The situation in Thessalonica is interesting in the way it exposes the nature of the opposition to the gospel. Paul, an astute intellectual and biblical scholar, “reasoned with them from the Scriptures”. As a result, a number “were persuaded”. There is an important place in Christian mission for persuasive argument and rational dialogue. It is the Holy Spirit who changes hearts, but God does not bypass the mind, and therefore he wants us to engage people intellectually. In Thessalonica, people were not only convinced, they “joined Paul and Silas”. So, their opponents turned from reason to suppression of the most irrational kind: mob rule. They couldn’t win a reasonable argument so that stirred up a crowd to oppose the Christians. And they resorted to the same dirty tactics with which the Jerusalem leaders had succeeded in having Jesus executed: they trumped up charges of political sedition. Luke wants us to see a repetition here: as it was with Jesus, so it will be with his followers. And the same situation continues to our day. Christians should invite and engage in respectful and reasonable dialogue. But there will always be those who will respond with dirty tactics. They will caricature Christians, stir up popular resentment and even resort to force. For our part, we must never become embittered, and we should never resort to retaliation, insult, or hostility. Instead, we must respond with grace and truth, demonstrating the love of Christ even in the face of misrepresentation and opposition.
Pray for those who have opposed your faith.
Read Acts 17:1-9
