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We live in a day where it seems that Christians are expected to just quietly lay back and let the world go on its merry way. We are told by political leaders that it is okay to be people of faith as long as we keep it to ourselves. We have been shamed if we try to share our faith. In England, a Christian has been thrown into jail for quietly praying outside of an abortion clinic.

Let us think back to the early church and what persecution they must have dealt with. Christianity or the “Way” as it was known in the early days was thought to be just some other religion with some crazy ideas about a triune God, and resurrection from the dead. Needless to say, the early Christian was scorned, looked down on, and even put to death in many cases. If you are like me you may wonder, how in the world did Christianity not only last but thrive in such an environment? 

To answer that question we have to be reminded of the encouragement sent by the Apostle Paul in II Timothy 1:8-10, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” They are reminded of a holy calling to present the gospel anywhere and everywhere they could. There was no shame in being identified as a follower of Jesus Christ. The early followers bravely faced death rather than disappoint their Lord.

It is passion and tenacity that drove the Jews and Greeks bonkers because they could not shut these people down or shut them up. That is why the Jews were throwing such a fit when the apostles and disciples would come into a new city. They would go to the city officials and in the book of Acts would say this, in chapter 17:6, “These men who have upset the world have come here also.” In another translation, it says, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” Now, how awesome would it be to have such a reputation?

The reality is that we could have such a reputation if we got back to business, back to the business of not being ashamed of the gospel, our Lord, and the power of resurrection. Let us once again be known as the people who turn the world upside down and watch people be drawn to the cross as in the day of the acts of the Holy Spirit in the early church.