Acts 6-7
Saint Stephen
Boxing day – the day after Christmas, the day you recover, sit on the couch and sip something that goes plop, plop, fizz, fizz.
Boxing day – the day that, just incase you haven’t had enough of the malls, and you credit cards aren’t quite topped up, you go to the stores to buy what you didn’t get for Christmas at ½ price.
Why is it called Boxing Day? Is boxing one of the skills you need to get the bargains from the bargain bins? Is it because you bring even more boxes home from the store?
It is actually called boxing day because it is supposed to be the day that you box up food and presents and take them to those in need!
We know it as Boxing Day, but it was known as St. Stephen’s day before that, and it still is St. Stephen’s day if you follow a liturgical calendar.
Remember:
“Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
deep and crisp and even.”
It’s one of my favorite carols, and I told the story of Wenceslas last year, and preached sermon on his life.
As I was singing the song this year, it occurred to me that the Stephen in the song is the Stephen in the Bible! I know – Du-uh!
As we passed St. Stephen’s day this year, I wondered what the old saint had to say to Runnymede Baptist Church. My mind quickly went to the care of the poor since St. Stephen was one of the seven in the book of Acts who was appointed to be sure that the widows of the church were cared for, and as the carol ends:
“Therefore, Christian men be sure
wealth or rank possessing,
ye who now will bless the poor
shall yourself find blessing.”
This is a hugely important message to remember at this time of year, and throughout the year as the song says “It’s not the things you do at Christmas time, but the Christmas things you do all the time that matter.
But, this is not the only message that Stephen has for us, as I think you will find as we look at the Scripture.
Read Acts 6:1-15
The problem – there were two groups of Jews living in Jerusalem – Grecian Jews who may have been born outside of Palestine, spoke Greek, and had adopted many of the Greek customs that were not opposed to their faith, And the Hebraic Jews who were most likely born in Palestine, spoke mainly Aramaic, and were culturally Hebrews. There were always tensions between the groups. People from both these groups had become Christians, and as the church grew quickly, it was discovered that the widows who were Grecian Jews were not being looked after like the widows who were Hebraic Jews were. There was discrimination going on. When it brought to the attention of the Apostles, they realized two things –one that the situation was not right, and two, that they were being pulled two ways in their ministry – toward their calling to prayer and the teaching of the word, and toward the very important ministry of caring for the poor in their midst. To deal with both these issues they invited the church to select seven men from among them who had good reputations, were full of the Spirit, and of wisdom. These men would look after the administration of the care of the poor, and the Apostles would devote themselves to prayer and the teaching of the Word.
So they chose Stephen, who is singled out as “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Paramenas, and Nicolas. It is interesting to note that all of these names are Greek. The church solved the problem of discrimination by placing the ones who were being discriminated against in charge of the offending area!
Verse seven tells us that, because of this structural change in the way the infant church was run, “the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”
Those who have a heart for the ministry of the Word might say that the church grew because the Apostles were free to pray and teach, those who have a heart for ministries to the poor might say that the church grew because the people saw how well the church cared for the poor. – the answer is likely both.
Stephen does not limit himself to waiting on tables to feed the poor – in verse 8 he is described as a man full of God’s grace and power, who did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. He was also preaching publicly, or in synagogues as well, because other Grecian Jews who had not converted had taken issue with him. They tried to argue with him, “but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.” So since they couldn’t argue with him, they conspired against him, and had some men accuse Stephen of blasphemy – against God and the Law. Specifically against the temple, and Moses by teaching that “this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us."
These were very serious charges – the same charges that were leveled against Jesus. Even more serious to the Grecian Jews who had been slaves and exiles in the Roman world, they were now freed, and had returned to their loved Holy Land. They were back to the temple that they dreamed of seeing while in exile, and now this fellow was speaking against it.
The lies that they spoke probable had some sliver of fact – like all good lies – Stephen most likely did teach about Jesus’ saying that he would destroy the temple and raise it up again in three days – but John reminds us that Jesus is talking about his own body. (John 2:19-21) And, like Jesus, Stephen likely took exception to the Scribes interpretations of the law that had become almost as important as scripture itself to the people.
They drag Stephen into court in front of the Sanhedrin, The lying witnesses said, "This man is always speaking against the Temple and against the law of Moses. They look at Stephen, and his face is radiant like that of an angel! You would think that this would put them off, realizing that they are dealing with a Godly man here whose face is Shining just like Moses’ when he came down from meeting with God, but they are blind to the working of God, and the high priest asks the simple question, “are these charges true?”
Stephen launches into a great long sermon that seems to meander and wander through Israel’s history, and end with accusations that have very little connection. It’s recorded on chapter 7, and It is one of the longer sermons recorded in the New Testament, and, if Stephen preached here today, people would probably shake his hand at the door and say, “lovely sermon… What was the point?”
What Stephen does is answer the accusations against him, and in the process he accuses his accusers and calls them to faith in Jesus.
