Paul, Patriotism, and Pragmatism
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
What do you think about when you think of the word, “patriotism?” It’s easy for people to get worked up – some are emphatically patriotic – they love this nation, they love the sacrifices others made, and they want everyone to know.
Others are shocked that Christians could possibly consider themselves “patriots.” We’re patriots of God’s Kingdom, they say. Don’t you know all the horrible things America has done? What about you? What do you think? (Ask WhatsApp audience too)
I’m left wondering who I could look to to help me understand how these questions should be answered. There’s one guy in the Bible who was a citizen of the Jewish “nation” and also a Roman citizen. How does he deal with his role in the Kingdom? How does he navigate these opposing kingdoms? Let’s look through some moments of Paul’s life and think about what he did – and what he could’ve done.
1. Paul in the Synagogue
1. Paul in the Synagogue
Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and went back to Jerusalem. They continued their journey from Perga and reached Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, you can speak.”
Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said, “Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen!
What did he do? What could he have done? What does it tell us about Paul?
2. Paul Released from Jail
2. Paul Released from Jail
When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, “Release those men.”
The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.”
But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to send us away secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out.”
The police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. So they came to appease them, and escorting them from prison, they urged them to leave town. After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house, where they saw and encouraged the brothers and sisters, and departed.
What did he do? What could he have done? What does it tell us about Paul?
3. Paul with the Mob
3. Paul with the Mob
Then the commander approached, took him into custody, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done. Some in the crowd were shouting one thing and some another. Since he was not able to get reliable information because of the uproar, he ordered him to be taken into the barracks. When Paul got to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, for the mass of people followed, yelling, “Get rid of him!”
As he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, “Am I allowed to say something to you?”
He replied, “You know how to speak Greek? Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago and led four thousand men of the Assassins into the wilderness?”
Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Now I ask you, let me speak to the people.”
What did he do? What could he have done? What does it tell us about Paul?
4. Paul about to be whipped
4. Paul about to be whipped
As they were yelling and flinging aside their garments and throwing dust into the air, the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, directing that he be interrogated with the scourge to discover the reason they were shouting against him like this. As they stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing by, “Is it legal for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and is uncondemned?”
When the centurion heard this, he went and reported to the commander, saying, “What are you going to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”
The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”
“Yes,” he said.
The commander replied, “I bought this citizenship for a large amount of money.”
“But I was born a citizen,” Paul said.
So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately. The commander too was alarmed when he realized Paul was a Roman citizen and he had bound him.
The next day, since he wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and instructed the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to convene. He brought Paul down and placed him before them.
What did he do? What could he have done? What does it tell us about Paul?
5. Paul appealing to Caesar
5. Paul appealing to Caesar
But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there on these charges?”
Paul replied, “I am standing at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you yourself know very well. If then I did anything wrong and am deserving of death, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
Then after Festus conferred with his council, he replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.”
The king, the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them got up, and when they had left they talked with each other and said, “This man is not doing anything to deserve death or imprisonment.”
Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
What did he do? What could he have done? What does it tell us about Paul?
What kind of picture do we see now?
Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh—although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.
But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.
My first and final allegiance is to God
The stuff in this world is just that - stuff. (Phil 3.2-7)
Lesser allegiances must not distract me 2 Tim 2.4-6
And they will - that’s their nature
I will use my rights for God’s glory and to bless others