There Arose No Small Stir

Introduction

Key Verse: Acts 19:23 “And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.”

Theme: Living for Jesus in the public sphere will cause a disturbance. Christianity is supposed to be counter-cultural.

Christianity in America has become anemic and powerless largely because it has lost its relationship with God and dependence on the Spirit. Throughout the ages, Christianity has always been a force for change and a voice in the world around it because Christians were living lives that were radically different from the cultures around them. It is logical and fair to ask, why Christianity does not have this same impact today?

Is it because God is less powerful?

Is it because the world is more evil that the Roman Empire of Paul’s day?

Is it because the gospel has less power to change lives?

The answer to all these questions is a definite No! God is still on His throne, society is not more corrupt than the Roman society of the day and the gospel still changes lives. So what is the problem?

I think the answer could be one of many:

Godly Christians don’t live in the public sphere anymore. We have taken separation to mean isolation. John 17:15-16 “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

The average Christian looks, acts and thinks no different than the world around them. 2 Cor 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Our lives are dramatically new. Shouldn’t it be obvious that we aren’t like them. 2 Cor 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”

Christians are too enamored with what the world has to offer that those things have their heart. 1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Preachers have slacked off on preaching against sin. 2 Tim 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Teaching is necessary but it has become such a mainstay in our churches that we don’t ever rebuke or reprove. Taking the words of Jesus out of context, This ought ye to have done and not left the other undone.

Honest believers live in ignorance of how to walk with Christ and in the Spirit.

The version of Christianity that we see today, is not the version of Christianity that shook the world. It is not the Christianity that changed nations and empires. It is not the Christianity that got the gospel to pagan tribes around the globe. Our version of Christianity has not impact on the world because something is wrong with it.

From our text today, we see that living for Jesus in the public sphere will cause disturbances. Christianity is supposed to be counter cultural. Throughout history, Christians and Christianity have made a difference in society because Christians were not afraid to live their faith boldly in a pagan world. One of the most significant events in the history of America was the civil war and I know that there are some southerners right now who believe Abraham Lincoln was not a good guy, but you cannot argue with his own private communications and journals. Abraham Lincoln was an example of how our faith is intended to shake up our influence in the public sphere. Listen to these words explaining his rationality just prior to the Emancipation Proclamation.

“The will of God prevails,” Lincoln began. “In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be wrong. God can not be for, and against the same thing at the same time. In the present civil war it is quite possible that God’s purpose is something different from the purpose of either party — and yet the human instrumentalities, working just as they do, are of the best adaptation to effect His purpose.”

~Abraham Lincoln

The faith shook this country and motivated change in 1863. This was not the first time godly men’s faith radically affected the culture. Since the beginning, we see true Christianity having an influence on the culture around us. Our text this morning ends in a riot in the city of Ephesus. Paul has been ministering there now nearing three years. Three years of ministry for Paul had a great impact. It is believed that all the 7 churches of the book of Revelations we started during this time. A healthy church with a fully developed group of leaders was planted and the gospel when out to all of Asia. God was taking ground from Satan and Satan was not happy. As it nears time for Paul to move on, the unbelievers have had enough of this preaching about Jesus.

Their culture was threatened vs 18-23

Last week, we looked at the impact that these sons of Scheva had on Ephesus as they tried to cast out a demon in the name of Jesus and Paul, but they themselves were not believers. They wanted to use Jesus rather than serve Jesus. They wanted His power without a relationship with Jesus and you can’t have it any other way. As an aside, much of Christianity wants the power of the Holy Spirit but they are not willing to walk in a relationship with Jesus Christ. They can’t manage to sacrifice sometime to spend with Him in prayer and Bible meditation. They have in essence the same heart as these vagabond Jews.

God’s glory was seen in that He would not be used and the demon lept upon the men and chased them out naked and wounded. This scene did not happen in some back alley because it was known to all the Jews and the Gentiles of Ephesus. They were smitten with fear and the name of Jesus was magnified.

Those who believed came confessing their sins and making public their evil deeds. Ephesus as we discussed last time was a city consumed by the magical arts and worship of false gods. Those who were now believers wanted to make a clean break with their old lives and wanted to get rid of everything that would displease God. They brought their magic books and burned them. This was not some Nazi book burning where they were forced to burn their evil books. This was a voluntary desire to rid their lives of everything that was displeasing to the Lord.

