Acts 1:11
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Before I dive into this post, allow me to say a couple of things. First of all, I may later take some liberties with the application of the above verse. I don’t think I will take them too far, but some might disagree. Second, I know that some of what I may say may make some folks want to come to my house and have a little talk. Well, that’s okay.
I totally understand that our county, and the world around us appears to be descending into chaos, anarchy or even Imperial control. Look around; the issues we face are huge.
Ferguson MO is on fire. Doesn’t matter why in this post, but it is. My opinions on that topic aren’t relevant to this. It is, however, tragic.
We face a monstrous immigration crisis. Once again, my opinion on the topic is irrelevant to this post. But, it is a crisis.
The rise of militant, violent Islam is a security crisis for the world and our country. Once again, any further opinions do not matter.
Our government appears stonewalled, and the only thing happening appears to be executive orders by an extremely unpopular president. Once again, any further opinions on politics do not matter.
All of these things matter, and they matter a lot. Resolving them matters a lot. Please understand I am not saying these things are not important; they are; they are; they are. Got it? Scripture teaches as well, that we have responsibilities to be good citizens; that includes participation in the political process.
So, now let’s take a look at our verse above. Here is the quick background. Read the full story in Acts Chapter 1. Jesus had just completed his post resurrection ministry on Earth and was ascending into Heaven to take His place with His Father. He had clearly discussed with His disciples what they were to do after His Ascension. However, as Jesus disappeared into the clouds, they were just standing there staring, very likely with their mouths hanging open. That is when two angels appeared and issued this somewhat paraphrased rebuke to them, “Hey! Why are you all just standing here staring? Jesus told you He was coming back and He told you what you needed to be up to! Get back to Jerusalem and do what He said!” Okay, that was VERY paraphrased.
So, what had He instructed them? In Acts 1:4, He had instructed them to return to Jerusalem and await the empowering of the Holy Spirit. He elaborated further in Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus issued this instruction, “ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Guess what? Those instructions have never changed, not in the 2000 years since they were issued by our Lord. Rather than staring up at the clouds with our mouths hanging open, we need to be out there getting busy fulfilling the instructions Jesus issued to us.
What, you say, is my point? We spend tons of time, talking and energy on these issues. Once again, let me reiterate that they are important issues. But, are they truly our assigned mission on this Earth? We talk about them, we have opinions about them, we vocalize loudly about them and we post about them on Facebook. What if we took even a small amount of that time, vocalization and energy and used it to share the Gospel with somebody who needed it?
We were all non believers at some point in our lives. How did we act? We probably acted like pagans. After all pagans are going to act like pagans. For us to expect the world to behave differently in anyway is almost nonsensical thinking. What changed us from what we were to what we are hopefully becoming? Of course, the answer is the salvation offered through Jesus Christ and the subsequent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That is the only thing that can make us “better.”
Do we want the world to really be different? Share the Gospel with energy and effort. Tell your children and your family will change. Tell your neighbors and your neighborhood will change. Like a pebble in a pond, the ripple can and will spread. Remember in Acts 17:6, when the disciples were referred to as, “those that have turned the world upside down”?
Of course, everyone will never be saved; the world will never be completely restored until God chooses to do that at some point in the future. But when we face him someday, do we want to be able to say we did our best and hear these words: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant“?
November 26, 2014 at 19:21
Bravo! This needed to be said for a long time. The best way to fix our world is to follow His direction to all believers.
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November 26, 2014 at 19:25
Thank you ma’am
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November 26, 2014 at 19:59
You said it!! I know it’s corny, but I really think the adage is true that if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. If you like the world the way it is, then keep on trucking. No need to try to change it. But if you don’t like the way it is, then spend your time contributing to the solution instead of just pointing out the obvious. If you came across someone who was dying and knew where to find the medicine to save them, you surely wouldn’t just stand there and watch them die; you’d at least point them in the direction of where to find the Cure if not lead them by the hand and walk with them as they make the journey. Yes, they may refuse to believe you. Yes, they may refuse to accept there is a Cure. But you would be remiss not to at least let them know it was available to them.
We live in a hurting, dying world. God provides the medicine that heals, that gives life. Rather than just passing by sick people every single day at work, at school, in stores, on the streets or here on the internet without saying a thing or at least saying anything of value to their eternal souls, as Christians we have both the obligation and the privilege of sharing with them the healing and new life to be found in Christ. We ourselves have been blessed with the gift of having seen the Risen Christ and having accepted Him as our Lord and Savior. Now it’s time for us to go and let the whole world know the same gift is available to them as well.
Another great article, Wally, thank you!!
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November 26, 2014 at 20:00
Thank you very much
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November 26, 2014 at 20:35
Oh, and you realise that Acts is now considered largely a work of fiction, yes?
You are aware of the findings of the Acts seminar I take it?
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November 26, 2014 at 20:37
Quit interrupting…I am trying to indoctrinate people here…sheesh
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November 26, 2014 at 20:38
Well, far be it for the atheist to teach you anything. But seriously though, you have at least read the findings, yes?
I mean, as you are so interested in the ‘Truth’, right?
