MPC
6th May 2018.May 6 - Acts 16 - "Flipping the Script"
MPC
6th May 2018.
Phil Campbell
Washington DC, a warm summer night. Eight friends are gathered in Michael's backyard for a barbecue. Great food. Fine French wine. Everyone's having a great time. It's around 10pm. When suddenly there's a stranger there. With a gun. And everything goes deathly quiet. He's medium height. Wearing a tracksuit. And he's holding the gun to Christina's head. Michael's friend. And then he starts swinging it around. And he says give me your money.
Michael Rabdou, as he tells the story in a radio interview, he says, "The guy with the gun, he's repeating it over and over again. And we believe him. Trouble is, none of us have got any money."
So he says, we try talking to the guy.
First they try guilt. One of the older women says, "What would your mother think of you?" And the guy swears at her. And spits out the words. "I don't have no mother." Michael says, we could tell at that point. This isn't going to end well.
And then Christina pipes up. From the end of the table. And totally changes the tone. She says, hey, we're here celebrating. Why don't you just have a glass of wine, and join us?
And Michael says, "It was like a switch." All of a sudden, says Michael the look on the guy's face changed. And he takes a glass and he tastes the wine - reaches down for some cheese.
And then he puts down the gun. And the guy says to them, you know, I think I've come to the wrong place.
And Michael says, "Everyone kind of changed modes. We all just sat there together, the stars overhead twinkling, the sound of chirping insects in the night air. And then then the guy says something right out of the blue. He says... "Can I get a hug?"
And Michael says, my wife hugs him. And then Christina hugs him. Then he says, "Can we have a group hug?" And so we all made a circle round him. And hugged him.
And then he apologised. And he walks out the gate with his glass of wine. And we never saw him again. And we all burst into tears of relief. Michael says, it was like a miracle. A miracle!
Although sociology professor Chris Hopwood just calls it the power of non-complementary behaviour. Doing the reverse. Of what people expect. He says, when people are hostile to us, we're normally hostile back. But what happens... if you show warmth instead?
The other term for it is flipping the script. Doing the exact reverse. Of what you'd expect. Everyone thinks the script is going one way. You do the opposite.
And the all time expert. No surprise. Is Jesus. The one who said, love your enemies. The one who said, if someone hits you on the cheek, turn the other cheek and offer that as well. If someone takes your coat. Offer your shirt as well. If someone crucifies you. Pray for them. "Father forgive them. For the don't know what they're doing." As you take the penalty for their sin on yourself.
That's Jesus.
So I guess it's no surprise when you see that flipping the script like that is a key part of the Apostle Paul's gospel strategy.
You can see it first hand. As you follow the action in Philippi.
We tracked Paul and Silas on the map at the start. All the way from gentile-central in Antioch.
On the way he's had a falling out with Barnabas over who's coming with them; the original barney with Barney. And so Barnabas has gone off island hopping to Cyprus to give John-Mark a second chance... and Paul and Silas go north. Revisiting the churches Paul started back in Acts13 an 14, because he's desperate to see how they're doing.
Which is when he gets the mysterious message in his sleep from the mystery man in Macedonia. Saying come and help us!
Now I had a dream the other night that I was late for church and I couldn't find my car; not my car keys: my car. Which isn't much of a dream I admit. Louise says she spent the last week dreaming about cheeses. Not Jeesus. But cheeses. In the run up to Friday night.
Paul's dream is simple. There's a guy who looks Greek. The guy's saying, "bo air ther SoN hare min." In a thick Macedonian accent. Verse 9. Which literally means, help us.
What are you going to make of a dream like that?
Come and do what?
What kind of help do you reckon they're needing?
Come and bring sandwiches?
Come and start some decent schools?
Come and help with our health care system?
Come and build hospitals?
Paul's in Troas at this point. Where he's just linked up with our author Luke. And you'll notice the little detail in chapter 16 verse 10 that just brings it to life; at this point Luke's joining the journey. And he says after Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia. Luke's joining in. For one single and very clear reason. The Macedonians need help. So here's what we'll do.
We got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
The help they really need; whether they know it or not. Is to know that Jesus is the one who died for their sins; and he's risen. And that now he's king.
Now keep in mind, we've called this series Gospel Strategy.
In growth groups, we're thinking about the where, the why, they're taking out the gospel. How Jesus himself is propelling and guiding the mission. More and more churches with more and more Christians, all over the place.
And here in Macedonia; in the city of Philippi; there's a glimpse of the how. In a way that can maybe transform the way we're doing mission here in Mitchelton.
So they arrive in Philippi. And head for the place of prayer by the river.
I don't want to focus so much on Lydia this morning. The well off woman selling purple cloth who prays by the river. She's the first believer in Philippi.
I don't want to focus so much on the slave girl. Telling fortunes by the power of an evil spirit. Who's life is turned around in the name of Jesus. And ruins the business plan of her owners.
I just want to zoom in on what happens next.
