“30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” (Acts 15:30-41 ESV)

The fixated observer, unable to pick up the phone and talk, for a year, two years, fifteen years: our mensch-like persistence… in dialoguing, in peacemaking, in querying… is a comment on Christ’s own peculiar “weakness” that turned out to be All Things and All Peoples. 

His Brand or Flavor of dialog, of negotiation, of self-protection against plausibilities that in fact are false… to walk Christ’s walk is to run the risk of enveloping in our own little bubble as we careen down a course reality-plus, reality-enhanced, plus-one: the course of Cruciform patience and individualism. Christianity is not a given. Christianity first humbles us. Christianity is ours to own though we be recluses, like this, at times, in some things.

“But all things point to such-and-so!” Our mock horror at the associations, reminds us words matter, to recollect even in all our excitement, to be aware of the easy second-in-command interpretations or secondary easily assumed associations. Oh yeah, it might be interpreted so casually, so conveniently, as some revelation unplanned. But what if it is simply a deeper ocean we are treading water in? What if not one marriage is upended, rather, all are honored: the married estate being ours as Spirit to own. That these promises are like Christ’s for the Church: He the bridegroom, and we His people and beloved Bride.

There is no occasion to discuss obedience and rebellion: instead the question is to Test the Spirits, and see if they come from God. It can be frustrating to feel our own situation was in limbo for those dozen or seventeen years. But then Spirit prompts us to announce: we are eager for the revelation of the Sons and Daughters of God. We are eager to toe the line, to shoot from the hip, to be vocal and willing participants… only please… the time elapsed! That no adulteries may arise, rather refusal ever to assert or conjecture a Friend is acting surreptitiously: all of us in this together, fighting against a corrupted and monitored wildly war torn even in nominal Peace Time, world. People silently hold their counsel, refuse to Google or Facebook even their nearest and dearest, for fear of the all seeing. Each has their inner Faith Dynamo which says, stay silent no longer, O martyr, O soldier, O citizen! Your words… they are after all the honeypot and courageous contribution! Those words, they betray none yet evangelize all! It really is nothing to hide Purpose, amazing grace, certain and pure companionship!