Acts; Stop Yelling With The Crowd

Sept. 18

Read: Acts 16:16-24

Acts;

Stop Yelling With The Crowd

“The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.” (v.22)

What is it with “the crowds”? Have you ever stopped to think about it? I was having a conversation with my friend Cam Hill last week about the way that the crowds turned on Jesus leading up to his crucification. (cf. Mark 15:14,15 etc.) As much as we like to think that we are “clear thinkers” or “individuals” who are not easily swayed by propaganda… the biblical text paints a different picture! Whether we like to admit it or not, we are more easily swayed than we imagine and can even be “caught up” in the sentiment of the “crowd” if we are not careful. Just think about how many examples in the scriptures that we have. Here in Acts 16 we see that “the crowd joined in attacking” Paul and his team. Why? Why would the crowd be angry with them? The owners of the slave girl whom Paul caste the spirit out of were mad at Paul for wrecking their business… but how did the crowd get involved? If this crowd really trusted what the girl had to say… then they would have listened to her MULTIPLE affirmations of the message of Jesus. If the crowd did NOT trust what the girl had to say, then why go see her for fortune-telling? The truth is that people are easily caught up in the emotional response of the crowd; and that a couple of malcontent people can sway an entire crowd to anger, violence, and vitriol.

This begs the questions: What crowd are you in the midst of and what voices (or leaders) are you listening to? The religious leaders could foment the crowd into calling for Jesus’ crucifixion. These disgruntled slave-girl owners could move the crowd into anger and result in Paul and his team being BEATEN and jailed. The “crowd” that we are surrounded by will inevitably influence who we are, what we do, and how we think. None of us are exempt or immune to being swept up in the actions of a crowd. This is why a mob is so scary! This is also why gathering together with other believers is SO CRUCIAL. (cf. Heb. 10:23,24) We can be swept up in a POSITIVE way as much as a negative one. Whether our “crowd” is virtual or not… we must begin to pay attention to who we are “in the midst of”… what narrative are we consuming… who are we listening to?

The second part of the question above regards the leaders or “voices” that are at the center of the movement. Who are you allowing to lead you? Who is the “noisy” or “loud” smaller group of people leading the charge for the crowd as a whole? We se this again and again in the bible - frustrated religious leaders stir up anger and dissension in the people. They are not doing this for the people’s sake… they are doing it because of their own selfish motives. How ironic, that the leaders - seeking their own pride, arrogance, and selfish goals - turned the people against the ones who would and could actually HELP them and bring truth. In a macro-example: the crowd chanted “crucify Jesus” and rejected Jesus motivated by the jealous rulers and smaller sects within Judaism. Meanwhile, those same systems were taking advantage of these very same people. (See: Jesus driving our robbers and thieves / turning over the money changers tables Matt. 21 / Mark 11) The same could be said of the slave-owners above: they were swaying the crowd to send of the very people who had the actual truth these people were futilely seeking from the fortune teller! It is shocking how often a greedy few manipulate the crowds for their gain while simultaneously leading the crowds away from what would actual be helpful for the crowds. In this way, the masses become just a “tool” for the manipulative few to get what they want. Sadly enough, the masses often go along with the grift!

The people of God are called to something different. We are called into the family of God. We are called to be swayed by the Father, Son, and Spirit… not other human agents. We gather together as a “holy crowd” or a “set apart people” as Peter writes. (cf. 1 Peter 2:9,10) I am afraid that it is easy to get caught up with the “crowd”. We may even find ourselves “yelling” about something that we have been stirred up to be angry about… but the question becomes stirred up by whom? In the echo-chamber of modern life and technological tools… we may all be gathered in front of city hall… but it is dangerous none the less. What if we find ourselves calling for the imprisonment or beating of the wrong person? What is we are calling from someone to be “crucified” like the crowds before Jesus? What if we are being played by some greedy institutional leaders who are more concerned with losing their power than they are with what is best for us. In short, what if we have been turned against the very one that brings life, peace, and hope… JESUS! Pay attention today to what you are “caught up in”. Is it Christ? Is it the “things form above”? Or is it someone or something else? Let me leave you with two passages from God’s word:

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” - Col. 3:1-4

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” - Phil. 4:8

This does not mean we are not aware of what is happening in the world around us… it DOES mean that we always view it through the lens of Jesus and what is “above”. I think I need to stop yelling with the crowd! Love you guys. - JDP