I'm not preaching April 28 and next week is mostly shot already, so I am working a week
ahead (a rare thing for me!)
With the situation in Kosovo and especially the school shooting in Littleton on our
minds, the stoning of Stephen somehow seems timely. This is an opportunity to talk about
how we go about solving problems and dealing with those with whom we disagree, and who may
be difficult to deal with. In such cases, we so often resort to violence--stoning, ethnic
cleansing, bombing. Or perhaps simply demonizing and labeling the other.
In such a world, how do we respond? In a world that "stones" first and asks
questions later, how to we witness to the way of Jesus? There is no easy answer, but our
response in some way involves becoming "living stones," as the 1 Peter passage
puts it. Stephen was such an example and on such living stones the Church was--and
is--being built.
Just some early thoughts...Dave in Illinois
To Dave in Illinois: The violent stoning of Stephen seems to fit in well with
Littleton, CO. It was the Jewish punishment (O.T. law) for a "blasphemer." Saul
thought he was doing God a favor by trying to snuff out this sect called The Way. I see in
Stephen a model for speaking the truth. He wasn't afraid to rebuke those who shunned
Christ. He preached God's law to them. Subsequently, he suffers at their hands. He dies
speaking words of forgiveness reminiscent of his Lrod's words. Most importantly, he is
gathered into the arms of Jesus. I pray the students killed in Colorado are realizing the
same eternal glory that Stephen has been enjoying for the past two thousands years!
Eternal life with Jesus is great comfort in the midst of the gore and our personal grief.
Dubby in Topeka
I'm going to get the congregation to cover their ears with their hands while I go on
talking. Then I'm going to get them to cover their ears and shout, while I go on talking.
I HOPE this will prove that covering our ears is a symbolic gesture - we can still hear
what is being said. Covering our ears and shouting is what we have to do to prevent
ourselves from hearing. So what do we find so difficult that we cover our ears and shout
angrily about it...? And so on. Mike Truman, All Saints, Guildford.
Mike Truman of All Saints,
Neat idea that allows the written to be concretely displayed! Might I beg,borrow, and
steal your idea?! Such "covering of the ears" simply displays unbelief at
hearing God's Word as Stephen spoke it. Perhaps Romans 10:17 is appropriate: "Faith
comes through HEARING the message, and the message is heard through the word of
Christ." Thanks for your creativity!
Dubby in Topeka
With his last breath, Stephen died proclaiming the essence of the gospel. Jesus gave up
his life so that our sins mignt not be held against us. In Christ, we are given the spirit
of forgiveness.
But so many of the people I pastor don't seem to fully grasp that concept. They don't
recognize the power they have been given through Jesus' action on the cross, and they go
through life thinking that Christianity is nice, but being Christian can't accomplish too
much in this world. I believe that Stephen recognized and embraced the liberating power of
the cross: it gave him the courage and wisdom to speak out as he did (see preceding verses
to this week's passage). Yes, it cost him his earthly life, but his witness helped to
expand the fledgling church and the gospel.
Just some rambling thoughts. Grace and Peace,
Melanie from Nebraska
Melanie from Nebraska,
Nice statement! Stephen, even in death, was focused on the cross of Christ. It alone
gave him strength to accept the "crosses" of suffering and persecution placed
upon us. He relied on Christ's power alone and not on his own human strength. Might we
tell our people to be more "CROSS-eyed" Christians? Then Christianity will mean
more than just a "nice thing." It simply will be imitating our Lord's
faithfulness. God calls us not be faithful to His Word and faith-filled through His Word.
To him be honor and glory!
Dubby in Topeka
Here are some thoughts and questions which are “unencumbered” by the
exegetical process. I offer them with the hope that they will spur the thinking of others:
+ In the passage from I Peter, we are reminded that in Christ we have a new identity
-- we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people who are
separate and distinct from the surrounding culture. The story of Stephen reminds us of the
cost that being different will bring.
+ Think about how different Stephen is from those who are furious enough to kill him.
Stephen absorbs their anger with the prayer, “Lord, do not hold their sin against
them.”
+ I am interested in the contrast between Stephen and those religious people who are
furious enough to kill him. Stephen embodies what it means to live a separate, holy
existence as he absorbs the anger of his attackers with the prayer, “Lord, do not
hold their sin against them.”
+ Stephen’s assailants covered their ears, like children
(“na-na-na-na-I-can’t-hear-you”). The NIV says that they “shouted at
the top of the lungs.” If they covered their ears and shouted to avoid hearing about
Stephen’s vision, what did they do to avoid hearing Stephen’s anguished cries as
they dragged him out of the city to murder him?
+ When Stephen gazed into heaven, how come he didn’t see a big neon sign that
said “Shut up and run!”
+ Is there anything significant to the fact that Jesus is standing at the right hand
of God? Wouldn’t seated be a more traditional posture?
+ Why do Stephen’s murderers take off their coats? So they could throw harder? So
they wouldn’t get them all sweaty? And why do Stephen’s assailants lay their
coats at the feet of Saul? Are they afraid that they will stolen – that the murderers
may themselves become victims of crime?
+ How does one kill someone who is praying? How does one kill someone who is praying
for them?
+ A good friend suggests that this scripture gives us an opportunity to think about
post-Constininain Christianity – about what it will be like when Christianity is no
longer a part of the dominant culture and is stands as far outside it as Stephen does.
+ But to say that we are different does not give us permission to be self-righteous
about the distinction, or we may well end up like those who stoned Stephen. Our job is to
be like Stephen.
