Stroll through Scripture for May 4, 2025

Based on Acts 6:1-7:2a, 44-60

The Narrative Lectionary moves us to the book of Acts.  Acts is the time following Jesus’ earthly ministry when the church was just getting starting, no one really knew what was happening or what to do, and when everything changed.  In many ways, we are in another time in which what was familiar is gone, everything changes almost daily, and it often feels like we are making up the rules as we go along.  Acts has many lessons for the church today, maybe more than in a long, long time.  

The beginning of this passage tells us about the creation of Deacons – the ministry of Word and Service.  The whole point to having deacons is so that they can provide service to the church (the people who make up the church). 

Stephen is one of these chosen to be a deacon.  And he is the first martyr.  The longer time goes, the more similar everything remains.  The story of the stoning of Stephen isn’t contained to just the days of the early church.  It’s a story of some people who firmly believe that they are right and ordained by God to impose their rightness upon others regardless of the cost.  Their ends justify the means approach ends in the stoning of Stephen.  This addiction to being right and using God for one’s own purposes has been a long-term human problem with destructive results.  It continues to this day.  And it is to be rejected in whatever form it shows itself.  But we are not to become the very thing that we oppose by taking on the same characteristics.  We aren’t called to impose on others.  We are called to love others and invite them into a better way of life.  But that requires embracing the reality that we are not in control and never have been and never will.  For far too many humans, that’s a bridge too far to cross, and hence we end up with things like the stoning of Stephen.  

Jesus never promises that believers and followers will be free of problems or pain and suffering.  He doesn’t promise that we’ll get to skip over death either.  He defeated death, but we still experience it.  What has changed is that death doesn’t get the final say.  And neither does cruelty or violence.  The story of the stoning of Stephen is full of cruelty and violence met with grace and non-violence.  While it appears that cruelty and violence won, I must ask this question – who is the hero of the story?  The people stoning Stephen so addicted to being right that they adopted ends justify the means mentality to maintain order and control?  Nope.  It’s the guy who remains faithful and doesn’t adopt cruelty.  We continue to talk about Stephen, the first martyr of the faith, not the men who stoned him.  The men who commit the act of cruelty are common to the human experience.  There’s nothing special about cruelty and violence.  Cruelty and violence may produce short term results, but in the long term, it never works.  

Questions for further reflection:

• Think of times in history when those imposing on others used cruelty.  Did it work in the long term?  Are they considered the heroes?  Why/why not?  
• Stephen remained faithful in the face of cruelty and violence.  What do you think kept him faithful?