An Upside Down World

Acts 17: 1-6

“When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.5 But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the believers before the city authorities, crying, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also…”

Paul preached the gospel in a Thessalonians synagogue.  The God-fearing Gentiles and prominent women who were there responded to Paul’s message in large numbers.  This shocked and concerned the Jews.  Paul’s teachings and the response to his teachings were turning the world upside down.

The teachings of Christ run counter to the teachings of the world.  They are, in fact, subversive to the teachings of the world.  Believers live in an upside down world, where leaders are servants, the first are last, and the poor inherit the world. We love where there is hate, forgive when others call for retribution, and give mercy to the heartless.

And we do all these things, not for fame, money, or power; not for any worldly gain.

We do these things for our love of Christ, who was rejected by the world.

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:22-23)

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)