Hope In Disturbing Times: Who’s Holding the Coats?

There’s nothing new under the sun. In Acts 6, some people hated what a man named Stephen believed. A group called the synagogue of the Freedmen (names can be deceiving) stirred up vitriol against him to serve their agenda, and eventually seized him. When asked to defend himself, Stephen said, “Brothers and fathers, hear me.”

The stage was set, he spoke truth, and the crowd did what they had been riled up to do. They stoned him. Paul became a Christian and testified in Acts 22:20,

“And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed,

I myself was standing by and approving

and watching over the garments of those who killed him.”

Are we holding the coats? It made me think of those who say things like - I hate a father was killed, but…, or he deserved it, or even celebrated. Disagreeing with Stephen or Charlie Kirk is one thing, but murderous hatred for someone speaking what they believe is devastating. The innuendos and outright celebrating in recent days have been disturbing, but it should not make us hopeless. Pray for those celebrating that their eyes would be open – not to agree with someone’s views - but to turn on a dime and become lovers of Christ!

People are not our enemy, Satan is. Ephesians 6:12 says,

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers, against the authorities,

against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,

against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Satan uses people, to be sure, and many are doing his bidding. But like Paul, they could turn on a dime from hating the teachings of Christ (and those who follow Him) to loving Him! Lord, may it be!