It was worship, indeed, that day for some. The afternoon sacrifice was never like that before. On their way up the terraces into the Temple, two men stopped in front of the lame beggar, the one having long ago become a fixture of the Beautiful Gate, between the vast Court of Gentiles and the Court of Women. While most who gave alms never looked directly at a beggar to whom they gave, nor he them, these two seemed to have something unusual in mind. Would they taunt him as some did, or would they give him something beyond the usual minimal coins?
The beggar seemed to anticipate the latter, and focussed his attention on them with eagerness. Then, as the throng was passing on the way to the hour of worship, they said something to him, then lifted him to his feet! To the shock and amazement of all, the beggar began hopping up and down, yelling praises to God. And so it was, probably for the first time in his life, the beggar went on into the temple on his own two feet, all the while clinging to the two men who had evidently been responsible for the miracle.
The beggar's loud and enthusiastic praise for God was somewhat echoed by those who had seen him there, in the gate where he was dropped off by friends, day after day. When the ritual was completed, and the crowd began filtering out, the beggar continued his ecstatic outbursts of praise, along with demonstrative leaping. All the while, he kept a tight grip on his benefactors. When they had made it as far as the long Portico of Solomon, in the shade of it's colonnaded cover, the crowd began to coalesce on the spot where the two men had been teaching everyday after worship. Many in the crowd were shouting excitedly about the man's healing, to the point that people who seldom stopped for anything on their way out were literally running over to the spot.
Some recognized Peter as one of the major fish vendors who had connections here in Jerusalem. At least, it looked like Simon Peter. He certainly did not act like the Peter they knew. In the past he had been bold and blustery, waffling on things that didn't come out right, changing his mind about things from one day to the next. This Peter was calm, confident, and had not changed his tune on what he had been teaching for several weeks. Now he handled debate calmly, and was not backing down on anything he asserted. That was a small miracle in itself!
When he and his young friend had begun this teaching group, one of several in the portico area, they hadn't attracted too much attention. But today, it seemed the whole city was crowding around. Peter siezed the opportunity to proclaim his odd teachings about a recent troublemaker named Jesus. The man in question had so infuriated the whole political hierarchy in the city that they arranged to have him arrested and tried. Apparently, they had smoothed the way for the Roman governor, Pilate, to declare him a capital criminal under Roman Law. Some last minute complications had arisen, and almost spoiled the whole deal.
But finally, Pilate gave them permission to execute him. There had been a host of strange and inexplicable events at the same time -- an earthquake in the city had damaged the Temple, there was talk of dead folks reappearing alive, the awful and unexplained darkness at midday the day he died -- and now these two had been claiming the man was not dead. They went all over the place doing some of the same miracles Jesus had done, too. Today, their stories were much more credible.
No surprise, then, when the Temple Guard came and arrested the two men, along with the formerly lame beggar. Many wondered if this was the end of their little sect. But as it was later leaked out from someone who worked as a scribe for the Sanhedrin, the men had dared to suggest that to obey the Court's injunction against teaching Jesus' sayings, would be to disobey God!
We have mentioned the importance of placing a high priority on the welfare of those you lead. It's hard enough to decide what to do when that concern conflicts with your mission. Assuming your mission is from God, based on His calling, we can also assume that such conflicts are only apparent. Either you misunderstand their genuine needs, or you need a fresh vision of your mission. Until such conflicts are resolved in your mind, it can be an experience one philosopher called "the dark night of the soul." No one can give you a simple answer to such difficulties. It can't be taught, though it may be caught if you intern with experienced godly leaders.
But you may not be called to lead in a voluntary organization. Or you may not have the time to mull it over, such as in emergencies. If the mission, as you understand it, requires the risky action, be sure you are honest about it with those you lead. As a point of honor, you will of course absorb as much of the risk as possible for yourself.
Then there are times when you aren't convinced the mission requires it. It's not unheard of that superior leaders might be wholly dishonorable, and demand of their subordinates things that are patently illegal, or just unconscionable. Your commitment to God, to your followers, and their welfare, require you to fight such orders. In a voluntary organization, you might be in a similar bind when the civil authorities demand things that violate your commitments. While such incidents were remote in times past, only the blind cannot see that it is becoming more common in modern times.
While it's typical of easychair philosophers to proclaim you must resist within the system's own rules, I have seen when that was hoplessly futile. If there's one thing wisdom can tell us, it's that any system of government -- political or military -- will always set rules that prevent bucking that system. Some of those rules are the unwritten kind, the ones that are actually in effect, regardless of what's on the books.
Leaders who have availed themselves of reading history, or just good fiction, can confront themselves with various scenarios of such conflict with the established system. In careful consultation with God, in prayer and His Word, it's not too hard to lay down principles before they are needed. Such preparation is simply a normal part of spiritual growth.
Peter and John acted with calm defiance before the Sanhedrin, which was their first layer of national civil government. This story is included as an example of how we ought to act. Does this conflict with Paul's admonition in Romans 13? Only if you read with a shallow, literalist mind. Paul was warning of those who carried a wrong attitude. Our first instinct as followers of Christ is that government is a gift from the Father, to protect us from the chaos of "might makes right." Paul's teaching is not a blanket requirement that we meekly obey a government even when it departs from God's purpose.
Clearly, Peter and John knew the Sanhedrin had done so. They knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what they were called to do, and no earthly authority could contradict that. Many times things will not be so obvious. I defy anyone to decide for all Christians where to draw the line. The mere attempt to do so is ungodly in itself.
The guiding principle is best stated by Paul in another place: Ephesians 6:12. When decision time comes, keep your fight focussed on the one real enemy, Satan. Your conflict is not with those whom he uses. You may have to battle them in one sense or another, but they are not the real enemy. How you conduct your warfare must reflect your mission, the particular way in which you are opposing Satan. Be consistent with your calling, while maintaining an awareness that the Father can modify that calling at His whim.
Don't ever get the idea you will never face this problem. Our Enemy is just looking for a way to make a meal out of your ministry. He has plenty of goons in high places, waiting his call. When your service for the Lord threatens him, he will act.
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Ed Hurst
28 September 2002
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