Lately I have kind of been hooked on the Bible passage in Acts about Paul in prison, singing hymns at midnight and there is this earthquake that opens all the doors and breaks the shackles. The Roman guard is about to kill himself because all his prisoners when Paul speaks up and says that they are all still hear. The guard thinks this is such bizarre behavior, so at odds with the way the rest of the world wants to do things, that he desires to become a Christian immediately.
This is an interesting story about engaging culture. Paul worked within the culture (obeying its authority, getting himself put into a situation that was certainly getting into the grit of the real world), yet at the same time, presented an approach that was wholly different from that culture (being cheerful in a situation that called for despair, not running when he had the chance).
And overall I am struck by Paul’s radically different approach and also his confidence in the Lord’s ability to make all things work for good.
Contrast this with the typical North American Christian. We are a timid lot, blending in with those around us, unwilling (often) to put at risk our three-car-garages or surround-sound stereo by appearing even the slightest bit different, to say nothing of radically different.
So I teach high schoolers. How can I get them to think about this seriously?
BBC
Feb 03 2004
02:56 am
Lately I have kind of been hooked on the Bible passage in Acts about Paul in prison, singing hymns at midnight and there is this earthquake that opens all the doors and breaks the shackles. The Roman guard is about to kill himself because all his prisoners when Paul speaks up and says that they are all still hear. The guard thinks this is such bizarre behavior, so at odds with the way the rest of the world wants to do things, that he desires to become a Christian immediately.
This is an interesting story about engaging culture. Paul worked within the culture (obeying its authority, getting himself put into a situation that was certainly getting into the grit of the real world), yet at the same time, presented an approach that was wholly different from that culture (being cheerful in a situation that called for despair, not running when he had the chance).
And overall I am struck by Paul’s radically different approach and also his confidence in the Lord’s ability to make all things work for good.
Contrast this with the typical North American Christian. We are a timid lot, blending in with those around us, unwilling (often) to put at risk our three-car-garages or surround-sound stereo by appearing even the slightest bit different, to say nothing of radically different.
So I teach high schoolers. How can I get them to think about this seriously?