Gutsy Faith

Introduction to reading:

Our journey through the Narrative Lectionary started in September, we read from the Old testament until Christmas, then the Gospel of John, now moving into Acts, then an epistle for a couple of weeks, then Pentecost.

SUMMARY

Acts of the Apostles is written by the same person who wrote the gospel of Luke, so expect A different writing to style to John.

The Acts of the Apostles portrays Jesus' followers from their days with the risen Jesus in Jerusalem to Paul's mission in Rome. Initial chapters focus on the life of the early community of believers in Jerusalem and the work of the Holy Spirit among them. Called, inspired, and even driven by the Holy Spirit, the apostles spread the gospel throughout northern Mediterranean lands. The story of Paul's call to spread the news of Jesus is the central emphasis of the second half of Acts.[i]

Reading: Acts 8: 1-3, 9:1-19 

Proclamation: Gutsy faith[ii]

I am guessing most of you have heard the story of the dramatic experience of Saul. I have been in places where some people felt less “Christian” because they didn’t have a dramatic experience to tell about when they first met Jesus, or when they decided to follow Jesus.

Saul is changed during this experience, but to me the hero in this story is Ananias.

Before we look deeper at this story, a few comments about the passage:

·         The name of Saul/Paul. Saul was a person with Jewish background who was a Roman citizen[iii]. His name Saul, a Jewish name, and Paul, a Roman name. Like being called John or Johann [German] or Giovanni [Italian], same name, different language. Not too long ago in our history, if you were called Johann, you would change your name to John if you migrated to an English speaking country.

·         Saul was persecuting followers of the Way. The term Christians was not yet in use.
“ “The Way” is a powerful metaphor for Christian identity. Instead of being identified by a set of beliefs, these faithful communities were known by their character in the world. Christian faith was a way of life and one that impelled individuals and communities to leave the safe confines of home and church to walk on the road God had set out. “The Way” suggests that faith is a living, active way of life.” [iv]

·         Jesus asked Saul “Saul! Saul! Why are you so cruel to me?”. Persecuting followers of Jesus, was the same as persecuting Jesus himself.

·         Saul was unable to see and did not eat or drink for three days – I wonder if this is a connection or allusion to 3 days that Jonah was in the belly of the whale and three days that Jesus was in the tomb?
Jonah was another person who argued with God, though Ananias did not run away.

·         The book of Acts was written by a Christian for other Christians. This means they knew who Saul was, and the ending of the story.

That is some of the detail, but what of the experience of Saul, and of Ananias.

Firstly Ananias, all we hear of Ananias is in this passage. Basically, he is a follower of Jesus, living in Damascus. He hears a message from the Lord, and after questioning the wisdom of the request, he goes, and does as he had been told. A minor part in the overall story of the Bible. I wonder what would have happened to Saul if Ananias had said no to God.

Ananias is an example of being a disciple, sometimes that means showing mercy to those you really don’t want to show mercy to at all.  He is faithful and trusting of God and does what he is called to do.[v]

In talking the experience of Saul as a conversion experience, I think we miss the bigness of what happened. Yes, Saul was a changed person, he went persecuting the followers of Jesus, to believing in Jesus.

But this experience was more than a change of mind and heart, it was transformation, a call and a commission to spread the good news. The commission did not come in the voice from the blinding light, it wasn’t even to Saul at this point, but to Ananias: I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me.

Often when we talk about a conversion experience, it is something we have done. We have heard about the good news, about the love of God, and we have decided to follow Jesus.

But here, conversion happens to Paul. He isn’t looking for a change of heart or mind.

He isn’t convinced by the logic of the resurrection, or of his need for forgiveness. All we are told is that Ananias prayed for him, as he was instructed, the Saul regained his sight and was baptised.

“What Saul went through is something that God does.  It is not a self-improvement project. God is in the business of choosing people that most of us would never choose like Jacob who was a thief and a crook or even Moses who killed a man. By showing such extreme examples, we show that God is the one that changes us and not us.” [vi]

Change is not about learning to be a better person, but allowing God to make us better persons, persons on a mission.[vii]

Where does this leave us?

Are we like Ananias, being asked to extend grace, mercy, and forgiveness, because God called us to, not because people deserved it?[viii]

Are we being commissioned to spread the Good News:

Good News that reaches to the widest edges of the world seeking the lost?

Good News that turns to the powerful of the world and demands justice, grace, and peace.

Good News comes with a price, a price we must wonder if we are willing to embrace as Jesus’ disciples.[ix]

We won’t all have an experience like that of Saul on the Damascus Road.

We won’t all be asked to face someone we fear will kill us as Ananias was.

But we are all asked to listen for the call of God in our lives; to follow in the way of Jesus – offering grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

---

[i] http://www.enterthebible.org/newtestament.aspx?rid=12

[ii] The title comes from a commentary on the Annunciation http://www.rickmorley.com/archives/1218?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gutsy-faith-greater-than-the-angels-a-reflection-on-the-annunciation

[iii] https://comesundaydoc.org/2018/04/11/sometimes-by-step-easter-3/

[iv] http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2835

[v] https://comesundaydoc.org/2018/04/11/sometimes-by-step-easter-3/

[vi] https://comesundaydoc.org/2018/04/11/sometimes-by-step-easter-3/

[vii] https://comesundaydoc.org/2018/04/11/sometimes-by-step-easter-3/

[viii] http://rev-o-lution.org/2016/04/01/worship-resources-for-april-10-2016-third-sunday-of-easter/

[ix] http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2835