Acts 19:24-27
A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 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."
Was Demetrius' god really Artemis? I don't think so. It was the money he was making, the business that was being threatened by Paul preaching the good news of Jesus. Surely Demetrius must have known what Paul and the others of The Way were teaching. Did he really evaluate it and decided worshipping the gods he created with his own hands made more sense? Was he just so in love with the money he was making that he was unable to choose Christ over his profits? And then Demetrius says Paul was the one leading the people astray.
Today is no different. It really is a messed up, upside down world we live in. Turning people to truth, holding firm to faith in Christ and proclaiming the truth that He is The Only Way is seen as closed mindedness. Trying to live up to Biblical values and thinking there ought to be certain moral standards means you are just out of touch with the real world. And selling out principles to make a quick buck or save on your taxes is seen as being resourceful rather than wrong.
How do I respond when I hear truth that, if I act properly towards, will force real change in my life or cause me to lose something I've come to value? Is my first response to bend my knee and obey? Or do I rationalize why I shouldn't change and rally others to see it my way?
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