Because in verse 19, the owners of the slave girl are so upset that their hope of making money is gone, they grab Paul and Silas and they take them to the market place to face the public magistrates.
I saw a JP in the shopping centre the other day sitting at a desk with a fancy JP T shirt on, stamping some forms for some people who were buying a house. Back in Philippi public justice was a bit more hard hitting.
First the public accusation. "These men are Jews and they're throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice."
Now that's not actually true. The real issue is, they've driven out an evil spirit in the name of Jesus Christ; and now the slave girl's telling who'll listen that they ought to listen and be saved. And the slave owners are losing money.
But the market place crowd joins in the attack. And the magistrates say where there's smoke there's fire, so they order them stripped and beaten. And throw them into prison, where the jailer is told to guard them carefully. So he locks them in the high security cell. With their feet in the stocks for good measure.
So here's the picture.
Backs bleeding and raw from your whipping.
Legs up. In the stocks.
Damp cell in the darkness.
How do you feel?
And how are you going to respond to that?
Get ready to flip the script.
Verse 25.
Around midnight, Paul and Silas are praying and singing hymns to god. And the other prisoners are listening to them.
I dunno. Typical bunch of prisoners I guess. Drunk and disorderly. Petty theft. Muggers, druggers? The guy who hasn't paid his speeding fines.
They've watched Paul and Silas dragged in with the blood on them. What's with the singing? What's with the heartfelt prayers?
Not what anyone... is expecting. Script. Flipped. What is it about these guys that makes them so unusual? How can they be singing; when everything's gone so bad?
But if you think that's upside down, wait til you see what happens next.
Because suddenly, verse 26, the whole place is shaken by an earthquake. And it's a big one. And the prison doors fly open, and everyone's chains; I guess the wall pins just shake out of the walls. They're free to go. Everyone. What are you going to do?
Flip. The script.
The jailer wakes up; sees the doors open; he's terrified. Not terrified so much from the earthquake, but of the consequences. Under Roman Law, lose a prisoner, you take their place. Or die.
So rather than face up to the shame, he's going to do himself in first.
Here's the guy who's probably just whipped you and put you in stocks. Here's the guy who's taken your freedom. About to fall on his sword.
What are you going to do?
Flip the script.
Watch what happens. From verse 27.
The jailer wakes up, and when he sees the prison doors are open he draws his sword to kill himself because he thinks the prisoners had escaped.
But Paul shouts, "Don't harm yourself. We're all here!"
Script flipped.
Not only still there when they don't have to be. Paul caring about their captor. Saving his life.
Which is so surprising the jailer calls for lights and rushes in and falls trembling before Paul and Silas. Still there in their open chains and stocks.
And the jailer brings them out. And he asks them, "Sirs, what must I do... to be saved?"
Now maybe you haven't been asked that question for a while. Maybe it happens to you every day or two at work. But for most of us, not. To which I'd say, maybe we haven't been serious enough about trying out Paul's gospel strategy. And maybe we should.
More about that in a minute.
Let's keep tracking the story. Because Paul and Silas need to answer the question.
And they say, it's as simple as this. And if you haven't caught onto this yourself, this is a good time to listen. What do I have to do to be saved?
Simple. Verse 31.
Believe in the lord Jesus Christ and you'll be saved; you and your household.
This is a turnaround for the whole idol worshipping family. To turn to Jesus instead.
And verse 32, they explain the word of the Lord to him and everyone else in his house; that the Lord Jesus is the one who died for their sin; that the Lord Jesus is risen as king.
And look, here in verse 33, one final delightful bit of script flipping. That their jailer has taken them into his house and he's washing their wounds. And then Paul and Silas, take their turn; and wash the jailer and all his family. As they're baptised.
And they share a midnight meal; filled with joy. Read it in verse 34.
34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God-he and his whole household.
And then from verse 35, at daylight, everything resolves. The magistrates issue a release order; Paul and Silas won't go. Until they get a public apology. The magistrates come and appease them; because Paul and Silas are Roman citizens. Who never should have been treated like that in the first place.
And after one final get together encouraging the brothers and sisters at Lydia's house; they go. Onward to next weeks adventures.
You know, so much of life just feels like it's playing out a script, doesn't it?
In our dog eat dog world; you're a dog. So you eat the next dog. Someone snaps at me; my first instinct is snap back. Get a harsh email. Bang. My fingers have typed a harsh reply right back before I've even thought about it. Everything's just pre-programmed. Nothing to break the cycle. Your marriage, at work, the Middle East.
And yet all it takes is for Paul and Silas to flip the usual script, and here's their captor, now their carer. He's wiping away their wounds; they're telling him how Jesus has washed away his sins.
I want to say this stuff should be second nature to us. And yet it seems like it hardly ever happens. If the gospel has flipped the script for you... why not try the same thing for the people around you? Because it has, hasn't it? That because of Jesus, instead of meeting the judgement you deserve on the last day. You find mercy. Because Jesus in his innocence has taken your judgement. He died. So we live.
