In times of persecution, dispersion, and sharing the gospel in an intense cross-cultural context, stay true to the Lord. Recognize that you don’t need culture to be on your side. Rely instead on the presence and the power of the Lord who is with you!
19 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. 20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.
22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. 24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)
27 During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) 29 So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. 30 This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.
Acts 11:19-30 NLT
The dispersion of believers after Stephen’s death went down into North Africa, to the island of Cyprus, and up the coast from Israel into Syria. The persecution drove the followers of Jesus into these places, where they preached the gospel of Jesus. Let’s think about this.
Persecution led to the preaching of the gospel in new places. Today, persecuting Christians in North America leads to political maneuvering and an emphasis on our rights and the Christian heritage of our nations. At its worst, persecution could fuel Christian Nationalism in which we push immigrants ‘back to where they came from’ or try to keep them from coming to our countries.
In Acts, persecution led to the sharing of the gospel with people who were from other places who practiced other religions. “The power of the Lord was with them.” When the mother ship in Jerusalem heard what was happening, they sent Barnabas. He arrived in Syria, he was a) filled with joy and b) encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.
In times of persecution, dispersion, and sharing the gospel in an intense cross-cultural context, encouragement is needed. Not placards. Not injunctions. Not commiserating. Encouragement.
Stay true to the Lord while you face new people in new places with the hope of Jesus. Remember your calling and the suffering Jesus undertook for your sake. Count it a joy to represent him wherever you are. Recognize that you don’t need culture to be on your side. Rely instead on the presence and the power of the Lord who is with you!
Barnabas even went to get Saul to come back and join him. Barnabas could sense that with the growth of the church in Antioch, the people would need teaching and support. So, Saul and Barnabas spent an entire year there encouraging people in their faith through teaching. Take note that this is the first place believers were called Christians. This is the real deal.
Now, if you’re in North America (probably any western context), you’re increasingly an alien. You’re a minority. You’re an anomaly. Culture is likely against you relating to all the sins of our Christian ancestors. In 95% of the cases, culture is correct. We should join them in their criticism.
Then share the real deal with them. With joy. In the power of the Lord. As Jesus would have you do.
Amen.
Marc Kinna
marckinna 