God is not limited to a Structure
While I might start by saying “I did not say those things, they took me out of context!” Stephen places the accusations into context. They have accused him of blaspheming God by speaking against the temple – Stephen doesn’t go after their lie, he goes after their bad theology. To equate the temple with God is folly.
He starts at the beginning of the nation –Abraham. The God of Glory appears to Abraham in Mesopotamia of all places, when the whole family was still worshiping idols. And then again God comes to Abraham at Haran after his father’s death and calls him into the land of Canaan. He promises the land to Abraham’s people, but he never gives him a stitch of it, and he lives much of his life there with no legitimate heirs to continue the hope! The covenant that he gives him is a covenant of circumcision – a mark on the people that they are the people of God – God resides with a people, not a building!
Then he takes us to Joseph who gets sold into slavery by his brothers – the patriarchs by whom the tribes of Israel are named. In Slavery in the pagan country of Egypt, God was with Joseph giving him the wisdom to become ruler of Egypt under Pharaoh. God needed no building to work through Joseph.
When the people were enslaved, God raised up Moses, marked him to be a leader and savior of his people from infancy. Moses steps into leadership in two ways – when an Israelite is being beaten by his Egyptian master, Moses steps in to save him, and in the process, kills the Egyptian. Stephen says “Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. Then Moses tries to settle a dispute between two Israelites. The one in wrong pushes Moses aside and says “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Do you want to kill me like you did the Egyptian? Moses runs off to Midian. Forty years later, God speaks to him through a burning bush on a mountain, no-where near the hill the temple stood on. God declared that spot to be holy ground – not because there was a building on it, but because He was there.
When Moses finally leads the people out of Egypt, God gives them the plans for a Tabernacle – a tent that will be a sign of his presence, and will be a place for the people to meet with God. It does not contain the presence of God, but it is a place to experience his presence.
Later, when David wants to build a permanent temple for God, God allows his son Solomon to build it. Solomon’s temple was not the one standing while Stephen was speaking, this was a much larger temple built by Herod, but the people still held the first temple in highest regard. Stephen says: 48"However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says:
49" ’Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord.
Or where will my resting place be?
50Has not my hand made all these things?’
Basically, God says, you can build me a house, but it cannot contain me – I am bigger than any structure or building you can make – I made the very building materials you will use!
Stephen doesn’t argue with their accusation that he spoke against the temple (although he did not). Instead he shows them that the temple should not be equated with the presence of God – by doing this that had reduced the God of the universe to a territorial spirit, and were engaging in Idolatry by worshiping the building, not the God that they were to meet there.
There other accusation was that Stephen spoke against the Law.
Again he doesn’t argue with the accusation – it would be fruitless since it would be many voices against his one. Instead he says “you’re one to talk”
You have always rejected God’s leaders and their words
Joseph’s brothers rejected him
The people rejected Moses and God – Moses even prophesied the coming of Jesus, but Stephen says: “But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. They told Aaron, ’Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt--we don’t know what has happened to him!’ That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and held a celebration in honor of what their hands had made. But God turned away and gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:
" ’Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
forty years in the desert, O house of Israel?
You have lifted up the shrine of Molech
and the star of your god Rephan,
the idols you made to worship.
Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon. (Acts 7:39-43)
Even though they had the very presence of God with them, they still turned to idols; they still refused to obey the Law even though it was given from God himself.
And then Stephen goes for the jugular. – he says not only did your forefathers not obey they law and reject Moses – you rejected and killed the very one he prophesied about!
"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him-- 53you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it." (verse 51—53)
Needless to say, the people in the court were none to pleased at Stephen’s sermon, but God lets Stephen see right into heaven where he sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God – he tells everyone what he is seeing, and they freak out! They cover their ears so as not to hear him and drown him out with their shouts.
They are like our children who cover their ears and say “la la la… I’m not listening…la la la…
They rush him and drag him outside the city where they stone him. Saul of Tarsus is there, holding the coats, and while they stone him Stephen, the first martyr of the church follows his Savior by praying for himself and his attackers
Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
This is what Stephen said to the people of his day – God is not constrained to buildings, and structures, by being so caught up in the creation and your own opinions about it, you missed what God is doing and what he has done in Jesus Christ.
What is Stephen saying to us 2000 years later?
Don’t miss God’s Salvation
God always a mixture of the small and surprising, and the obvious when he calls leaders and saviors – it is a scandal to different people for different reasons. It is a scandal to those who are always looking for God to do big splashy things when he starts with the small and insignificant – the divine surprises. It is a scandal to those who think that God always must be new and original when he uses the obvious.
Just look at the people Stephen names
Abraham – a childless man in pagan Iraq, just going about his own business – but a man so blessed by God that he could chase after four kings who had just defeated five kings in Canaan, defeat them, and bring back the plunder including his nephew Lot and his family
Joseph – hated by his brothers and sold into slavery, wrongfully imprisoned in Egypt, but so blessed by God as to become second only to Pharaoh and saving his people from famine.