So many people came forward with books to burn that the estimated value was 50,000 pieces of silver. This is approximately 137 years worth of wages without a single day off. This would be like a person making $50,000 a year sacrificing 137 years worth of that income. That would be $6,850,000 in todays income.

Luke concludes in vs 20 that the word of God grew mightily but notice the word “so.” It is because of this radical change in the people, their passionate desire to eliminate all things displeasing to God that the word of God’s influence spread and prevailed in their evil culture.

These people could have said that having magic books was just part of being a Ephesian. In fact, certain magical incantations were called Ephesia Grammata. This many people turning away from their cultural practices that displeased the Lord makes a bold impact and their renunciation of these practices was not private. Everyone knew what they had done.

Christians have become anemic when it comes to calling out sinful practices of the world. We ignore homosexuality, transgenderism, the free sex culture. We adopt the dress that has been made popular by sinful music artists and actors. We listen to the same music that the world listens to with all its filth, rebellion and anger. When you look at the average Christian, there is no difference between them and the culture around us. I am not advocating difference merely to be different (or we would be Amish), but why is it that we want to be just like lost people. When someone falls madly in love with Jesus Christ, all those other things are going to fall way.

The world is uncomfortable with the Christians because they don’t do the things that they do. 1 Peter 4:4-5 “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.” It is concerning when the world can only say good things of a Christian. Let’s turn to John 15:18-25 “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.”

According to this passage the culture will hate us because:

it hated Jesus and we follow Him

We have been called out of the world

We are to act like our master- say the things he says vs 22 and do the things that he did vs 24 ie rebuke sin.

We will speak of Jesus vs 27

Is it possible the world is not stirred up about Christianity because we don’t act any different and we definitely do not stand up and speak about Jesus as we should? Christianity threatened the culture of the day.

Doesn’t our culture need to be threatened by lives transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Their business was threatened vs 24-27

Luke often traces the theme that riches are an obstacle to accepting Christ. One’s view of wealth is directly related to one’s view of God. Consider that it is Luke who spoke repeatedly about the church sharing their money to help the needs of other believers. It is also Luke who shares the account of Ananias and Sapphire who greedily held back money and lied to God. Demetrius gathers together a group of men from his trade guild because he feels that his business is being threatened by the gospel.

We will be put out of business vs 25 If people stop worshipping Diana, they won’t buy our silver shrines. Demetrius and his friends made their money by making little homemade idols and shrines that could be taken home so you could worship at home. Many countries do this even today. They will have a little shrine on a shelf to the spirits or their ancestors where they offer incense and other little offerings daily.

2. We will be discredited vs 26 If Paul’s message is true that these gods are not real, people will think they are frauds. They are in essence selling snake oil to solve people’s problems. But if these gods are not real, then that artisans are taking advantage of people.

Its kinda like selling tin hats to protect against alien mind reading. If aliens don’t exist whats the point of the tin hat.

3. All our work will come to nothing vs 27 The men who sold silver shrines were not from the aristocratic educated classes. They only had one skill. If this is taken away from them how are they going to make their money. Their entire lively hood would come to nothing.

A. Christianity will eliminate some sources of income. Believe it or not their are some jobs that a Christian cannot have. I won’t go into detail, but you can think of some obvious examples. Christians should not going to purchase the goods from certain industries like the drug industry. If everyone becomes a Christian, that is going to threaten certain industries and their income. Some things would disappear altogether if everyone became a Christian. One shameful industry that ought to be put out of existence if everyone were Christian and they all lived the way they should would be the abortion industry. We can debate extreme situations and if that’s what you hold to regular doctors can do that. You don’t need abortion clinics to make money off of the death of innocent babies.

B. Christianity will also change unjust business practices Christianity does not imply socialism contrary to liberal theologians but it does refute crony capitalism. You cannot be a consistent Christian and take advantage of people in the business world. The old testament is filled with commands to treat your workers right and do justly with those you do business with. We may not be under the OT law, but God’s heart didn’t magically change about right and wrong. Consistent, biblical Christianity should shake up the business world. Christians should be the best managers and business owners. People should want to work for Christians because they are treated right.

The business world would be radically shaken up if Christians lived out their faith in their business practices.

Are you a Christian merely at church or does your faith define every area of your life?

