October 27th Bulletin Article THE “PROBLEMS” MANY WOULD HAVE WITH ACTS 20:5-11 Charles Coats Sometimes, when I am studying a section of scripture, I imagine what it would be like today if the same situation were present now. How would people react today if something we read in the Bible were to happen to us or around us? One such event recorded for us is Paul’s work with the church at Troas as recorded in Acts 20:5-11. Paul preached at Troas, a man fell out of a window and died, Paul restored this man’s life, and Paul preached until daybreak. After thinking about if this were to happen in our services today, I put together the following “problems” I believe some would have with this. 1. Paul preached until midnight (vs. 7). A preacher I knew back years ago used to say that he had the only job in which he only had to work 30 minutes a week and the brethren thought that was too long. Oh, how many brethren today would be getting all upset with Paul once the hour became later and later and he did not seem to be stopping! How dare he cut into their eating, sleeping,and recreation time? 2. A man died and it still did not break up the service (vss. 8,9). How could Paul dare to be so insensitive? Even though the man was brought back to life, today we would have to put a committee together to address the unsafe conditions of the meeting place. What was this person doing sitting in the window? Who was in control of the heat in the place? We live in a world where people are traumatized by every event and believe they should be expected to be unable to continue doing normal things. Yet, Paul restored the life of the man and then went back to preaching. What was he thinking? Did he really think we should continue worshipping God and studying his word when such a tragedy had happened? 3. Paul continued to preach to the break of day (vs. 11). Again, far too many modern day Christians would be appalled by such an action. How could Paul be so unconcerned that Sunday was these people’s only day off and he would dare to spend so much time preaching? Didn’t he care about the little children present and the mothers with babies? Many today would have “more important” things to do and leave the services. Is it not sad that the brethren at Troas welcomed the time spent in listening to God’s word, and so many today are upset when the preacher goes too long? If Paul were around to preach in many congregations today, he would probably be fired quickly because he preached way too long. Strange, but true, brethren will sit for hours at a sporting event in all kinds of weather but complain when they are expected to give more time to God. What a sad commentary on the faithfulness of far too many!
Posted on: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 02:12:55 +0000
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