Legend has it that gold was used to bond
the marble blocks, one to another.
The temple
supported many businesses—booths and kiosks with T-Shirts and postcards. The
main business was the marketing of silver trinkets—phallic symbols and
fertility charms—representing Diana and her shrine. Childless couples who rocked an empty cradle for years came to buy the amulets to hang on the
bedpost, and to pray to Diana.
Paul preached that
gods made with hands are not gods at all; and he was so convincing that the
Ephesians, by the droves, gave up idolatry—and the silversmith trade became
depressed.
A man named
Demetrius was “Shop Steward” for the silversmiths, and he called a meeting.
When self-interest is at stake and you want to stir people up and get them on
your side (even if your methods are questionable), there are two basic ways of
doing it: you can wave the flag or you can beat the religious drum. You’ll
almost always get a following.
Demetrius employed
both. He said, “People from all over the civilized world come to worship, and these
people are reducing this great Temple to insignificance!” Soon he had a crowd
chanting, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” And they got all worked up and
stormed City Hall, where the city council was in session.
The council was
caught totally by surprise. Luke says, “…everybody was shouting different
things till the council itself had no idea what was going on; most of them did
not even know why they were meeting.” [Have
you ever been to a small-town City Council meeting? I won’t go there.]
The Jewish
community became concerned. After all, they’d always been open in their
opposition to idolatry. What if these people blamed them for their economic
problems? It had happened before.
So, they chose
Alexander and coached him to say, “It’s Paul’s fault. It’s the Christians!” But
when the mob saw he was a Jew, they started chanting again: “Great is Diana of
the Ephesians!”
This went on for a
couple of hours, until the city clerk was able to quiet the crowd. Then he
said, “These men are no threat to us. The whole world knows the greatness of
Diana and this Temple. If you have a problem, take it to court; but if we keep
this up, we’re going to have Roman soldiers all over the place. Go home!”
And the crowd
broke up. That’s it.
Why does Luke
include this story in Acts? What is there of value in it for us? There’s no
clear message or moral; no bad guys. Demetrius and the silversmiths are simply
businessmen fighting for what’s theirs. They’ve worked hard for what they have.
The Jews aren’t
bad guys, either. They’re scared for their children. They’re an occupied
people; they have to “get along.”
In the story
immediately previous, there are bad guys: evil spirits, books of magic,
practitioners of magic, false exorcists, demons… There are no bad guys in this
story. They’re businessmen; family people—like you and me.
Still, damage was
done. This incident ended Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. He had to leave town and
was never able to go back.
Maybe the key to
this story is in verse 32: “The assembly was in confusion: Some were
shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they
were there.” Everybody had his own agenda; and nobody was listening
to anyone.
When partisanism
and divisiveness rage, eventually “Most of the
people didn’t even know why they were there.” But the church at Ephesus
remained focused faithful to God’s calling to follow
Jesus and be his disciples.
As a result, years
later a man received a vision from God about end times. He committed that
vision to writing, and that writing is now a part of Holy Scripture. And in
that writing are these words:
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of
him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven
golden lamp stands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I
know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim
to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and
have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary…. (Revelation
2:1-3 NIV)
It is possible to
live in a world gone crazy—to live as people of faith—and not be swayed by the
partisanism and divisiveness all around. It is possible to live in the midst of
partisan chaos and hold to the principles and values that hold the only hope
for humanity: integrity, dignity, and love.
That’s the way it
looks through the “Flawed Glass” that is my world view.
Together
in the Walk
Jim