Moses – raised not as a Hebrew, but as an Egyptian, one of the oppressors – rejected by both side as being the other, exiled for forty years, called when he was eighty to bring the people out of slavery, but so blessed by God as to miraculously defeat pharaoh and his whole army, he heard the very voice of God!
David – the smallest of his family, and possibly illegitimate (did you ever wonder why Jesse kept him in the fields when Samuel came around to anoint one of his sons?) but he grows to be a great warrior, and the greatest king of Israel.
Jesus – Son of a poor carpenter, born homeless, a refugee, not trained, but steps into public ministry at the age of 33 with the very power of God in his words and in his hands – Dies as a traitor & blasphemer between two thieves and so doing becomes the savior of the world.
Do not miss God’s salvation because it is too small and surprising – a teacher with a small following in a backwater Roman province 2000 years ago.
Do not miss God’s salvation because it is too obvious – when you grow up in a culturally Christian, Jesus seems like old news – don’t you have something more fresh and exciting?
Do not miss God’s salvation – listen to what the Spirit is saying, he will lead you to Jesus, and Jesus will lead you to your true Father.
God will build up and knock down structures as He sees fit
It was God who gave the designs for the tabernacle to Moses in the desert. It was God who said that it had served its purpose and gave the designs for a temple to be built. It was God, who by the hands of the Roman army destroyed that temple when it was no longer needed because he had created a new temple through Jesus Christ in the Church. It was God who gave Moses the Law, and it was God who fulfilled the law by sending Jesus to die for all the things we have done wrong. In Chapter 6 of Acts, God gives a new structure to the new church so that ministry can continue.
The problem that the people who killed Stephen had was that they did not distinguish between God and the structures God had given. There were people in that day who would stand outside the temple and shout “the house of the Lord, the house of the Lord, the house of the Lord…” over and over again. When we begin to worship the structures that God has given over God, and over what he is going to give, we set up idols that are actually opposed to God.
We are not that far from the people who killed Stephen – we can hold tightly to the structures that God has given. I think it took a couple hundred years to get the pipe organ into the church, and then it took another couple hundred years to get it out!
When King James commissioned translators to translate the Bible into common English back in the 1600’s it was so that the common person could understand it – it sounds like Shakespeare because that’s how people talked – Shakespeare’s plays were staged in inn courtyards – like modern-day pubs – they were like movies of today, and the Bible was translated into that sort of language. But when the common people could no longer understand it because the language had changed, there was all sorts of religious uproar over the new translations. We hold to tightly to the things God has given us for a time.
On the other hand what we have experienced in the charismatic renewal is a vast lack of structure – and some of us have lifted up unstructured worship and church life like it is the sacred cow. – God doesn’t have any cows so sacred that he cannot make hamburger.
Even the early church had to have a swift kick in the pants to break out of its comfort zone to fulfill what Jesus commanded. In the Beginning of Acts, before Jesus has been taken up into heaven, he says to the disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” By the end of Chapter 7, do you know how far the got? Jerusalem.
It is only after Stephen is martyred that the church is forced out of Jerusalem. Listen to what 8:1 says: “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” Hmmm… Judea & Samaria – sound familiar?
Listen to what happens when Philip gets to Samaria: 8:4-8
“So there was great joy in that city.” That city would not have had that great joy if Stephen’s martyrdom and the ensuing persecution had not happened.
God can bring joy out of pain – the heart of worship
Runnymede Baptist Church
There has been a number of words in the past while about how God has his hand on our church. That he is in the midst of removing things that we might be relying on to led us into a better place. And I expect him to give us some new structures so that we might serve him better. You might ask “like what?” The answer is I don’t quite know, but I know that he is doing a work in our church.
I don’t think that we are alone in this. A little while ago one of the pastors at our meeting had a very simple but powerful word – it was about us worshiping in these beautiful buildings with stained glass etc. and God said that he would rather see these beautiful buildings blown up if the world would see his glory.
At about the same time Dennis Hassle wrote the story called the last Baptist Church. It was about a dying church in the inner city whose building burnt to the ground. The congregation started to hold services in the burnt out shell, people would come on to their balconies to see what was happening – the children’s program was held in the local park, and pretty soon you couldn’t tell which were church kids, and which were neighbourhood kids. People in the neighbourhood found love, and they found Christ in the ashes of the old building.
Dennis told me that it was the first time that he had ever had a story just come to him from beginning to end like a gift. I told him that I thought that it was prophetic. I’m not sure he has a mental box to put that in. but I believe that is a prophetic story.
Like the early church, God will take away our most treasured structures so that we will get out into the world. He will also build up structures for the same purpose – like the appointing of the seven in the beginning of the story.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not about to take up arson! But this is a time when we as a church need to keep an ear to heaven to not miss what God is doing, and to not hold too tightly to what he has already done.
