Issue 483
If you were to ask those with whom you work what the chief characteristics of being a Christian should be, you will probably get a list of don’ts. It’s an impression that is prevalent and turns people off Christianity (and religion in general). Of course you would want people to think it is also about do’s. This, surely, would be a more positive approach. Perhaps, if you thought about it, you would want people to know it’s also, at a deeper level, about the story of Jesus of Nazareth. Let me digress for a moment and ask you who you think was the greatest person who ever lived (apart from Jesus of Nazareth himself). You will have many to choose from but Jesus Himself chose John the Baptizer as the greatest. John specialized in the don’ts and pointed to a Jesus who had not yet fully arrived. When in prison, he suffered a fit of uncertainty and sent a message to Jesus saying “Are you the one or should I look for another?” We will visit Jesus’ answer in a minute. Stay with me as I assemble the pieces of this puzzle and meet a man named Apollos. Charismatic, eloquent, persuasive and powerful, Apollos arrived in the sophisticated Greco Roman city of Ephesus and made a big impression with his words and style. Now we finally meet our transformers. A married couple named Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos speak and knew something was missing. The transforming moment is described by Doctor Luke who wrote the book of Acts “Thy invited him to their home and explained the way of God to him adequately”. What was missing? Luke tells us that Apollos was well up on the old testament Bible. He was instructed in the way of the Lord (Jesus) and was accurate in his teaching about Jesus. What then was missing? He, we are told, only knew about the baptism of John. Apollos knew about the don’ts, he also knew something about the do’s and he, at a deeper level, knew something about the Jesus story. Honestly, I’m not writing to Apollos or John or Luke or any other historical figure. I am writing to you. I am not writing to those with whom you work who have their impressions of Christianity, I am writing to you. Are you trying to live by a list of don’ts – it’s exhausting. Did you come away from church this weekend with a to- do list? That’s exhausting. Did you come away with a whole set of facts about the story of Jesus? It’s better but not enough. Apollos had all that and he was very passionate about it. Apollos was very up to speed on John the Baptizer and he was up to speed on his Bible and his facts but he was not up to speed on the adequate way of God. Listen to Jesus’ answer to John in his doubting moment. He told people to go to John and say “the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, dead are raised, poor hear good news”. Does that sound like a list of do’s or don’ts to you? How did Jesus do that? According to Jesus himself it was because the Spirit of the Lord was upon him. Now you can see what Priscilla and Aquila had to show to Apollos. It includes don’ts but that’s not adequate. It includes do’s but that’s not adequate. It includes the historical story of Jesus but even that is not all there is. If it was, Christianity would be a list of do’s and don’ts and a history exam! Look at Jesus’ answer to John. The blind, the lame, the leper, the dead, the deaf and the poor have something done to them. That’s what was missing from Apollos’ message. That’s what Priscilla and Aquila showed him and that is what transformed him and that is what will transform you. The Christian life is not a difficult life, it is not a disciplined life, it is not a self-help life, it is not a history exam, it’s an impossible life. When you go to work I pray that you get this and it gets you and that your week does not make sense to any you work with, unless, and it’s a big unless, there is a God. Unless the Sprit of the Lord is upon you (and within you). It’s not about not doing something, it’s not about doing something, it’s not even about learning something, it’s about something being done to you. Priscilla and Aquila were a massive influence in the early church. They influenced, Paul, Timothy, Apollos, people in Corinth, Syria, Ephesus and many others in the early church which means they influenced you. They have certainly influenced me. Their big skill seemed to be to make sure people knew the way of God more adequately. Just as a final thought, traditionally, when married couples are mentioned in the Bible, it is the man’s name that comes first. Whenever Paul sent a greeting to them he spoke first of Priscilla. I’ll leave you to reflect on that. There are many married couples today who see enthusiasm, charisma, eloquence, learning and accuracy in younger people but thank God there are many married couples who are prepared to invite such people into their home and show them the way of God more adequately. Work well, Geoff Shattock This Worktalk Weekly is dedicated to Audrey and Peter; June and Roger; Ruth and Tony; Judith and Stan who have played the role of Priscilla and Aquila in my life. Bible Section Matthew 11:1-11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” 7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Acts 18:24-16 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. Luke 4:16-19 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
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Work well
Geoff Shattock
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