The lie in Belief  

   Friends, if you haven't read the last two blogs, please do. They are the basis for today's attempt to explain something. 

   In Acts chapter 7, a man with an ordinary assignment, provide food to foreign visitors - but an extraordinary relationship with the Holy Spirit - confronts people who don't believe the gospel he is spreading. 

   Rather than debate or ignore him, they sought men to lie and stir up anger. It is a tactic practiced today. Instead of addressing the issue, cancel the messenger. 

   Stephen knew Jewish history, but went over the edge when he called them "stiff-necked people," and worse. He also shamed their "fathers," whom Stephen said killed God's prophets. He accused some in the court, where he was being charged, of participating in a plot to have the "righteous One" crucified.

   Name calling isn't advised, normally. But this wasn't normal. God was not pleased that children of Abraham had killed other children (prophets) who had written what God gave them in those special times. And he was not pleased with those in this court who had insisted that Pilate crucify a man found innocent. God himself may have been speaking through Stephen.  

   However, beginning in Genesis, all along God was planning to suffer for our salvation. The "actors" indeed didn't know what they were doing. 

   Stephen paid with his life, one of the earliest martyrs. But while dying in pain, he looked toward heaven and said, Lord don't hold this sin against them. Jesus himself had said on the cross, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.  

   Of course they didn't know, because they had believed lies. They didn't know the truth about Stephen, because they believed lies. 

   Do we believe everything we hear, or read in papers and magazines?

   Maybe we'll continue this tomorrow. 

       Jimmy