Micah Bemenderfer

August 26, 2023

Mark Mark

Passage Read: Acts 18-19
Meditation Verses: 19:8-9

Thought

Paul is committed to going to the Jews first and remaining among them until they reject the teaching about Christ. He would speak boldly about Christ, even though it could divide the people, and usually did. When a portion of the Jews decided he was a heretic, he would rebuke them and depart with his disciples. So he was just like a false teacher but would come in and publicly teach about Christ until sharp division arose, then he would split the congregation. He had no hesitation about that and didn't consider it wrong. He didn't quietly subvert the people, but pleaded with and taught all of them the truth about Jesus. Nor did he hesitate to separate from them when opposed. In fact, he condemned those Jews who refused to believe in Jesus: They were the ones in sin, rejecting their own Messiah.

Application

Applying this model today would look like going into existing churches and teaching correct doctrine boldly, until they either embraced you or a sufficient number rejected you, at which point you would divide the church, taking those who followed you to start your own new church. This seems so wrong. But if there are churches teaching error and people going to them hoping for truth, shouldn't it be done, out of compassion for those genuinely seeking truth? It's exactly what false teachers do to draw away the elect, if that were possible; instead, in effect, they cleanse the church of false believers, right? We should strive for unity, but it's not unity in and of itself, but unity in Christ, in the truth. There are plenty of people united in their opposition to truth; the church is to be united by and in the truth, not just holding to unity for the sake of being united. So seeking to divide a church shouldn't be the goal, but neither should it be unexpected. The goal is to win people to the truth, and starting in a place where people are seeking God should be the most sensible and logical place to start. Boldly proclaiming the truth is needed, even though it will create controversy.

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