Almost Christian #3

June 16, 2021 (Wednesday)

 

We are looking at unraveling the concept of being “almost Christian.” Our subject matter today is how we can understand good, honest, and knowledgeable people. King Agrippa is an example of this type of person.

 

When Paul began his defense, he acknowledged King Agrippa interest in spiritual and religious matters. “This is because you understand well all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I ask you to listen to me patiently.” [Acts 26:3 CEB] Agrippa was not just acquainted with Jewish customs and customs and controversies, he understood them. The Greek tells us he was “an expert, a connoisseur.” (Thayer, Robertson)

 

King Agrippa was King Herod’s son. He grew up in Jerusalem with the Temple and all the sharpest teachers and theologians. He was also the one who had charge over the Temple, the High Priest, and the various activities and instruments used in the Temple.  In other words, Agrippa understood the practice and the theology of the Jewish people.

 

Festus (the Roman governor) had been puzzled by Paul and the accusations against him. Explaining the situation, Festus stated, “Instead, they quibbled with him about their own religion and about some dead man named Jesus, who Paul claimed was alive.” [Acts 25:19 CEB] The governor is hoping King Agrippa could unravel the question. After all, Agrippa was the expert and knew more than anyone else about the Jewish religion. Paul claimed, “King Agrippa knows about these things, and I have been speaking openly to him. I’m certain that none of these things have escaped his attention. This didn’t happen secretly or in some out-of-the-way place.” [Acts 26:26 CEB]

 

Enter, Jesus. The dispute with Paul was about Jesus. Paul claimed Jesus was alive. Agrippa probably was in Jerusalem when the events of Jesus resurrection happened. Of course Agrippa wanted to hear Paul’s defense. I think Paul might have suspected Agrippa was believer of sorts. “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” [Acts 26:27 CEB] It’s not a big leap of faith from believing the prophets, to understanding Jesus in light of prophecy.

 

Still, how do we understand someone who is honest and trustable? They have high regard for the truth. They do not lie. They help others and are concerned for the marginalized. They avoid the forbidden and maybe even dislike the forbidden. They avoid excess, work hard. Some may even be involved in organized religion.

 

Here’s my point. God is good, it is not saved. Neither those who give intellectual agreement with the gospel nor those who are devout in religious practices are saved.  The intellectual cannot devise salvation by his own wisdom.  The religious cannot gain salvation by his own moral merit.

 

Paul put it this way, “Jews ask for signs, and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, which is a scandal to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. But to those who are called—both Jews and Greeks—Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom.” [1 Corinthians 22 – 24 CEB] There are those who demand “proof” of faith. To them Jesus is a “stumbling block” or an “offense.”

 

There are others who can’t wrap their minds around faith in God. They just can’t see past the objections the enemy of their soul has conjured in their mind.

 

The answer to both sides is simply Jesus. Science is always shifting through information and changing. Theology is often corrupted by culture. Life is like nailing jello to a wall. But there is a north start to all our questions and presuppositions. Look to Jesus. He is God’s power and wisdom to us.