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November 26, 2014 at 20:49
Your point? I said I was in the middle of trying to indoctrinate other mindless cave dwellers here.
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November 26, 2014 at 20:57
Point? Well, you’re referencing a work of fiction in your post.
By the way, you given up on accepting the truth of original sin or are you gong to be grown up about it?
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November 26, 2014 at 21:00
Sure…I give…if that makes you feel good. This article was not written so I could argue with you Arkenaten. So, I’m not going to. Ciao
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November 26, 2014 at 22:40
Wally,
Great post and the Word of God is thew Word of God and it has never lost its power. Acts
is as much the word of God as the rest of the canon.Acts started the church as we know it today.
The power of God being working through the Word of God is the only thing that will ever change this world.
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November 26, 2014 at 23:10
Thank you for the kind comment. The whole Acts Seminar was a farce really just like the Jesus Seminar was. I just didn’t thing the time was right to debate it all. Do you go by Mancini or what? lol
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November 27, 2014 at 16:16
Why do you consider the Acts seminar a farce, Wally? Based on what?
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November 27, 2014 at 16:23
Well..based on motivation for one. Theirs I mean. They want to prove the unreliability of Scripture and simply decided what they thought was ok and what was not
Qualifications for another. They are just a continuation of the Jesus Seminar which nobody takes seriously. And how could we take seriously a study on scripture which had a movie director as one of the “experts”
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November 27, 2014 at 16:37
So you know the list of scholars involved in the Acts seminar yes?
You know their qualifications then I presume?
Tell me the name of the movie director involved in the Acts seminar please?
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November 27, 2014 at 17:01
Struggling to find the movie director Wally?
What qualifications would you consider relevant by the way?
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November 28, 2014 at 11:33
I never said there was a movie director on the Acts Seminar panel; I said there was one on the panel of the Jesus Seminar. That was Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven…remember Showgirls?. That is a statement of fact. What I said was the Acts Seminar is a spin off of the sitcom the Jesus Seminar. It was not considered to be true scholarship by anyone but the media. The Acts Seminar is really no different.
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November 28, 2014 at 11:46
I knew of Verhoven’s involvement with Westar all along, Wally, I was just making sure to keep you were honest regarding the Acts Seminar.
Your initial comment was ambiguous.
”True scholarship”. How’s that for bias. And ill-informed , ignorant bias to boot.
You think a plonker like Mike Licona is a true scholar do you? And Habermas is an open honest scholar too I suppose?
Is you power of critical thinking that skew?
You do know that Licona was fired after he stated that the raising of the dead saints at the Crucifixion in his 2010 book was not to be taken literally, and he refused to offer a retraction, don’t you?
Actually, The Acts seminar has plenty of merit, and all participants are, by and large, highly qualified biblical scholars.
That you would simply dismiss the Acts seminar as a side show clearly demonstrates you are only parroting what the fundies say.
By the way, you haven’t responded to my assertion re: the nonsense of Paul’s shipwreck.
Want to have a go this time?
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November 26, 2014 at 23:14
oh..Greg I see it now lol..sorry read first ask last. As usual I started the talking before I started the thinking!
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November 26, 2014 at 23:19
Good post Wally.
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November 26, 2014 at 23:20
Thank you sir
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November 28, 2014 at 11:47
Why is the shipwreck nonsense? And by the way, I will be very slow in responding today…work day about to start. Be patient, grasshopper.
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November 28, 2014 at 11:55
Why is it nonsense?
Oh, dear. Are you truly that indoctrinated?
Tell me, have you done any reading/study outside of Christian Apologetics?
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November 28, 2014 at 11:57
Why is it? You made the positive assertion. ..lol. That was fun.
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November 28, 2014 at 12:01
And now you respond with churlish semantics?
Are you truly ”gunning” for an Fool of the of the day’ badge, Wally?
Have you actually studied this or simply accepted it as per your indoctrination?
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November 28, 2014 at 12:07
On any given day I already have that badge lol…but you can explain your claim anytime now
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November 28, 2014 at 14:28
So I take it then , you haven’t actually done any reading outside of the apologetic field? Why not?
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November 28, 2014 at 14:29
Waiting
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November 28, 2014 at 14:36
I take that as a no then.
If I show you it was nonsense will you be prepared to rethink your viewpoint of Acts?
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November 28, 2014 at 14:37
Sure….why not?
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November 28, 2014 at 14:38
Give me a short while to dig in my files. I too, have had a plateful of work.
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November 28, 2014 at 15:08
Actually , I think I’ll skip it. It would be such a palaver to write out and post and I have other editorial work I’m busy with. If you are that interested you can research it on your own, I’m sure?
And of course ”Paul” makes no mention of this voyage in his letters.
Although something simple for you to consider. How was he was bitten by a viper and there were no venomous snakes in the region, even in antiquity?
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November 29, 2014 at 01:16
Grasshopper:
in the words of B. Streisand: memories…………….
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November 29, 2014 at 01:19
Say what huh? I missed something somewhere I think, ColorStorm.
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November 29, 2014 at 02:08
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh..I get it..I forgot my own comment…duh
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