Put Yourself in Their Place

Today my daily Bible reading included the eighth chapter of the book of Acts. In verses 1-4, we read about something that happened after the stoning of Stephen that really struck me today, and I wanted to share it with you. Evangelist Ray Comfort has a book with a title that really fits here, so I wanted you to see the cover of his book. When Stephen was stoned, a great persecution broke out and the Christians were all scattered. Now when we read that, it’s just a verse we read in about 10 seconds and we move on. But if we pause and ponder a bit, we can put ourselves into that scene, and we’ll see things in a different way.

The early Christians were all Jews, living in a very religious society, imagine Saudi Arabia or Iran. The good news of Messiah had come to them and their lives had been radically transformed. They were excitedly learning a new way of life. But they lived in the midst of many unbelieving Jews who didn’t think this new “sect” was something positive at all. They were troubled by it and offended.

One firebrand among the Christians, Stephen, he had been stirring things up. His words stung the religious Jews, because he told them they were misguided and stiff-necked. Finally, they could take it no longer and they rushed him to a mockery of a trial. Even though it was against the law for them to execute a person, since they lived under Roman domination, they were so furious that they just rushed against Stephen and carried out their own form of “justice” by stoning him to death.

Once that was done and they’d gotten away with it, their anger was so stirred up that they decided to go ahead and do away with this false sect once and for all. They went on a rampage and began going to the homes of those they knew were believers, threatening them, beating them, maybe throwing rocks and terrifying them.

Saul, as a leader, made it his official business to hunt believers down and persecute them. Can you imagine living in Iran, just quietly learning to live a Christian life, enjoying meeting with other believers to study the Bible and worship, bothering nobody, and all of a sudden one day, all the neighbors decide they’re just sick of you and are going to run you out of town?

Mobs storm through the streets, dragging people out of their houses and beating them. Some are jailed, some are even killed! Just kind of overnight, it’s not safe for you or your family anymore! You have to hurriedly gather a few things together and leave your house.

Again, we read this in a few seconds, and it’s no big deal. But can you imagine leaving your house?! People might break in and steal or damage your stuff. You don’t know when you’ll be able to come back, if ever. You have no place to live anymore, no certain future, no stability. Where do you go? How will you live?

It was so wonderful to learn about Jesus. But now it’s led to this! Is this God’s “wonderful plan” for your life?!

Just put yourself in these peoples’ place and imagine it. Would you have remained faithful to the Lord? We don’t know what it was like for them. Did they ever get to return? Did they get their houses back?

Hebrews 10:32-36 seems to be speaking about this time for them, and what they lost. And the writer exhorts them to not lose confidence, but persevere and continue to love and serve God, because there will be a great reward.

Acts 8:4 says that everywhere they went, these people proclaimed the good news of Jesus. In other words, God used even this persecution and suffering to spread His message all over that area! He made all things work out for the good of His purposes and Kingdom, though it probably didn’t seem that good to the people going through it!

Just a glimpse into the reality of Christian life as it was in the first century. Just taking a moment to go a little deeper. It should make us appreciate more what we have. It should perhaps remind us to think about and pray for our brothers and sisters in the world who don’t have it as easy as we, who suffer persecution.

Perhaps it helps us realize our possessions and comforts may not last forever, so we should appreciate what we have, but at the same time, not get too attached to it.

I hope it also reminds us that we’re to spread the Word wherever we are, whether we’re highly esteemed in the community for it, or looked down upon. We can either do it willingly, while we have the chance, or else maybe someday we’ll end up having to do it under duress. Either way, God’s purposes will be accomplished!