When you really get that, surely it's going to free you up to flip all kinds of stuff. To love the ones who persecute you. So they'll ultimately hear the gospel.
I'm saying, can we think of some ways to be really surprising... for the sake of the gospel? Following Paul's gospel strategy. By flipping the script and loving our enemies. Like Jesus did.
I know the report on religious freedoms is going to be released in a few weeks. Answering the big questions, like can a Christian baker refuse to bake a gay wedding cake?
It's kind of become the key symbolic question, hasn't it?
In Belfast last week Ashers baking company appealed a 500 pound fine for refusing to make a same sex marriage cake. They've appealed it to the supreme court. Daniel McArthur, who's a Christian says, "We can't promote a cause that goes against what the Bible says about marriage." He says, "We've tried to be guided in our actions by our Christian beliefs."
Predictable script. Everyone knows it. Christians hate gay people. Discriminate. Won't bake them cakes.
And you're thinking this is terrible. Christian bakers should be free to refuse cake to anyone they like.
I just wonder. Here's a thought experiment. Maybe the real Christian thing to do is to flip everyone's expectations. At our own expense.
How about you're a Christian baker? And a same sex couple comes in and they want to order your best and most expensive wedding cake. Because they're so excited. What happens next? Here's a thought experiment. Maybe something like this. Listen carefully. "Because of my position on same sex marriage, in good conscience I can't profit from a same sex marriage cake. So I'll have to make it for you for nothing. And take a loss. What size cake would you like?"
And you say, well you can't do business like that. And you say, They'll deliberately take advantage of you. And the next day there'll be a queue. You'll be the most popular same sex wedding cake baker in town. And you'll be out of business.
And yet maybe; maybe; with the script flipped like that; it's a much better way to get in the news. And a much better way to go out of business as a baker; than endless court costs fighting for the right to refuse to serve people you disagree with.
Script flipped.
And if you're a baker and you want to try that strategy, let me know and I'll donate the cost of the first cake.
Look, I know you can tell me there are all kinds of reasons something like that will bump up against reality. And the same sex marriage lobby will no doubt take you to court and demand the right to pay you for your cake. But maybe we just like making excuses to stick to the same old script. That doesn't work.
And the sad thing is the world in lots of ways expects even less from us as Christians; than from anyone else. Because we haven't been flipping the script. And being more like Jesus.
As a gospel strategy; how about you try it? At work. Try not taking advantage of someone else's weakness. Whether it's a client. Or a competitor. Or a colleague. What happens if you lift them up instead? Even if it means taking a loss.
Not doing just whatever it takes. To succeed. But whatever it takes to serve. Even if it's costly. That's going to be different, isn't it?
In sport. How about not taking advantage of the bad line call to get ahead? But having as much concern for your competitor as for yourself. In spite of the cost. That's what Paul did. Because sometimes you win more by losing.
At school. We're all pretty quick to check the marks add up when we get the test back, aren't we? And rush out to the teacher if you find a mistake that gets you more marks. What if the mistake gets you less marks. And puts the girl you're always competing with ahead and you behind? Going to tell the teacher then? "Hey look Monique, I just found I didn't top the class, you did! Well done!"
Really flipping the script, isn't it? So many small ways. Doing what's least expected. For the other person's benefit. Because of Jesus.
For the sake of the gospel.
Think for a minute about our women's event on Friday night. Wine and cheese. A chance to merge our universes, and bring together our Christian friends and our non-Christian friends. Wine and cheese.
And some have said, well, I'm not interested. Because I'm a Christian and so I don't eat cheese.
Well, that's not exactly what you said. But similar.
You know, you could have flipped the script. I was helping in the kitchen with two women on Friday night who didn't touch a drop. Not in the least interested in cheese. Nor wine either. And yet they served their hearts out from start to finish because they were saying what a great way to get to tell people about Jesus.
I was reading a review of Rosaria Butterfield's latest book. It's called:
The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post Christian World.
Rosaria Butterfield was lesbian atheist academic. And she tells the story of how back in 1999, she came to faith. Through the Christians who lived in her street.
She says, in the gay community there's lots of mutual support. We look out for each other. She says, I didn't expect community anywhere else.
And then she met her Christian neighbours. Who just opened their home. "We're cooking up a pot of soup. Why don't you drop over."
And she did. And she found that even though they profoundly disagreed with her, they profoundly loved her. Even though she was an academic. Activist. Lesbian. And she said they'd have these robust discussions. Week after week. Dinner time after dinner time. Discussions about everything. Discussions about Jesus. Until eventually, she says, she came to faith.
And these days she's doing what she calls radically ordinary hospitality herself. Just opening the door. Cooking enough vegetables.
Flipping the script on the fear of messing up the carpet. Flipping the script on entertaining to impress. Flipping the script on the closed door. Retreating into fortress home. Because she says, loving her neighbours into the kingdom is more important than that. Flipping the script.
And always ready to answer the question, "What must I do to be saved?" with the words, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you'll be saved. You and your whole household."