Paul wasn't Pragmatic...Acts 16

http://billrandles.wordpress.com/2010/08/28/paul-wasnt-pragmatic-a ^ | 08-28-10 | Bill Randles

[pastorbillrandles]

Paul Wasn’t Pragmatic…Acts 16 by billrandles

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.(Acts 16:16-18)

When the ministry of Paul the apostle was being promoted by a young girl who also happened to be into divination, it grieved him. He didn’t accept such an endorsement, even though everything she said about him was true. He was indeed a servant of the most High God and truly had come to show the way of salvation.

Paul didn’t reason that perhaps allowing her to witness for him or with him would be a good way to reach her for Christ. Nor did he say to himself, “Whats the problem? She’s telling the truth! This is a good thing, right?, or "Don't we all want the same thing?".

To Paul Truth mattered. He didn’t want his gospel to be compromised by alliance with the practitioner of a false religion, even if in this instance she really was saying true things. Paul would not take an”Ends justify the means position”, to Paul the means are as important as the ends.

Nor did he want any association of his God appointed ministry of the Gospel with divination of any sort.

Furthermore Paul loved that girl, with the love of Jesus. That’s why rather than let her endorse his ministry, he confronted the evil in her life directly and in the name of Jesus. This would cost Paul dearly but the girl became a christian because of his principled boldness.

There is a recent application of this , but it isn’t going as well so far. Glenn Beck,a very highly esteemed media personality, who happens to be a Mormon, has enlisted thousands of evangelical pastors, scholars, historians and evangelists to join him in a moral crusade, called “Restoring Honor to America”.

Beck is open about his Mormonism, even confessing it in the presence of several of the ministers on his nation- wide television show, as the ministers assured Beck that God was using him. It is Mormonism itself that can gain by this, being associated with evangelicalism has been its longtime pursuit.

There are sure to be many positive “results” to come out of the Restoring Honor movement, a galvanizing of those concerned about the moral collapse of America, new political resolve, a renewed appreciation for America’s spiritual roots and just the fact that some truth is spoken in public after so much multicultural claptrap has been promoted for so long, will be refreshing to many.

But where is the love for Glenn Beck? Where the concern for the Truth of the gospel?

But the ends do not justify the means, Truth does matter, and the gospel is being “unrighteously yoked” with that which is false, and that is a tragedy! We could learn from Paul and the apostles who would never have allowed such a thing.

[Jim 0216]

I think another issue with the girl was Paul's discernment that Satan was trying to shift the emphasis and attention away from Jesus to Paul himself. Pride - a common temptation but potentially disastrous problem for any believer and especially ministers of the gospel.

The Glenn Beck thing might be likened to some of those patriotic founders who were not necessarily born-again believers. I don't have too much of a problem with that. However, I do favor true believers in positions of political (and other) leadership.

As far as the gospel goes, Paul said he was happy when the gospel was being spread, even by those whose motives were suspect.

[reasonisfaith]

It’s a tough one.

I appreciate the comments here.

[Raycpa]

numbers 11:26

However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the Tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”

29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!”

[pastorbillrandles]

Thanks Ray, I appreciate your comment. But do you think those men believed that they could be gods, who would one day populate their own planet?

[Raycpa]

Is that what Beck is teaching and prophesying?

[Dogbert41]

Many of our Founding Fathers I would consider political geniuses and brilliant, and I’m so thankful for the lives they lived and the government they created. But many I would never consider as Brothers in Christ, nor seek spiritual guidance from.

[pastorbillrandles]

Whenever Beck romotes mormonism, that is indeed what he is promoting.

[pastorbillrandles]

I agree with that- however, from an evangelical christian perspective, Mormonism is a serious departure from true faith

[ModelBreaker]

I have no problem allying with a Morman in the political arena. That was not the arena Paul was fighting in.

My problem with Beck is he strikes me as an unstable personality that we are going to regret having had as a standard bearer someday. He scares me, even though I usually agree with him.

[Jim 0216]

Seems similar to John Adams, who had a distrust of Benjamin Franklin because he apparently witnessed Franklin’s overindulgences in France. I too wish Beck was more trustworthy but, like Paul, I'm still glad when a good message, here, our limited-government views, is being broadcast even by less than ideal people.

[ModelBreaker]

“I too wish Beck was more trustworthy but, like Paul, I’m still glad when a good message, here, our limited-government views, is being broadcast even by less than ideal people.”

I hear you. Still, he makes me very nervous—he has developed such a following and he’s one of those “anything can happen anytime” kind of guys.

I guess the other part is I don’t care for all the drama. So that makes me even more “Adams’ey.” :)

But he does a good job on limited-government issues. I hope he remains on the right side of that issue and keeps his life together.

[STD]

The Lord Jesus was worshipped, honored and praised today. Narry a Mormon was spotted lurking anywhere. Praise Be to God Yahweh

[blasater1960]

I think the rise of Beck is a potentially dangerous affair. While (as you know :o) ) I am Jewish and not Christian, I can stand with my Christian brothers side by side because I know they love the G-d of Israel and it's people. Mormonism is in the technical sense a cult of Christianity. It is a corporation and more like a business in it's structure and dealings that I can personally attest, are mafia like.

I in no way want to see a Mormon leading the way, in a reformation of the USA, either politically or spiritually. I would like to see a solid Christian leader arise and take the reins from Beck.