Acts 9: 1-16 “You’re Changing Your Mind?” 5/5/2019 Rev. Jerry W. Krueger Boardman United Methodist Church
Here’s a question for y’all. What does it take for you to change your mind? Badgering, bribing, hearing a persuasive argument? Is it showing you a different way, maybe a better way? Is it finally learning the entire story after only hearing from one side?
My sons negotiated their weekend curfew. They tried persuasion, bribery, promising me the moon, pouting, and whining. Each child’s was unique, and I did change my mind on their curfews.
We may have strongly held positions on economics, theology, how to govern, foreign aid, immigration, states’ rights, injustice, etc. It typically requires something significant for us to change the way we look at certain things.
Saul, in the Book of Acts, is a well-educated, religious man, and an up and comer of the elite Pharisees, the religion police of Jewish culture. The group that searched for heresies preached, blasphemy uttered, covenants broken. Pharisees were seen as blameless in their own eyes, and they relished persecuting those apostate Christians.
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, encounters the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, a ruling council of daily affairs made up of chief priests, rulers, elders, Pharisees and scribes. Stephen is one of the 7 men chosen by the 12 disciples, to go out and spread God’s word. He does great wonders and miracles by God’s grace, (Acts 6: 8) is opposed by the Sanhedrin, and charged with blasphemy. He addresses his accusers, who are not swayed by his words, “You stiff necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” The Sanhedrin was furious and ordered Stephen killed, and Saul holds the cloaks of those who stone Stephen to death.
Saul later approaches the high priest Caiaphas, the same high priest who took a role in Jesus’ trial. Remember Caiaphas tried Peter and John, warning them against spreading the Gospel. Saul wants extradition papers to go to Damascus, which is a hot bed of growing Christian faith. The paperwork gives Saul arrest powers for any Christian, for any reason. Saul is determined to crush this new blasphemous sect that threatens the status quo. He sets out for Damascus, 135 miles from Jerusalem.
But on his way, he is waylaid by God. A light from heaven flashes around him, he falls down and asks “Who are you, Lord?” “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city.”
Saul’s traveling companions are amazed. They heard the voice, but did not see, and Saul was blind for three days. Three days in the tomb.
Interestingly enough, the Lord calls another person named Ananias, a disciple of Christ, and a well-known adherent to Jewish law. Ananias receives instructions to go to Straight St., and ask for the man from Tarsus, named Saul.
“Wait Lord. Saul’s the guy who works for the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. He participated in the stoning of Stephen? He carries arrest papers to capture and extradite any Christian. And you want me, a faithful God fearer, a believer in Jesus Christ, to help this murderous Pharisee?”
But Ananias was faithful, went and found blind Saul, placed his hands this enemy of Christ, and told Saul, “Christ sent me so that you may see again, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Saul’s eyes were opened, he was baptized, shared a meal, and regained his strength.
Two lives are changed here. Saul, who becomes Paul, the greatest missionary /evangelist in Christianity, and Ananias is changed as well.
Ananias is faithful and obedient, like Saul/Paul. He wants nothing to do with this murderous Saul, but God shows him another way.
Ananias was willing to listen to God through Christ, as was Saul/Paul.
How willing are we to listen to God’s voice, through Jesus Christ?
When we read and probe the scriptures, when we pray and ask God for guidance, are we so stuck in our own self-serving interests, that we are unwilling to risk any vulnerability? It was risky for Ananias, who could have been hauled off and killed like Stephen, for being a Christian.
But Ananias listened to Christ, and acted on his behalf. And the same for Saul whose name changes in Acts, chapter 13, to Paul. Paul risks everything… reputation, wealth, security, and status to follow Jesus.
What are we willing to risk to follow Jesus Christ? Oft times, change occurs when we experience crisis or encounter challenges that impact us personally.
Several years ago, I was teaching a class and a woman named Melissa, in her late 40’s or early 50’s, often ranted about parents that allowed their young daughters to get pregnant and not be married. I heard this for a couple of years, and what happened? Melissa asked to speak to me and tearfully shared that her unmarried daughter, Julie, a sophomore in college, was pregnant. Through her daughter’s pregnancy and birth of her grandson, Melissa’s perception changed. And Melissa’s daughter, Julie, later married a man who loved Julie’s son as his own. We are all faced with challenges to long held beliefs at times.
Christians are still being persecuted in the world. We who live in the modern-day America, may not be persecuted but have subtle influences and pressures on us. Pressure to NOT speak against injustice. Pressure to go with the flow, to not rock the boat. Pressure to not turn the other cheek, but to turn our heads away, or to close our eyes blindly, to what we can address as a people of faith.
Each of us as Christians have the opportunity to pray, to think, to address in small increments, changes in our attitudes or beliefs, that allow us to have closer knowledge into what Christ calls us to do, and to be.
I see this event with Saul/Paul, as opportunity for each of us to ask, “where are we in our faith lives? Where is our relationship with the Creator and with Jesus Christ? Are we in need of having scales removed from our eyes, blinded by prejudice of race, or culture, or social class?”
Saul was blind, but saw the light, Saul who persecuted Christians, was changed and is proclaiming Jesus. Each of us have some type of scale over our eyes that prevents us from seeing the whole story.
Regain your strength, rest, and then begin once again to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In Jesus’ holy name we pray. Amen.
