The old man stood in the middle of the street facing the swelling crowd of revelers coming toward him. The drunken screams, clanking of metal drinkware, and terrified bleats of their ceremonial animals made a cacophony unlike anything found elsewhere in nature. The old man had heard enough. It was time to say something!
“Worshippers of Dionysus, Hear Me!” he yells as the crowd surges toward his position. They quiet themselves and turn to consider the frail man in their path. He continues, “In your misguided passion, you have wounded the innocent, misled the gullible, and mocked righteous order. These things should not be. Turn from this wickedness. You serve a god made with your own hands that is deaf to your plight. A god who could never save you, yet you willingly enslave yourself to him. How could you justify…”.
That final sentence would forever remain unfinished, because from somewhere in the crowd a rock came sailing that crashed into the old man’s chest! The shock of that moment is punctuated with another stone, then another and another, all finding their marks on the old man’s body. Emboldened by their sudden assault, the crowd surges forward and tramples the hapless man to the ground, beating, kicking, and pummeling him with stones until it becomes clear that his life has drained away. Finally satisfied, they continue their trek, leaving the body of the man in the street as a warning to others who dare stand in their way.
This story is my fictionalized account of the death of the Apostle Paul’s disciple, Timothy, who was beaten and stoned to death in the streets of Ephesus by the worshippers of Dionysus during one of their festivals. Timothy died at the age of 79 or 80. A full life to be sure. Oh, the things he must have witnessed?! The letters he must have helped Paul write?! The miracles he must have been privileged to witness, only to have it all come to an abrupt end while trying to reason with a crowd of drunken idol worshippers. Sad as it may seem to the causal viewer, I doubt it came as a great surprise to Timothy. Such instances had shaped much of his life.
When I reflect on men such as Timothy, and the price he paid on the streets of Ephesus, I am left with an urgent question in my spirit. What about the streets of my own Ephesus? Sure, it goes by a different name, as I am sure your town does as well, but these are the streets God asked me to stand upon and declare right from wrong. Does the crowd hear me? Are any of them looking my way? Does what I am saying evoke a passion in them to respond, even if that response is to throw a stone? Do I wear my experience with Jesus like a treasured garment even when it makes me stand out, or have I simply become part of the mosaic of my community, no more or less prominent than any other voice in town?
You see, you and I were not called to be a part of the larger community. We are not supposed to assimilate with the cultural elements around us, and to enjoy the comfort they provide. Our experience with Christ should make such a thing impossible. His Spirit working in us should leave a sweet aroma of His conviction and love wherever we go. It is supposed to ignite a hunger in those we encounter. We must ask the question, “Does it?”, and be honest with ourselves about the answer.
Fulfilling the great commission will come at a personal cost. We must not be like the rich young ruler Jesus encounters in Luke 18. “I am fine with keeping the commandments, God, but do not ask me to abandon the comforts of life. That is simply too high a price for me to pay. Let me have the privilege of Your fellowship but let me have my comfort too.”
In my 20+ years of ministry I have witnessed the advancements of technology that ushered in a new wave of idolatry. It goes by a different name now, but it is still the same ancient spirit. Gone are the groves of Asherah poles and altars to false deities where well-meaning people burn their offspring alive in hopes of a better tomorrow. Today, these spirits are known by names such as “comfort”, or “progress”.
It is so easy for us to read the accounts of child sacrifice in the Old Testament and say, “Well, I would never do that!”. Sure, in this current social climate where such things are rare, I fully agree that most probably would not. However, what if it were normative behavior in our culture? What if it was simply expected of you that you give up your firstborn as a sign of devotion to the god of your age? Do you still think you would not do it?
Try this on for size and hear me out. I work in our school system, counseling and advising teens and young adults through their many issues. These are kids from Christian homes, whose parents are trying to make wise decisions, and yet their issues can run deep and be super complex. I began searching for root causes, and no surprises here, much of it came from how they spent their time absorbing things into their spirit through entertainment media such as films, music, and social media. Their phone and the T.V. in their room became a battleground, a never-ending assault on their mind. No small wonder they could not find peace.
In an effort to give these young people the same avenues of entertainment and “connection” shared by their peers, well-meaning parents throughout the movement unwittingly handed their babies over to voices from the groves. It made sense at the time. It seemed safe, but idols cannot be satisfied until they taste the blood of future generations, and so they feast on the unwitting. I am aware how out-of-touch I must sound, but if you saw what I see on a daily basis, perhaps you would understand how desperate I am for someone to hear me.
I have held onto the hands of young people who wept through attacks of anxiety and depression. I have walked them through the insomnia brought on by the spirit of fear that plagued them whenever they closed their eyes to sleep. It is a real war with real casualties, and I have looked them in the eyes.
Where is Timothy for this generation? What voice will arise from a righteous place and say, “You can go that way if you must, but as for me…I have decided to follow Jesus!” I know you want acceptance, and you want acceptance for your children. Nobody wants to stand in opposition to the crowd of culture. It is uncomfortable, and yes, even costly at times, but how much does your salvation, and that of future generations, matter to you?
Take a stand in this late hour. Link up with the old prophet, count the costs, stare down your Ephesus and say, “But as for me…I choose the old path!” Pray that God will show you the hidden groves in your house and heart. Burn them to the ground! Let God separate you away from this present world, and unto Himself! You will not regret it, and only God knows who you might save in the process! Stand up, Timothy. The crowd is coming. It is time to speak!
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