Persecution, the Growth Strategy of the Early Church

Illustration:

If you will reach back with me in the recesses of your mind to chapter 5, and recall the account of the apostles arrest and standing before the council. A member of the council named Gamaliel stands up and said:

Acts 5:35–39 ESV

And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,

It turns out that Gamaliel was only partially right, indeed theses early Christians would be scattered into the surrounding regions and even the whole world, but it will not be to their demise, but to the spread of Christianity, it would not have the same effect. And so it is in this way that Saul intended to stamp out this Jewish sect called Christianity, but would rather become an agent of change that would result in the spread of the gospel through out the known world.

I have read several books and articles and videos on church growth. They all seems to have the magic formula the 12 easy steps to guarantee growth. I cant remember a single one one who has suggested persecution as a step, and yet we see here in the book of Acts that this is the primary mechanism through which the Gospel would be proclaimed beyond the boundaries of Jerusalem

Persecution… the Growth Strategy of the Early Church

It would be helpful before we really dig in to remind ourselves where this passage which is really one of the major hinges upon which the door of Acts swings chapter 8 marks a change in the locale of the gospel proclamation. What place does this chapter have in the overall story of redemption? Well this marks the gospels journey outside the confines of Jerusalem. It is a fulfilment of the promise give to Abraham that the nations of the world would be blessed by him. In the Old Testament Israel was to be a light shining to the surrounding nations,but now that light would be carried away to far away lands as believers were scattered. It is also a fulfillment of Acts 1:8 which give us a basic outline for Acts itself.

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

John 4:21–24 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Transition: When it comes to plants, there are often several strategies that one can employ stimulate growth. When I planted my blueberry bushes, I planted them in the garden and I made sure to add the right type of soil add peat moss which they love changes the PH of the soil, I put stakes in the ground to support them, gave them plenty of water, and the right amount of sunlight, but I also did some things that seem counterintuitive, for the first 2 years I plucked off all of the buds that could eventually turn into actual blue berries, I did this so that the plant could use its resources and energy to establish strong roots, I also will occasionally take a sharp pair of pruning shears and cut off part of the plant the dead wooden shoots, to stimulate further health and growth of the plant.

Saul, the negative agent of growth

Just an initial reading of the books of Acts, one would notice that this Saul who is ravaging the church is the same person who would later go by the name of Paul and would be the great defender of Christianity and the predominate author of the NT itself. Developing much of the christian doctrine that we hold to today. God would turn this big bad wolf in into a gentle shepherd pastor who gathers sheep instead of devouring them. But for now in Acts the church must endure his rage as he drags men and women out of their homes. However he will soon learn the cost of following Christ and will himself be dragged out of the city of Lystra having been stoned and left for dead for the very faith he once persecuted.

Acts 9:16 ESV

For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

The word used in vs 3 is ravaging. It is a strong word indicating violence and desire to destroy. Couple this with the great persecution it paints a picture of someone who continues to pummel their victim even after they are dead incredible rage. If Paul were a hurricane he would be a category 5. Even the religious rulers actions towards the apostles seems to be tame compared to the way severity of Saul’s actions. One thing to note here is that the text indicates that the church was largely scattered but the apostles remained.

Martin Luther speaks of a time after the black plague, effects that lingered for centuries. He said, “If my neighbor needs me, however, I shall not avoid place or person, but will go freely." Others such as Calvin, puritan Pastors such as Thomas Gataker and William Gouge refused to flee but stayed to help the sick.

The religious rulers tried their best to silence the leaders of this new movement, but could not and so now the strategy must change, and Saul will go after the low hanging fruit namely the common believers.

Galatians 1:13 ESV

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.

1 Timothy 1:13 ESV

though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

Acts 26:11 ESV

And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

This was not just some isolated event, or restricted to the Hellenist believers, but was widespread and fierce.

Phillip, the positive agent of growth

Philip was one of the 7 chosen to administer the to the widows of the church. He was certainly a man of courage and wisdom and power of God.

Samaritans were considered half breeds the products of intermixing of pagans and Jews.

Persecution may not have been the first strategy of the early Christians but it was the instrument that God used and still uses to grow the church

True virtue never appears so lovely as when it is most oppressed, and the divine excellency of real Christianity is never exhibited with such advantage as when under the greatest trials. Jonathan Edwards

True gospel words never were so received with joy than when spoke from the mouth of one who is willing to sacrifice everything to speak it. We are not exactly told but why do you think that the people paid attention to the words that were spoken, besides the fact that it was God’s sovereign purpose to bring salvation to the Samaritans. Because these people lived it, they were scattered and were willing to even give up their lives to to carry this message wherever they went.

What was by design intened to bring send the church into a tail spin and wreak havoc, actually produced the opposite effect, which is Joy. It is the fruit of faith and the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, genltleness, self-control.

Preach Christ, for in Him is contained the whole sum of the Gospel. Paul says to the Corinthians, we preach Christ and Him crucified.

Conclusion:

God brought forth light from darkness, joy from despair, life from death, glory from rage, unity from being scattered, the sound of the gospel from more than just Jerusalem...

And as hearing is the beginning of faith, so it should not be sufficient of itself, unless the majesty of doctrine should also move the hearts. John Calvin

This is the ravaging effects of the Gospel. It strips man of self and he is either destroyed hardened by the gospel or he is likewise destroyed and emerges a new man by faith and joy is the natural result. Either way it has devastating results. It is funny how adversity can either destroy or promote unity.