Spiritual Hiccups - Defending the Faith

It doesn't take much reading between the lines in this week's verses from Acts to realize that the "Jews" who attack Paul and cause his arrest are actually Jewish Christians.  This is all a part of the fights that roiled the faith as the early Church struggled with how to include Gentiles into the fold.  For a long time the majority opinion was that Gentiles had to first become Jewish in order to be followers of Jesus.  Paul is clearly not in this camp, and it causes him much grief. 

It helps to remember that the early Christians did not think of themselves as a different religion from Judaism.  Jesus was a Jewish Messiah.  And so when Paul welcomes Gentiles into the faith without circumcising them or having them follow Jewish dietary law, he is seen by many Christians as undermining the core of their faith.  And so it seems almost certain that Christians are responsible for the arrest and eventual execution of the the New Testament's most prolific author.

That is truly something to stop and ponder for a moment.  Christians, out of their strong desire to defend the faith, attacked Paul as an enemy of that faith.  The man whose writings would be used by Martin Luther and John Calvin to form the theological underpinnings of the Protestant Reformation was himself killed because other Christians objected to his novel take on Jesus.

Of course there is little reason for us to be surprised.  Faith seems capable of producing both incredible acts of self-giving and sacrifice for the sake of others, as well as heinous acts of hatred and violence in an effort to uphold the integrity, teachings, or purity of that faith.  A person who knew nothing of history and read the story of Jesus might be stunned to learn about Crusades, the Inquisition, forced conversions, and pogroms against Jews.  But we know all too well that religion, even the faith based on one who called his followers to pray for their enemies, can easily be channeled into hate.

I have become increasingly convinced that anytime faith produces hatred, it has gotten off track.  Regardless of whether or not I agree with the stance of those involved, when the voices become shrill and start to spew vitriol, a dangerous line is being crossed.  I do not mean to say that there are not evils and wickedness that need to be challenged and thwarted, but the ends cannot justify the means for those whose faith is rooted in love. 

When you are sure that you are correct about some important element of your faith, how do you view those who hold a view very different from yours?  Are they still your kindred and neighbor, or have they become your enemy?  (Americans might do well to ask similar questions about political views.)

Perhaps there are times when we must label someone an enemy.  But it is a dangerous and often tragic move, as Paul can tell you.

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