Thoughts for the Day

The Riot in Ephesus

Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to Jerusalem. He said, ‘After I have gone there, I must also see Rome.’ So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed for some time longer in Asia.

About that time no little disturbance broke out concerning the Way. A man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the artisans. These he gathered together, with the workers of the same trade, and said, ‘Men, you know that we get our wealth from this business. You also see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost the whole of Asia this Paul has persuaded and drawn away a considerable number of people by saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be scorned, and she will be deprived of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her.’

When they heard this, they were enraged and shouted, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ The city was filled with the confusion; and people rushed together to the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s travelling-companions. Paul wished to go into the crowd, but the disciples would not let him; even some officials of the province of Asia, who were friendly to him, sent him a message urging him not to venture into the theatre. .... But when the town clerk had quietened the crowd, he said, ‘Citizens of Ephesus, who is there that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple-keeper of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell from heaven? Since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. You have brought these men here who are neither temple-robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. If therefore Demetrius and the artisans with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges there against one another. If there is anything further you want to know, it must be settled in the regular assembly. For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.’ When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Having read the passage above, has made me reflect on the way Christians in the west are left pretty much undisturbed by opposition, while adherents of other faiths can struggle. This has been on my mind recently while looking at the crowds that gather in opposition (in the UK) against some proposed project or life-style that concerns those of other faiths, all of it whipped up by social media. The rumour wheel is easy to whip up, whether it's against Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Palestinians, or Hindus, and more difficult to stop. As for Christians, they are considered harmless - they're hidden away in church when the world wants to shop or play football and their members age and their numbers dwindle!

Now compare the situation in Ephesus 2,000 years ago. 'The Way of the Lord' is spreading fast, so fast that the silversmiths who make items for visitors to the Temple of Artemis are afraid they will lose their trade. They manage to whip up enormous opposition, and not finding Paul (who is kept back by friends) they drag his companions along with them. The riot that ensues is only put down because the town clerk is more worried about what the Romans authorities will do if there is unrest. This new 'Way of the Lord' is threatening their way of life and needs to be suppressed.

But today Christianity is a religion thought by many ordinary people to be something they understand but choose to sit on the sidelines. But as Rev Michael Johnson says: "The incident in Ephesus underscores the way the Gospel message can transform society." The trouble is that we've stopped trying to transform society!

Father-God,
You know how difficult it is for us
to make decisions over what is important,
between our faith, our family, and our country.
Help us to put You and our faith first,
so that other things will slot into place.
Help us to have the courage
to stand out against the crowd
when our conscience says they are wrong,
and always to ask Your guidance first.
Amen.