I came back to this school year’s second semester unmotivated, weak in heart, and broken. I kept praying through this emotional funk because I wasn’t myself. Trepidation consumed me the night before being back in the classroom. I had a pit in my stomach because I wanted to do anything but teach. In preparation for the first week back, I checked the email from my principal about the upcoming week. He included a link to an article by David Brooks, with The New York Times. (The link to his article is below.) I read these words — “[W]hat teachers really teach is themselves — their contagious passion for their subjects and students.” This is true, and as a Bible teacher at a Christian school, I realized my angst was actually spiritual warfare.
In Acts 17, we get a story from Paul’s second missionary journey. The story begins in Thessalonica where we meet an angry mob and a man, who hosted Paul, named Jason. If you’re able to, stop and read verses 1-13. As you read, make a list of the words and phrases describing the three people groups — the Jews from Thessalonica (who were unkind), Jason and his house, and the Jews from Berea (who were noble).
The truth of the situation in Thessalonica is brought to light when you break down the descriptions of the three groups represented in vv.1-13. I want to look specifically at the descriptions of the Jews from Thessalonica (and those who fell into their camp):
- Jealous (v.5)
- Wicked (v.5)
- Formed a mob (v.5)
- Set the city in uproar (v.5)
- Attacked Jason’s family (v.5)
- Dragged Jason (v.6)
- Were disturbed (v.8)
- Took money from Jason (v.9)
- Shouted before the city authorities, “These men have turned the world upside down . . . saying there is another king, Jesus.” (v.6)
The Thessalonian Jews’ way of thinking and way of life were disrupted by the gospel Paul was preaching. The gospel Jason believed put Jesus at the center of the world, not Caesar. This disruption was turning the Thessalonian Jews’ world upside down. And, isn’t this what we are called to as believers — to turn the world upside down?
Just to set this into perspective — It’s our world. People who faithfully follow Jesus are turning the world upside down from the perspective of the world, but from the perspective of our King, we’re really just a part of his mission to turn the world right side up, back to how he intended it to be in the first place before sin entered it. Christ will ultimately complete this mission with the new heavens and earth his followers will be given at his return, but until then, we are a part of his mission. This means we will face spiritual warfare. This means we will have days of feeling wrecked, attacked, or like a mob has been formed against us. As a co-worker and friend of mine said recently at dinner about teaching where we do — “Oh, this isn’t supposed to be easy.” No, it isn’t easy to be a part of the mission of Christ, but it’s so worth it when we remember what is ahead for us and what is awaiting us.
Are you ready to turn the world upside down? If you are a follower of Jesus, it’s your world, given to you by the very one who spoke it into existence just as he breathed life into you. Expect the spiritual warfare, but know that it has an end. It will not last forever, but you will . . . in your perfected state with your King, Jesus, who you will have complete access to in our world made anew — a perfected, glorious world!
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/opinion/learning-emotion-education.html