Pursue the Truth

Acts 24:1-9

“1 Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Your Excellency, because of you we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. 3 We welcome this in every way and everywhere with utmost gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. 5 We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, and so we seized him.[d] 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the charge by asserting that all this was true.”

Paul’s accusers arrived in Caesarea and presented their case against Paul to Governor Felix.  They led with flattery, playing up to Felix’s vanity,  and ended with lies, using any means to accomplish their goal of punishing or killing Paul, who was seen as a threat to their way of life.

Our core beliefs are the things that make us who we are. When someone challenges these beliefs it is very unsettling and upsetting.  In 1905, Albert Einstein wrote a series of papers within a few months that would challenge and change the way scientists saw and would continue to see the universe.  These papers included his special theory of relativity and his famous equation E=mc².  Scientists now look back on this year as the miracle year, but at the time they were presented, the papers caused quite a stir among scientists, some of whom thought that such concepts were preposterous and could not be true.

The Jews thought that the things Paul was saying about God, Christ, salvation, resurrection, and God’s desire to include both Jews and Gentiles in these things were absurd and could not be true.  They thought they had God completely figured out and had developed their lives around these beliefs.  Now, Paul was preaching a truth that was outside their beliefs, outside of their way of living, and outside of their comfort zone.  Instead of seeking the truth, they sought to preserve a way of life.

What is it that we want- a religion that preserves a way of life, or a relationship with God that leads us to salvation?

Pursue the truth.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)