Saturday 09 May 2009
- Bible Book:
- Acts
"So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." (v.51-52)
Background
Religious tolerance - or the lack of it - has been a persistentthread running through human history. Because individual religiousbeliefs concern things so close to people's hearts, it mattersacutely how others view your beliefs and how people respond when wetry to explain the basis of our faith.
When other religions, or other faith groups, appear to be in anexciting state of growth and development, those left behind can, asLuke records here, feel acutely jealous. And jealousy in turn leadsto hostility.
The story develops into one of Luke's recurrent themes, that of thetension between people of Jewish origins becoming Christians andothers - Gentiles (non-Jews) - finding faith in Jesus without goingvia Judaism. But this is a new twist on the story, with complexundercurrents swirling around in the background. People presentedwith the gospel of Christ can choose to accept or reject him. HerePaul and Barnabas decided to mount a proactive response, shakingthe dust off their feet and moving on. Their strategy seems to havebeen the right one, as they go on their way filled with joy and theHoly Spirit.
To Ponder
In what ways have you experienced religiousintolerance?
What might Jesus have said if he had been in themiddle of this situation?
Can you think of situations where maybe 'shakingthe dust off your feet' might have been your best response?