8/8/2021 - A Disturbance by The Way - Acts 18-19

"About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.” Acts 19:23

The first Christians were described by the world as, “the Way.” Jesus said, “I am the way.” From the earliest days, Christians made no apology for boldly proclaiming that Jesus was the only way to God. He was not a way, but the way. The culture did not like this because it was filled with idols. This is especially true in the city of Ephesus which was the patron city of the God Artemis, also known as Diana. She ruled the wild animals and governed childbirth. She was also a crowd favorite. In Ephesus, there was a massive temple built in her honor. It was the biggest temple in the Mediterranean region. Four times larger than the Parthenon in Rome. It took 120 years to construct and was one of the seven wonders of the world. Thousands of pilgrims would make the journey from all over the known world to worship Artemis in Ephesus. So then we understand what unfolds next...

The gospel provoked the religious climate of the city. 

When Christianity is brought into any city it will pose a threat to that city’s idols. In Ephesus it was the cult of Artemis. A goddess carved in stone. The people bowed down and made sacrifices to her and we modern people think, “How unsophisticated. Certainly we are well educated beyond giving our devotion to something that is made by human hands." Or are we? Our city has its' own covert gods and they are nevertheless appealing.

There is an identifiable language to idolatry that you can recognize in yourself. You might say, “Well I have God but if I could just get that thing, then I’d really be happy. If I could just achieve this then I’d be somebody, then I’d be secure.” If so, then you are loving those things more than God. Even good things can become idols. In fact the most powerful idols are good things we turn into little gods. Perhaps the thing we idolize most is some earthly relationship. However, if you make a person your god, they will constantly disappoint you with their imperfections and you will constantly disappoint them with your expectations. Even the best human relationships end in death. 

So how do we free ourselves from this? We don’t stop loving the people who are close to us. We don’t love them less. We love God more. How? By seeing Jesus on the cross. He died for you. So go ahead and put your highest devotion upon him!