The Stoning Of Stephen

 

The Stoning Of Stephen

America’s National Anthem

“Oh say, can you see
By the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars
Through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched
Were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

Acts 7:59 “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

     This is an important song.  With all confusion, the song still persists.  I suppose some would want to change the anthem, but it comes to challenge us.  It asks the question.  And I think it is worth keeping around.

     The stoning of Stephen asked the same question.  What would the future hold?  In Stephen’s case, would the entire Roman world come down upon these fragile group of believers just hopping out of the nest our Lord had culminated them in?  What would sacrifice do to the fledgling Church?  Well, we saw.

     Breath upon breath.  The Mighty Wind blew the coals.  Fire ignited many as the heart did not wane.  Instead, the smelting furnace grew hotter as the iron worker did His craft.  I see the glow.  I see the hammer.  He was to forge a new frontier throwing beliefs into a Roman Empire scattering them amongst peoples as the Gauls and even into Britain.  The Lord knew what He was doing.  He just needed a bit of blood to grease the wheels of improvement.

     Revolution!  Stephen would not be the first.  In fact, the killings and murders continued.  As I have recently read, the Popes of the first centuries took their part in martyrdom.  My understanding has been stained in thinking the Catholic Church was evil.  Hence no, She was the only boat floating at that time and She probably looked different than now.

     So what happens when you join brother to sister?  When the law of the land is the religious law in our heads?  Take Islam for instance.  When one marries a god and the local police force, who drives the understanding?  When Calvin married Christ law in Geneva, all hell broke loose under chains.  Justification was given to execute ones who didn’t cooperate.  A kind of demon then prowled the streets in legalist dress piercing the innocent.

     Shall church and state be separate Mr. Jefferson?  Yes, it is too big of a chew for any society to swallow.  A legalized pressure of any religion is not the answer.  In America, we prize our freedom.  If we want to bow to a rock, so be it.  Let God be glorified by darkness!  Christ’s light will shine if ignorant people play spirit worship.  Even so, we together salute Her as she’s run up the pole.

     The star spangled banner still waves.  It has to.  Blood stripes on a pure white background.  Fifty stars held in independency, yet united upon a royal field of blue.  I like the points of the stars. “Don’t tread on me!”  As if each voices its own warning to ‘stay back and let me take care of my own biz first.’  That’s what I like about our flag.  It shouts sovereignty and dependency at the same time.  We surely stand united or else we fall.

     What has Stephen to do with 2024?  His blood was the dividing line we see here in America.  When beliefs are important enough to die for.  His “burning” sparked a wildfire no other empire on this earth could contain.  Roman paganism fell.  Constantine made the shift from reverse and followed the new Way liberating our brothers out of the catacombs.  Thanks Stephen.

     Happy 4th of July.  Independence Day is otherwise called.  My God, help us with our convictions. 

 

 

 

 

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