‘Fad’ written all over it!
Just think, long hair, tattoos, and earrings on men, were once serious statements of protest; now they are passé. Daily on Facebook you see photos from long-ago youths displaying fashion that your children swear that they wouldn’t be caught dead in—until…!Remember Hoola Hoops, Pogo Sticks, Rubik’s Cube, Pokémon, and for you shoe aficionados: Crocs? Suffice it to say: Fads come, and fads go.But Jesus and his church have endured! That is not to say that every aspect of Jesus’ teachings and his church hasn’t been turned into some kind of popular craze. Someone somewhere is ever ready to invent a gimmick to add extra appeal to the gospel.Gamaliel, the great Jewish intellectual of his day, was faced with a dilemma. He was witnessing with his own eyes the spread of a new following in Jerusalem. Thousands were confessing Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah. But his Jewish colleagues had crucified Jesus to guarantee the dispersion of his disciples…and it hadn’t worked. Where was this heading?Gamaliel reminded them how Theudas, and Judas of Galilee, fanatical thugs who had gathered followers, were killed and came to nothing. But even his diplomatic speak couldn’t hide his caution. This Jesus group was different. Gamaliel knew about the resurrection, the miracles, the preaching and the baptisms in the name of Jesus. So, he offers a word to the wise:“So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39).Gamaliel knew this wasn’t going away. It did not have ‘Fad’ written all over it. It never has, and never will!John StaigerIf you have been blessed by this message, please feel free to: Like, Comment or Share it with your friends. (299)
0 Comments