Truth Hurts

(Read Acts 6-7)

In the movie, A Few Good Men, there is a climactic scene between Jack Nicholson, a rough salty colonel and Tom Cruise, a rookie military lawyer. Nicholson’s character, (Colonel Jessep) is being questioned for covering up a conspiracy which included the abuse of a younger soldier. Tom Cruise (Lt. Kaffee) pressed Jessep for the truth. Jessep responded with, “You can’t handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls…” A much more drastic example of this attitude will play out in Acts between Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council.

In Acts 6, we see the Christian church exploding with growth. It had become a huge movement. It is estimated that in Jerusalem the church included at least 10,000 out of a population of 40,000. Where there is growth, there are always problems.

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.”
Acts 6:1-2

Hebraic Jews had a sense of superiority over Grecian Jews, because of their birthplace and culture. There was discrimination and grumbling amongst the body. It didn’t take long for Satan to use his efforts to drive a wedge into the early church. As Christians today, we need to take note. In many churches, rival factions try to undercut each other in an attempt to impose their point of view. This is Satan’s doing, not God’s will.

The Apostles had viewed themselves as servants as well as followers of Christ. Serving widows was hugely important in their mission but the church’s greatest need is God’s word. They were unequipped to serve everyone who needed help.

It was necessary to create a new group of men to handle this critical need so the Apostles could remain focused on the Word.

“Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
Acts 6:3-5

As Christians, we’re committed to being servants. In Acts 6, Stephen is introduced as a servant. According to Luke, he waited tables for widows. He was a gifted leader, preacher, and converted many people to the Christian way. Stephen’s success brought unwelcome attention from the Sanhedrin. They distorted his words and accused him of blasphemy against God. It’s plain to see that Stephen had a firm grip of the gospel of grace from their accusation, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.” What they didn’t like was that Stephen was teaching that we are saved by grace, not by keeping the law. Stephen was also a skilled orator and debater because his accusers, “could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.” This guy was a threat. He was full of the Holy Spirit. His face lit up and shined “radiantly,” just as Moses’ face shone when he came down from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments. Was this coincidental, or was God showing He approved of Stephen’s message?

Eventually, in Acts 7, the high priest gets involved. He demands that Stephen defend himself and explain this blasphemy. Following his charge, Stephen presents a direct, and at times, scathing message. If Stephen’s sermon was a defense, it would be about his accusers versus him. But Stephen’s underlying principle in his mission was focused on Jesus Christ, not himself.

Stephen wanted to emphasize some things in Jewish history the Sanhedrin were too narrow-minded to recognize. He was setting them up for a harsh look in the mirror at their shortcomings, at their blind and false adherence to the law as their get out of jail free card.

Stephen turned their attention to the tabernacle of the Testimony. It was one way God provided them to observe true worship. Essentially, the tabernacle of the Testimony was a box holding the ten commandments. Stephen continued.

“‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord.
Or where will my resting place be?
Has not my hand made all these things?’
Acts 7:49-50

Stephen proclaimed the fact that God is a living god. He cannot be restrained or confined to a building or temple. He showed them that God’s divine presence is available anywhere, not just in a building in Jerusalem. God is not in a box.

Then came the hammer. Stephen’s sermon retells the Jewish story leading to and pointing to the arrival of Jesus Christ. He showed them that their exclusive reliance on following the law would not excuse their failings and their abusive history with the prophets God provided. His message was abundant with grace and truth. Truth that exposes our failures hurts. Truth from someone we deem as a threat can enrage us.

“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
Acts 7:51-53

Stephen looked at the Sanhedrin and labeled them, “stiff-necked.” This was a huge insult, similar to a crude curse. His words pointed back to the same language God used to describe Moses’ people when they worshipped the Golden Calf in Exodus. The reference was not lost on Stephen’s accusers. Through Stephen’s lengthy rebuttal, we can learn a timely lesson, that the law cannot save us. We’re never able to keep it and it will not give us a new heart in Christ.

His audience was livid. Here was a Jesus follower who was a nobody, without credentials or pedigree, accusing them of wrongdoing and blaspheming their God. His entire message mirrored much of what Jesus had said during his ministry. Jesus had said that it is impossible for old wineskins to hold new wine. Through Stephen, the Holy Spirit showed how the old traditions of Judaism, the temple, and Mosaic law cannot contain the new wine of Christianity.

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Acts 55-56

Stephen’s testimony of his vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God was the ultimate affront on their beliefs. In their tradition, only priests could enter the sacred place of God’s glory, once a year. By Stephen telling them he sees heaven opened is putting him in front of the priests. He’s not even an apostle, just a regular man. Stephen shows us that the Christian church is a nation of priests.

Upon hearing this, the Sanhedrin turned into adult children. They adopted a mob mentality, closed their ears, rushed and stoned Stephen. They had walls around their faith. They couldn’t handle the truth.

Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:59-60

Truth hurts.

Key Applications:

• Stephen in Greek, means crown. He is the perfect example of a Christian leader. If we’re doing our jobs well as Christian leaders, we should expect adversity. Christian leaders should be well trained in God’s Word, and must be extremely strong and godly in character.
• We will all face time of trials in our lives. We too will be called to glorify Him during our struggles. Whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, we must pray. We must ask for help. We must trust.
• People might not want to hear the truth. It’s especially hard to tell the truth when we’re up against the wall. But when it’s God’s truth, that’s when it has to happen. Never let this opportunity pass you by. Read Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote below and imagine the pressure he faced. Speaking God’s truth through the darkness of trouble brings God all the glory. Consider and pray about this.
  
  “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”

Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.