Trouble In Ephesus

Mad About Nothing

Recently I was enjoying morning coffee with Jerianne and our two dogs, Georgia and Myles.

Suddenly Georgia, our Standard Poodle, shot up and started barking at something outside the window.

Myles, our Weimaraner, looked at Georgia for a second and then seemed to think “Well, if she’s barking, I guess I better bark too.”

If Georgia barked, then Myles barked louder and I don’t think he ever had any idea what he was barking at.

I was reminded of that example when reading in verse 32 of this week’s passage that:

Acts 19:32 NIV

The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.

Neither Myles nor a whole bunch of people in this assembly had any idea why they were angry, but they were ready to go!

It remind me of fights in Northeast Kentucky, where my dad grew up...

“If you’re fighting, we’re fighting!”

Now, I don’t think Georgia was trying to manipulate Myles, but Demetrius was sure trying to manipulate that crowd.

Fear

Acts 19:25–28 (NIV)

[Demetrius said] There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

Know how to stoke the greatest amount of fear in people?

Tell them that the things that matter most to them are going to be taken away.

Health, wealth, nation, God...

...And then create an enemy...

That sounds like Demetrius...

“These guys are teaching about Jesus, and if we let that happen Artemis and all Ephesian culture will collapse!”

Demetrius was not primarily concerned about the honor of Artemis, was he?

His motivation was actually money.

He reminds me a little of the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.

The Ephesians are a little like her flying monkeys.

Demetrius incites fear and then the monkeys fly off to do the dirty-work.

Our Fears Today

I wonder if you can identify how people try to manipulate with fear today.

Can you identify a few people playing the role of Demetrius in the world today?

Can you identify a movement, a cause, or even people who are like the crowd?

Here’s the really tough question?

Are you, or have you been, either a Demetrius or a member of that sort of crowd?

Pastor Lynne talked about blind spots last week, and I think that’s valuable way to look at fears.

Most of us aren’t aware that fear and anger are usually connected.

Fear of being controlled.

Fear of being ridiculed.

Fear of not having enough or missing out.

Fear of failure.

Fear of betrayal.

Fear of conflict.

When those fears are stoked, anger uually bubbles to the surface.

And then Demetrius gets to tell you to do whatever he wants...

Whether the fear is in me, or in someone else, Jesus refuses to make fear our standard.

In the Light of Love

John 14:27 NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

1 John 4:18 NIV

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Love and peace are the weapons Christians wage in this world.

Fear and fear mongering are the exact opposite of Christian virtue.

It always looks for someone to blame

“Thank God we aren’t like THOSE people!”

“Don’t let THOSE people join us!”

Crazy thing is, the more you judge them, the less Godly YOU become.

Romans 2:1 NIV

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

Question: Do you think God loves your enemies?

Ah, but you don’t understand, Pastor! There’s evil in this world!

Matthew 5:43–48 NIV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

It so happens, however, that Jesus loved THOSE people and ALL people, including you and me.

In fact, Jesus went so far as to point out that fear, no matter the context, speaks to lack of faith.

Mark 4:39–40 (NIV)

[Jesus] got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Why are we so afraid when people agitate, create storms, and tell us we need to be agitated and join the storm?

City Clerk

Fortunately, there’s one guy in today’s text who gets it.

Acts 19:35–41 (NIV)

The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?

It sounds a lot like the wisdom of Gamaliel in Acts 5.

When Peter and the apostles refuse to stop teaching, the religious leaders became enraged when Gamaliel finally speaks:

Acts 5:38–39 (NIV)

Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

When you have to use force to shut people up through fear and manipulation, either your faith is weak or your God is weak.

The way I see it is this...

God didn’t need my help to create the heavens, the earth, our country, the church, or anything else in all creation.

If Jesus can calm the wind, I imagine he can handle what is happening in the world today.

All God expects me to do is love him and my neighbor.

Love is the Standard

You’ve already heard me quote it at least once. You’ll hear it again...

Matthew 22:37–40 NIV

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Two commandments, but only one law.

Love. Just love.

Love God! Love your neighbor!

Know what that means?

It means life gets a lot more simple!

If someone tells me to hate a person or a group of people.

Nope. I get to love my neighbor.

If someone tells me to be afraid about the direction of the church or our nation.

Nope. I have faith in God and I get to bless my enemies.

A friend of mine, Dwight Harp, is an Anglican Deacon. I heard him out it this way once, “Christians are in sales. Not management.”

Question

Who would you be free to love, appreciate, and embrace if love was your only standard?

If you no longer accepted fear, anger, or resentment as a standard...

Which church and national leaders would you stop listening to?

which ones would you start to listen to?

It’s pretty simple.

Look for the voices that embrace others rather than reject.

Look for the voices that are quick to forgive and slow to condemn.

Look for voices of peace rather than riot.

Look to the voices that call you to love rather than fear.

In those voices you’ll find Jesus, the foundation of all Grace in the Race of faith.

Amen