“26 Then the next day, Paul took the men, having purified himself along with them, and entered the temple, announcing the completion of the purification days when the offering for each of them would be made. 27 As the seven days were about to end, the Jews from Asia saw him in the temple complex, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him, 28 shouting, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place. Whats more, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has profaned this holy place. 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple complex.”

30 The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple complex, and at once the gates were shut. 31 As they were trying to kill him, word went up to the commander of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in chaos. 32 Taking along soldiers and centurions, he immediately ran down to them. Seeing the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander came up, took him into custody, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the mob were shouting one thing and some another. Since he was not able to get reliable information because of the uproar, he ordered him to be taken into the barracks. 35 When Paul got to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the mobs violence, 36 for the mass of people followed, yelling, “Take him away!”

37 As he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, “Am I allowed to say something to you?”

He replied, “Do you know Greek? 38 Aren’t you the Egyptian who raised a rebellion some time ago and led 4,000 Assassins into the wilderness?”

39 Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Now I ask you, let me speak to the people.”

40 After he had given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language…”

Acts 21:26-40

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Christians in the West are increasingly feeling the pull to be separate from the culture around us, a culture that is rapidly fighting against the ethic we have been granted in Christ. It’s no surprise. In fact, it’s expected. Paul tasted deeply from the well of human scorn & from the dregs of the fear of others. They poured the contents of their spirituallly dead hearts out on him, and their anger was intending to do him in. 

For Western Christians today, there seems to be a desire to fit in & comply with the culture around us. It is often done in the name of being missional, but in reality, they are compromising fundamental truths and letting doctrine slip in order to accomodate the sins and sinful attitudes of the world. Compromising scruples for acceptance, these truth-wary ‘Christians’ make more of an effort to remain unoffensive so they can be ‘on the right side of history’ (I’ve heard this so often) rather than stand on the side of Scripture. They have compromised what God has actually said for what the flesh demands. 

Paul knew what needed to be done, and he stuck with it. He could have been fearful, avoided the trip back to Jerusalem and just lived out his days in Ephesus, where he knew he was loved. But that isn’t what he was called to, that isn’t what his life in Christ was meant to convey. The same is true with us. Yes, Christians are to be humble, servant minded people. But we are not called to compromise. We are not called to let the world tell us who we are supposed to be. We are defined by God, by His Word & the truth that is found there. We move and speak by the Spirit and in the mindset of Christ. 

We seek the lost, serve the needy and comfort the hurting. We visit the sick, shut-in and imprisoned, and we live a public declaration of faith. We reach out to our neighbors, serving them as we would desire to be served, and we put the things of God so far above everything else in our priorities that what might possibly be called ‘second place’ isn’t even comparable to that term. We are supposed to be different, and the world is going to continue doing its best to riot against God and those alleigances we have in Him. Expect it. Be prepared for it, be ready to give an answer for the hope that you have in Jesus Christ & do it with gentleness and respect. This is how we GoLove, we do it under the authority of the Word of God, and we pay honor to His unchanging heart and wisdom by presenting the truth with bold, uncompromising love.