July 6-July 12

TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Les Johnson
Catacamas, Honduras. CA

If you have ever once tried to convince another human being that they were mistaken or wrong about some closely held opinion - think global warming or perhaps Israel’s right to exist – then you may be sympathetic to what Paul and the other disciples suffered as they preached the gospel across the Roman empire. People don’t like to be told they’re wrong about anything. Folks can get really perturbed if you question their core beliefs. And they can even become violent if they think their financial well being has been threatened. And yet, for some perverse reason I find encouragement and hope and yes, a reason to smile every time I read again the complaint against the disciples: “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;” Acts 17:6

What had those early disciples done to inspire such a charge? Let’s see, they healed sick people, they cast out a few demons, they worked to support themselves and each other. Sounds a little radical I admit. But the real issue wasn’t what they did, it was what they said. They preached Jesus Christ. They dared to suggest that there is but one God and He wants to have a relationship with each of us and that He sent His own son, Jesus, to reconcile us to Himself. That’s grace. It’s love. And the love of God absolutely turns the world upside down.

Paul would go on to write, in 1 Corinthians 1:18 – 25, For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
[19] For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart."
[20] Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
[21] For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
[22] For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
[23] but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
[24] but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
[25] For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

People are going to respond negatively and sometimes violently to the Word of the cross. Or that is to say, some will respond poorly. The other side of this coin is equally illustrated in our Acts reading. In every place where the gospel was preached there were those who listened and believed and were baptized in the name of Christ Jesus. This is as true today as when Paul and the first disciples first preached the Word. God’s love still turns the world upside down.

[Originally from Texas, Les Johnson, and his wife Jeannell, moved to Honduras in January 2004 to serve as village coordinators of the Por Los Ninos children's homes. Les and Jeannell love the kids and oversee the day-to-day operations in Honduras.]