Wednesday Acts 7:51-53

Stephen accuses the Sanhedrin of faithlessness.

Click here for an online Bible. Acts 7:51-53

Stephen let’s them have it. He has been showing the parallels of many events in the history of Israel to the current events regarding Jesus. Now, he blasts them.

At the incident of the golden calf in Exodus 32, when God told Moses that He was going to destroy the people, He called them “stiff-necked.” Stephen is comparing the Sanhedrin (the religious rulers) to the idol-worshiping people who infuriated God.

Stephen said that they had uncircumcised hearts and ears. He was basically saying that at the heart-level, they were not really the people of God. They did not listen to God anymore than a pagan.

He said that the history of Israel has been to reject those sent by God and that they are continuing in that pattern. They rejected the prophets who spoke of the coming of Christ and they rejected Christ Himself.

They may have received the Law, but they were certainly not living by it.

Go Stephen Go!

He blasts them with both barrels. He pokes them in the eyes. He gives them a spiritual wedgie.

Of course, we have the same problem. I have used the term “functional atheist” before. We refer to people who may have gone to school, but lack basic reading and writing skills as “functionally illiterate.” They are not really illiterate in that they do not have the ability to read or write, but their skills are so bad that they really function in life as if they were illiterate. A functional atheist may have some level of faith in Christ, but there is no evidence of faith in their daily lives. They may not really be an atheist, but they act like one.

Does my life reflect my faith? Do I live like I say I believe? Is my faith in God or in me? Am I any better than the Sanhedrin?