Text: Acts 15:22-26,30-33,16:1-5 (see below)
Today the Church celebrates the lives of three early champions of the faith: Timothy, Titus and Silas. You probably remember these names from Sunday School classes you may have attended long, long ago. But there is still much to glean from the lives of these saints.
Timothy and Titus were missionary companions of Paul of Tarsus. You can read of their adventures principally in the Book of Acts, but also in 2 Corinthians, Galatians and 1 and 2 Timothy to name but a few. Timothy was a leader of the Christian community in Ephesus and Titus served the faithful on the island of Crete. These were both devoted men who loved the Lord and felt a call to share the message of Jesus with the world.
Silas’ story is found in the sixteenth chapter of the Book of Acts. He was also a companion with Paul and was arrested with the Apostle in Philippi. Apparently, they were both beaten pretty badly by the authorities, placed in stocks and confined to prison. As you read in the Bible, that night following their arrest, Paul and Silas sang hymns, and encouraged one another. An earthquake in the middle of the night provided an opportunity for immediate freedom. They did not escape and when found by the prison officer, the example of Paul and Silas moved the jailor so much that he and his family became believers.
What I find so compelling about these men was their laser like focus on the mission and message of Jesus. There seems to be no other agenda except Christ and his message of reconciliation.
When I look out over the Church today, I see an institution fraught in battles and agendas that make little or no sense. Sexuality debates, worship issues, money and property conflicts, organ donations (current debate in Wales), arguments over women bishops, authority and independence, traditional or contemporary music, and personal agendas by both the leaders and members of the church that have nothing to do with the Gospel. Good gracious!
The Church is lost at the moment because it has forgotten its principal mission: the proclamation of the Good News – Christ has died, Christ is Risen, Christ Will Come Again! It is really very simple. We, in the Church, have made it too difficult for too many persons. Our actions have turned many man and women away from the faith.
The examples of Timothy, Titus and Silas encourage the Church of the 21st Century to get back to basics. The reason the Church exists is because of Jesus. Our witness is to proclaim the Master’s love which we have experienced in our own lives. We are to testify to what we believe about Jesus’ death and his resurrection – not necessarily with words but more by our actions. We are called by Jesus to love others as much as we love ourselves.
When the Church accomplishes that mission, the mission of Jesus, the words of the scriptures will be fulfilled in our own time and generation: "So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily."
Back to basics.
Love One Another – Brian
A Vital Human Action
Thich Nhat Hanh
The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions.
Source: Verse and Voice, Sojourners website
Acts 15:22-26,30-33,16:1-5
Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, with the following letter: ‘The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds, we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. When its members read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation. Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. After they had been there for some time, they were sent off in peace by the believers to those who had sent them.
Paul went on also to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went from town to town, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily.
I find the most important part of this story is that they encouraged one another after being beaten and imprisoned. They didn't fight about whose fault it was, or who could have done what better so things could have happened differently. When "life" happens, it's our job to stick together and support each other in our time of utmost need.
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