Scripture Text (NRSV)
Acts 5:27-32
5:27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the
council. The high priest questioned them,
5:28 saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,
yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are
determined to bring this man's blood on us."
5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather
than any human authority.
5:30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed
by hanging him on a tree.
5:31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he
might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
5:32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy
Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."
Comments:
Hi! I'm feeling that I need a break from the Thomas pericope, so I'm
looking at Acts this year. Just doing an initial reading, I'm asking
myself, what makes this an Easter message? The two apostles had been
in jail and had gotten out, but instead of going into hiding, stood
publicly, sharing the teaching of Jesus. Once arrested and brought
before the council, Peter said, "We must obey God, rather than human
authority." And,the high priest -- the authority other than God --
wouldn't even mention Jesus by name!
I'm thinking about times in which we need to act on the "higher
authority" -- higher than public opinion, than the law of the land,
than the bureaucratic messages of the church. That's something we have
to be careful about! But, sometimes, those other authorities refuse to
mention Jesus' name. If we are truly obeying God, then God is breaking
into the world, and hopefully, ushering in transformation through us.
That's an Easter message.
Just a start! MTSOfan
MTSO Fan and others,
Haven't written in a while.
I too am using this passage this week. I like where you are headed
with the higher authority question. Last week I suggested that as
resurrection/Easter people, we are about the task of telling the Good
News. Your question was are there times when we should act on higher
authority. I would ask, are there times when we should not act on
higher authority?
My early musings are that what Peter says in 30 - 32 is not just the
message, but the motivation for the message.
DOC in OK
I am also using this text, and will be encouraging my folks to
question and read extensively rather than just accepting everything
they hear from the pulpit and during Sunday school lessons! My
congregation is going to hear from me that it is okay to question
authority and struggle with their own doubts so that their faith
becomes their faith! Too often religious leaders expect followers to
do whatever they are told because the authority said "I said so."
Rev. Art in KY
This lection stops way too soon for me. I plan to take it at least to
verse 40. I find the words of Gamaliel to be wonderful food for
thought. I understand why he was, "honored by all the people". In the
midst of controversy and fury, he steps forward to offer sanity and
reason. He is suggesting the whole thing may blow over, maybe it is
just a fad.
His words resonate with me in the midst of constant talk of doing
things in a new way in the church. Much of what I hear and see comes
across as fads to me. I find myself taking a Gamaliel-type stance. In
verse 39, Gamaliel suggests if it is from God, they won't be able to
stop it anyway - and might even be found fighting God. Maybe I'm a
"doubting Thomas" with some of the things I see and read. But maybe my
doubting will help me separate the fads from the faith and the popular
fashions from the facts. I see both Thomas and Gamaliel wanting to add
some reason to their faith.
What think ye?
PK in OH
This reminds me of the corny (but true) saying ...
"If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough
evidence to convict you?"
It's in acting on our "convictions" that demonstrates who we are.
I, too, agree that laypeople would do well to question authority. I
also know that this invites - uh - shall we say "UNUSUAL" statements
from people, who are projecting their own biases onto God. I wonder
how to balance this tendency of some folks to have unusual points of
view and claiming they're from God with the times when we really DO
need to answer to a higher authority.
I don't want to spend my time as a pastor beating back the wolves who
insist on something that's not true
revo
P.S. I hope that's articulate enough.
This passage came up in Sunday School a couple of weeks ago. The
teacher allowed that perhaps Peter made a tactical error in debating,
when he said"Jesus,whom YOU had killed by hanging him on a tree". It's
hard to win many over to your side after you have called them
murderers. Not a fire-and-brimstone kind of guy, I probably pussyfoot
around too much, not wanting to offend. The question is, how far is
too far, or not far enough, when it comes to witnessing your faith?
I overheard one parishoner telling another about talking to an
unchurched neighbor,"He was talking about his(deceased) mother, and I
said,'You're never going to see your mother again if you don't get
right with God!' I believe in telling it like it is!" I cringed. God
is holding your mama hostage 'til you say, I'm sorry, very sorry, and
I apologize", to put it in topical terms. This is not the way to win
anyone over to loving Christ, is it?
This may be a good opportunity to teach some basic principals for
winsome witnessing. Now somebody teach them to me! tom in TN(USA)
Hi! I haven't decided whether to use the Gospel this week or this
passage. I am drawn by Peter's statement: "We must obey God rather
than any human authority." There are so many times when "human
authority" goes against what I feel God is telling us that we should
be doing. And that certainly goes for the "authority" of the church,
too. We need to stop and take a look at the "authorities" in our lives
and our ministries from time to time so that we don't veer off of the
path. I do agree that there needs to be some caution. We all know
those who claim to be God's mouthpiece but have long ago forgotten how
to listen to God's voice (discernment). I like the idea of expanding
this passage thru verse 40 so that the wisdom of Gamaliel can be
shared. I've found myself quoting him at times, myself.
Some really good thoughts so far! Thanks.
Grace and Peace, Melanie in NE
I am adding the Genesis 22 passage where God tests Abraham by asking
him for the life of Isaac. That is a story about listening to God
rather than the wisdom of man. KFL in Michigan
I recently felt called and inspired to lead a Lenten study in my
church, using I Corinthians 13, on learning how to love - to love
radically, as Christ loved. It was an experience that led and taught
me. I started with a general outline, and a vague sense that Jesus
didn't always follow the rules. I didn't really want to tell people to
throw out the rules or the commandments or the traditions of the
Church, but to challenge them to consider this kind of idea of
following the Higher Authority. A couple of things that emerged or
unfolded in the process was an appreciation for the dictionary
definition of "radical," (referring to the root, or in a scientific
sense, an atom that is unchangeable, and remains unchanged through a
series of reactions)-- i.e. radical Christian love has an unchangeable
root quality to it, and in my understanding then, if we love radically
as Christ loved, then we have some root or unchangeable core quality
within us. Then comes a deeper question about what that root is. I was
actually in a workshop for mental health professionals when someone
used the term "Christ-consciousness," and that provided much for me in
the way of understanding and discerning this whole big question. Jesus
gleaned & healed on the Sabbath, he went into the temple and kicked
over the money tables, things that go against traditional and social
expectations. And how did he know when to act out, to go against the
norm, the expectations? The study led me to an understanding of His
consciousness of God. So that I think it calls us to invest in the
relationship, to put our energy into worship & study & prayer &
service in a way that cultivates and nourishes our relationship with
Christ, so that we become so finely attuned to the Divine that it is
the Divine that rules us, and we act according to that great radical
Love, whether it means all those sweet adjectives and descriptions in
the 2nd paragraph of I Cor 13 on the nature of love, or whether it
means setting boundaries, stopping injustice & oppression, speaking
the truth in love rather than hiding behind kindness in some
codependent manner that just doesn't want to make waves or hurt
someone's feelings. My group really struggled, the whole 6 weeks of
Lent. They brought me new insights. I hope someone finds them
pertinent to this passage, and helpful in your sermon preparation.
Janice in Ks.
I am focusing on the change in Peter. This incidence for me more even
then his Pentecost sermon points to the "resurrection" of Peter. From
the onee who 'dies' in his own fear and shame denying even knowledge
of Jesus to one who stand against the powers of the age proclaiming
that truth that is the power of his 'new life'. the eveidence for the
resurrection is not in the empty tomb--"why do you look here?' but in
the changed lives of those who encountered the risen Lord. And so it
is with us. Not just "is there enough evidence to conict us of being
Christian?" but has there been transformation, resurrection, has the
old passed away and the new been born in our lives. Does fear or love
and boldness rule? Shalom, L Wood WV