Their religion was threatened vs 27-30

Probably the biggest threat Christianity makes to a society is to their religion. Biblical Christianity cannot be held at the same time as pagan religions. You cannot be a Shinto-Christians, a Muslim Christian, a Hindu Christian. Jesus said John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Notice in Acts 19:23 “And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.” Christianity was called the way because our message is that Jesus is the only way to have your sins forgiven and to go to heaven. It is also called the way because it was a way of life.

Demetrius levelled another concern against Christianity: that it threatened their religion. He claimed that if they don’t do something about Christianity then:

Diana will be despised- Their great goddess would be viewed as nothing. Remember this was one of the seven wonders of the world. People would begin to ignore and look down on this idol.

Her magnificence would be destroyed- possibly her temple would be torn down, but at the very least her greatness would be gone. She would just become another forgotten idol in the sands of time.

Later on Pliny the younger would described the influence that Christianity had on the religious practices in other Roman cities:

At any rate, it is certainly a fact that the temples, which were almost deserted, are now beginning to be frequented. The sacred rites, which were for a long time interrupted, are to be resumed, and the fodder for the sacrifices are being sold again.

Christianity is exclusive, but sometimes I feel like we are apologetic of that fact. We are hesitant to tell people, “You can’t be saved in any other religion.” We are hesitant to tell people, “You can’t do enough good to work your way to heaven.” Salvation is only by faith in Jesus Christ.

Could it be possible that Christianity doesn’t stir up our society because we are too ashamed to say Jesus is the way the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by Him?

Their politics and civic freedom was threatened vs31-41

The remainder of the chapter tells how one politician pacifies the situation. But the fact that he had to intervene shows how Christianity even threatened their politics and civic freedoms.

A. Some of their politicians were becoming sympathetic to Christianity. vs 31 I hesitate to say any of these men were christians because their job was to facilitate the Emperor worship and from among their number a high priest of the temple worship was selected. But men high up in authority in the city of Ephesus were friendly to the Christians. These influential men stopped Paul from going into the arena because they knew nothing good would happen if he did. Most politicians are not truly favorable to Christianity. But some are and their values align with our values. Paul clearly was able to have some kind of political influence on the city of Ephesus by this relationship. I think it is interesting that these men are called friends of Paul. I am not an advocate of Christian Nationalism because I think the only true way to change a culture is by the preaching of the gospel and discipling believers, but there is a need and a place for Christians in politics.

I think of Adam Morgan, patch the pirates son-in-law, also known to the kids as Commodore Pirate. Adam Morgan is a state senator in South Carolina and recently made news lobbying for the unheard voices of aborted children. We need men like that in America. While the Christian is a pilgrim and a sojourner on this earth that doesn’t mean we have no influence on the culture around us. The book of 1 Peter is entirely about living as pilgrims in a culture antithetical to our faith. Some of you kids or young adults, it is not a sin to want to be a good godly Christian politician.

As an aside, no political party is completely Christian and Christians should vote and follow their values not a party. We are here not to support power structures but godliness. Is it possible we have become too consumed with a political party that we have let our voice go silent on what God truly values?

B. Their civic freedom was at risk of being taken away because of this riot. vs 40 At the end of the account, the town clerk is afraid Rome is going to come and take away their freedoms, to judge the city of Ephesus. Ephesus was a free city with its own government, but all that could be taken away if Rome interceded. Our political and civic culture is worried that Christianity might take away some of their rights. But let me remind you no one has a right to do evil. Just because society accepts something as permissible or even suggested doesn’t mean it is right. Christianity stands for the right of the unborn. No woman has a right to kill a baby. But the world cries you are taking away women’s rights.

If Christianity is a way of life, than shouldn’t its values impact even our politics?

Conclusion

Let’s go back to where we started. Our theme verse for this chapter is Acts 19:23 “And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.” Christianity when it is lived out biblically ought to create quite a stir in the culture surrounding us. Christianity lived out in the power of the Spirit is going to make a difference. The world ought not to love the Christian because it did not love his master. As we walk as Jesus walked, we will have the same response.

The focus of this message is not creating a stir. Notice the Christians were not revolutionaries. They didn’t go out stirring up problems, throwing bricks at the temple of Diana or burning down temples. In face according to Acts 19:37 “For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.” They didn’t even blaspheme the name of Diana. The stir was caused by a world that did not like what Christianity stood for. We have seen this before in Acts 17:6 “And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;”

Christianity threatened their evil culture, their ungodly business practices, their religious beliefs and even their political structures.

The question I want to ask you this morning is this, “Is the world changed on seeing Christ living though you?”