‘Mid-Acts-ers’ frequently get called other names (besides ‘mid-Acts-ers’), in ‘Christian’ chat rooms and in ‘friendly’ (or even ‘hostile’) conversations with relatives or aquaintances. They are labeled as ‘hyper’ or ‘ultra’ by folks who think they are dividing way beyond normal, or at least because they pass the man who pioneered a (used-to-be popular) Bible that bears his own name, to make even more separations. A ‘mid-Acts-er’ is referred to as a ‘dispy’ (meaning ‘dispensational’). Commonly, a ‘mid-Acts-er’ who knows a lot of verses is branded a ‘Berean’ in a derogatory manner. Ahhh, but "bein’ Berean" .... is the one mark ‘mid-Acts-ers’ proudly wear! What people often say to be a slur, they convert into a compliment. They are quick to claim that fame of "bein’ Berean," while pointing out the excellent quality the Bereans had .... that of intently listening and then, checking it out! Some assemblies have made ‘Berean’ a part of their church name. "Bein’ Berean" means you don’t just open wide and swallow anything somebody feeds you; instead, while you chew on it, you look up the references to make sure what you were hearing is recorded in the Bible! That’s what the Bereans did:
Acts 17:10-11 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
The pathetic thing about ‘mid-Acts-ers’ feeling flattered to be called ‘Bereans’ .... is that, their very foundational ‘Pauline’ doctrine actually PREVENTS them from accurately "bein’ Berean." Let me explain. ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ teach that Paul had a body of ‘NEW’ truth, a wealth of ‘PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN’ information, called ‘the MYSTERY’ that God committed, not just first, but only to him.
Here is the point: If Paul was preaching untold, secret information (which ‘mid-Acts-ers’ believe he was) .... then the Bereans were really foolish to have even bothered searching the scriptures .... for MYSTERY data that was not there!
The Bereans were, in fact, noble students. They knew to go to the authority of the scriptures to validate Paul’s message. There, in the scriptures, they could confirm the things he taught them were true.
Nine chapters after the issue of "bein’ Berean" in the book of Acts, Paul testified plainly that God had helped him be persistent and consistent in speaking only what the prophets before him had spoken:
Acts 26:19-23 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus,
and at Jerusalem,
and throughout all the coasts of Judaea,
and then to the Gentiles,
that they should repent (What? Paul? repent? also see Acts 20:21)
and turn to God,
and do works meet for repentance. (What? Paul? works fit for repentance?)
21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
22 Having therefore obtained help of God,
I continue unto this day, (What? Paul, even this far along in his ministry, preached nothing different from what the prophets before him preached?)
witnessing both to small and great,
saying none other things (Does ‘none other things’ really mean ‘none other things’? Paul said nothing else .... but what was according to the scriptures of the prophets.)
than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23 That Christ should suffer,
and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead,
and should shew light unto the people,
and to the Gentiles.
Surely you are aware of all the ‘new creatures’ in Christ before Paul!
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
• Paul’s kinsmen and fellowprisoners were in Christ before him:
Rom 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
• There were apostles in Christ before Paul:
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
• The church of God was before Paul because he persecuted them:
1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ often quote two verses in Romans 16:25-26. They focus on ‘my gospel’ and ‘the revelation of the mystery,’ while they commonly and conveniently ignore the part that teaches believers are stablished by the scriptures of the prophets.
Approximately thirty-one times Paul wrote "it is written," in his thirteen epistles.
Paul made approximately eight references to "the scripture."
Twice he said that the gospel he received and delivered was "according to the scriptures," how that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor 15:3-4).
So next time you see ‘mid-Acts-ers’ gloating about "bein’ Berean" .... ask them how they figure the noble Bereans thought they could find Paul’s 'SECRET, MYSTERY information' by searching the scriptures .... if it wasn't there. They couldn't find it .... if it wasn't there.
Oh, but it WAS there:
Acts 17:10-11 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
We all ought to think about "bein' Berean"
and LOOK and FIND 'those things' Paul preached ....
Where? in the scripture!
Rom 4:3a For what saith the scripture?
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
For the next several weeks, each of the blog topics will expose particular ‘mid-Acts’ wrestings (2 Pet 3:15-16).
