Recently, studying in a Bible class centered around 1 Thessalonians, I was reminded of a verse in Acts 17. That particular section of Acts focuses on the Apostle Paul's second journey, specifically his visits to Thessalonica and Berea. In this context, Paul and Silas have just left Philippi where they were imprisoned, miraculously released, and then converted the Philippian jailer. The go to Thessalonica, spend three weeks there, and then have to flee for their lives as the Jews of that time opposed them and incited the city to riot. It's after Paul and Silas flee, and the crowd drags Jason into the court, that we find the best accusation ever:
And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” (Acts 17:6-17, ESV)
Is it just me, or is that not the best thing a Christian could ever be accused of: Turning the world upside down?! It's what Christ designed his following to do - to be disruptive, to take what is expected and turn it into the unexpected. Forgiveness, the Servant King, joy and victory when faced with persecution and death, the leader of kingdom enthroned on a cross, greatness by service?! All totally unexpected, totally counter-culture.
Those of us who profess Christianity are called to live lives that run against everything the world stands for. Greed, immorality, power, dishonesty, anger, sorrow, self-centeredness - we are called away from those things, and instead called to contentment, holiness, humility, honesty, peace, joy, compassion, and selflessness. Not because we're better than anyone else. Not because we deserve it. Not because we have some innate quality that makes us that way. And not because we've earned it. Simply because we've accepted God's gift.
And, if we behave like that, if we behave in these ways that are so against the culture in which we live (which isn't all that much different from 50AD Thessalonica), we're going to be noticed - and hated.
And maybe, just maybe, we can be accused of the same thing: that WE turn the world upside down.
