Bulldozers

Our spiritual, garden-text tells us this.  But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. Acts 17: 13

We are looking at some Jews from Thessalonica and noting bulldozer type responses to the Word of God. I say bulldozer type actions, because they were rather noisy, bullying and causing undue upheaval in that city. Here is a report of some of their actions. Remember, these were the Jews who refused to accept Paul and what he was telling the people about Jesus, Messiah Christ. These were people who refused to follow the True and Living Word. Let’s listen to what has been recorded for us. 

But when the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring out the people. Acts 17: 5

Indeed, some hearers will hear and some will not. Some will be persuaded and others will not. However, these unpersuaded Thessalonicans are truly acting as uncaring, angry, disrespectful haters of the Gospel of Jesus, when they do all they can to get Paul and Silas, those who are bringing the good herbs, the healing, helping plants - the Word of God - to all the people.

Perhaps we are thinking that this kind of response only takes place in certain non-Christian countries, where people have to still hide Bibles, any Christian literature and such like. Albeit, people still follow the Word of God to do harm and not good to God’s messengers and through them, hope to silence God’s Word. 

Let’s study their actions and note how we can identify similar motives, though the manner may be different. The text tells us that there was envy. Envy is an acid, treacherous, and totally consuming evil, which leaves one without sound, wise judgment, or any kind of good conscience. Envy is like a bulldozer that washers over people, crippling them and rendering them helpless to its demands. This is what James says about it. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there. James 3: 16 NKJV. Envy has no shame nor conscience, for when those Jews who heard the preaching of Paul and Silas, like all other Jews, saw how some of their own Jewish people we leaving their customs, traditions and beliefs to listen to Paul, they were angry. When they saw how their own people were so easily persuaded to believe in a Messiah who suffered, died and rose again, making grace, the one and only way to God, and not by works, they became held by uncontrollable envy. They saw what was happening among them and envy took control.

Like uncontrollable bulldozers, they rushed down to the marketplace where they would find thugs, ruffians and men of foul reputations. Such people, with whom those Jewish Thessalonicans would have no kind of dealings, now round them up - a dime a dozen – so to speak,  and set all the city in an uproar. One can just imagine the mayhem that took place. Their intension was clear, when they went directly to the house of Jason where Paul and Silas were Jason’s house guests.  In their jealous, envious anger, they got the mob to join them, as they illegally, attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring out the people.

Nevertheless, when they did not find Paul and Silas, in their frenzied fit of demonic rage, they dragged Jason and some of his friends to the ruler of the city. They told the rulers about Paul and Silas and described them as, These who have turned the world upside down. These envious Jews told them that the men are here, in our city, preaching subversion against King Caesar. Nonetheless, this was the charge they brought against Jason. Jason has harbored them, and these are acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king – Jesus. Acts 17: 7.  Won’t you agree with me that these unpersuaded Jesus are bulldozing their way through, in their evil, ignorant, blind sight? Follow closely here.

• They bulldoze their way to a public place – the market place – and bulldoze unholy men to satisfy their anger, as they direct them to Jason’s house.

• They bulldoze their way to a private place – Jason’s place – and bulldoze holy men to satisfy their anger, as they direct them to the city hall. 

• They bulldoze their way to the city hall – the court place – and bulldoze city rulers to satisfy their anger, as they direct them to false information about the servants of Jesus.

So very dangerous had it become for Paul and Silas and because the persuaded Thessalonicans feared for the lives of God’s messengers, they encouraged them to escape. Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. Act 17: 10a.  

Does this not help us to recognize that much of the hostility, quarrels and bulldozer type responses being exhibited in our Christian Churches and denominations, stem from pure envy?  If this is of deep concern to you, why not go directly to God about it, if you have not already done so?

Earnestly seek God on the matter.