Our worldview has a great impact on our expectations and actions. Consider the early church. As we read through the book of Acts we see the Apostles performing signs and wonders in the name of Christ. For example, Acts 5:12 tells us the apostles “performed many signs and wonders among the people.” People were so impressed that they “brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.” Talk about a recipe for revival.
In Acts chapter 9, Peter, through the power of the Holy Spirit, raised Tabitha from the dead in a place named Joppa. When this became known all over Joppa, the Bible tells us that many people believed in the Lord.
These incidents, along with many others, did indeed bring about what we today would refer to as a great revival. As the scripture tells us, many people believed in the Lord, and God added daily to their number. But did things continue along the path that we today, would expect? In our worldview, would we anticipate what happened later?
What would we expect after such signs and wonders and the ensuing response? Would we start our plans for a bigger building or campus, possibly a TV program? How about a crusade schedule or a series of “God Can” conferences? Would we expect this ‘movement’ to simply keep on growing?
Would we be anticipate what actually happened? Lets take a look at just what did happen. Shortly after the mention of the apostles performing many signs and wonders in Acts 5:12, we see Stephen martyred and then Acts 8 tells us a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem – in the midst of their good works and signs and wonders. The persecution was so great the people had to flee and the church was scattered. Now, I realize this worked to fulfill the spread of the Gospel beyond Jerusalem, but would this have been in our “5 year plan?”
Consider the course of Peter’s life. This same Peter who raises Tabitha from the dead, whose shadow people had tried to place their loved ones in to receive healing, ended his life as a martyr for Christ. He was persecuted and ultimately killed for his teaching and good deeds in Christ. Is this the end we would anticipate for a great preacher today?
The worldview of the church in the west no longer includes persecution for the Gospel. We want the church to be popular and well-liked in our culture. But Jesus said that the world would hate us just like they hated Him.
Does this really make a difference? Is there a problem with wanting to be well thought of and respected as a church and Christians? At what cost are we willing to be well thought of and respected? Does our desire for such cause us to compromise the very Gospel that brings us salvation? If that be the case then it most certainly makes a difference and there is a problem.