-- Rev. Luckydog in New Mexico
Dubby, and anyone else, yes borrow the idea if it works for you, I'm glad to get the
reassurance that it isn't totally off the wall. I've also thought of using the picture, by
I think Munch, called 'The Scream', with the face that I think also has hands to ears and
is screaming - the picture is painted in a way that the world seems to be dissolving,
which is how it feels when your sacred cows are questioned. The difficult bit is then not
just talking about some of the sacred cows I think the congregation should question, but
some of MY sacred cows.... Mike, All Saints, Guildford
Appreciate the comments, esp. Dave in ILL (your comments were a good summary of my
confirmation class last night)...I'm going with Acts this week too, because it seems to
"fit the Zeitgiest" (spirit of the times).
One (long) observation...Stephen modeled--lived and died--the alternative way of being
in this world he learned from Jesus: NONVIOLENCE. His death, esp. his prayer and
forgiveness, is a classic example of nonviolence.
Nonviolence is our best (only?) true response to the violence of this world. Our
nature, driven by the lower structures of our brain (the "reptile" and
"mammalian" parts of our brain) push us to respond to violence and threat with
like force..."an eye for an eye". These urges are powerful, almost
unstoppable--esp. when the violence we experience, like Littleton, is totally undeserved
and indiscriminate. But Jesus calls us to a higher way...and to use our higher brain, if
you will, to CHOOSE our response: to turn the other cheek, feed your enemy, pray for your
persecuter, give not just your shirt, but also your coat. Love your enemies; never avenge,
but turn vengeance over to God (Paul picks up this theme in Roms. 12, the best primer on
Christian life I know of). Check out Psalm 109, which is never read in church, but is an
absolutley WONDERFUL example of doing just that...leaving anger behind and choosing
nonviolence, and trusting in supreme faith to the justice of God. Powerful stuff. And
it'll preach. It hits us where we live.
Nonviolence is totally idealistic, and seemingly therefore impractical... ...until we
remember Gandhi, ML King Jr., Kent State. etc. It is a daily choice, not just for social
change, but an orientation of the spirit, a choice to align ourselves with the Spirit,
completely. Overcoming our powerful urges of anger and vengeance when wronged (or seeing
others wronged, like in Kosovo and Littleton) seems inhuman and unnatural. Indeed, to deny
these powerful forces IS UNNATURAL...it requires the SUPERNATURAL to do it...extreme faith
and trust in God's power, to the point of risking death. Gandhi once said the true
disciple of nonviolence (and he himelf was a disciple of Jesus in many ways) must be
willing to die like a soldier--but never willing to kill like one. What is MORE
courageous: to face your enemy willing to die with a weapon at the ready...or without one?
It seems insane, incredible, unnatural; and it is. It is also exactly what Stpehen
did...and what Jesus before him did.
For us, it is a daily struggle a constant choice. I may fail today to react to
violence, big and small, with nonviolence. But I keep trying, I keep tryin to grasp it as
an option in faith...and one day, I may actually do it, and keep doing it. And I may even,
in so doing, cut off or inhibit the cycle of violence in someone's life, that keeps them
from grabbing their Tec-9 and heading to the local schoolyard. Or from saying a nasty word
to their child. Violence, so seductive, comes in many forms and degrees. But all it ever
breeds is more of the same. Always.
--Barry in OH
Stephen's prayer for God to forgive his attackers is something that sticks out of this
passage for me. Once again I'm reminded that the Christian response to violence is one of
non-violent intervention.
In his book, "What's So Amazing About Grace" Phillip Yancey takes a lot of
time addressing the problem of forgiveness. Somehow I don't think there can be peace
without forgiveness.
Perhaps an interesting twist would be to ask how does someone cover their ears and
shout against the need to forgive? What wrongs do we harbor? What have we been unable to
forgive? How could I forgive those who kill the people that I love?
I think perhaps the stoners covered their ears to keep from hearing any
"heresy" from Stephen.
John near Pitts.
This passage needs to be put in context of the speech Stephen gives in the previous
verses. I am distressed by the full impact of what he says and it's anti-Semitic
implications. His speech recounts the whole history of the Jews and essentially says, 'You
Jews didn't listen to your prophets. You stiff-necked, hard hearted people. And then you
killed Jesus too.' This kind of sentiment becomes a core of Christian thinking, and I
think it is misguided. In the context of the time, it may not have been anti-Semitic,
since the Jesus movement was still small, and certainly not dominant, but we have to be
careful about preaching the same thing. Better that we acknowledge the whole tradition, as
Jews do - 'We (rather than 'you' or 'they' are a stiff-necked, hard hearted people, who
stone our prophets and create idols and act like self-righteous martyrs instead of acting
boldly for authentic justice in our lives and our own communities. David in Philly
John in Pitts.: I, too, am intrigued by the forgiveness that is shown by Stephen in
this passage. And, don't forget that one of the interesting characters in this passage is
Saul. The one who persecutes becomes the persecuted out of the forgiveness of God. In this
time when many think of revenge, perhaps forgiveness is the only answer. Only forgiveness
can keep us from being eaten up on the inside. Only forgiveness can model Jesus (Father,
forgive them...). Springboro Joe
Nothing makes us madder than to have somebody point out to us that we still have our
faults,espceially when we think that we have come beyond them. Those who stoned Stephen
were like many of us who would like to think that we have bettered ourselves above our
ancestors. We do not like being told that we are just like our parents especially when we
look down on what they did. It does not matter if you are Jew, Christian, or whatever.
MR in Ny
