Today’s reading speaks to the Word of God in the most real and true form imaginable, through the mouth of his disciple. While Paul was in Corinth he saw the Lord in a vision. He told him not to be afraid, and to go out and speak his word, God promised he would be with him.
Just like so many times before, Paul was faced with many non-believers during his year and a half in Corinth. This time, the non-believers taking control of him by presenting him to Gallio in hopes he would be punished. When Gallio refused to be the judge of these matters, the non-believers took it upon themselves to punish Paul by beating him.
Today’s scripture speaks to our fear, everyday, of standing up for our beliefs. In many cases when a situation presents itself for us to be brave and speak his word despite our secular surroundings, we hesitate. Hesitation brought on by fear or uncertainty. In my experience this hesitation has been accompanied by a choice, to be courageous and bold, or timid and ignorant. God gave us free will so that we might have the chance to choose him and his word.
So often does our admittance of such a God and faith make us susceptible to criticism and debate. A recent American movie release by the name of “God’s not Dead” illustrates the hatred and adversity Paul experienced in Corinth.
During this movie the main character, a college student in his first college level philosophy class, is forced with making his first real moral decision as an adult. The movie begins by the professor requiring each student to make a written proclamation stating that “God is Dead”. If the student wishes not to make this proclamation he/she must create a philosophical and factual argument supporting the existence of God and/or a higher power. Throughout the movie you see several situations where characters are forced to stand up for their faith in the face of threatening circumstances. An Islamic girl, hiding her faith from her father. A business man, turned away from his faith and family. A young woman, dying of cancer, trying to find her way to God. And, perhaps most importantly, this professor who chooses to allow one young man, to change his life.
As the movie progresses you find that the existence of God, spoken by a true believer is a risk in a world so invested in evolution and scientific existence. By the end of the movie proof of God is evident in the purest form.
Hands will threaten us to give up our beliefs or pretend that they don’t exist. But the truth always exists in ignorance. We, as disciples of Christ are given an opportunity to exist with God and create this reality for others. As we continue to fight the battles of society today, God asks us to be unafraid of the power we have to impact our surroundings, to spread his word, and to live within him no matter the worldly consequences.
