Christ Confronts Our Carnal Security

Acts 19:21-41

Today, many have professed their faith in Christ by baptism. The gospel has confronted their sins and self-righteousness. Through baptism they confess they can’t be saved from sin but to be born again. They proclaim they need Christ to cleanse them. They profess they belong now to God’s people who live for Christ, forsake the world, and crucify their old nature. We in church also confess these things. Now, it’s true that still Christians struggle with our sin and old nature. We’re weak. We give into temptations. We give into anger, bitterness, lust, lies. But some Christians struggle with carnal security. We’re rich, smart, and we seem religious. And we trust in these things - that we’re okay - rather than trusting Christ. But Christ is in the business of confronting our carnal security. Through his word and life events, he shows us what our idols are. Today we see how Christ confronts that security and how people react when our idols and self are threatened.

There are 4 observations in today’s message. Firstly, Christ confronts the security of money and livelihood. Secondly, Christ confronts the security of cultural identity and tradition. Thirdly, Christ confronts the security of self and self-worth. Fourthly, Christians willingly forgo self for Christ.

Firstly, Christ confronts the security of money and livelihood. We see in verse 21, it was time for Paul to leave Ephesus. In his 2 years there, the gospel went forth to all Asia. Many were healed and many burned their expensive magic books. Why? Because they were converted. Now, it was time for him to go. He’d head to Jerusalem via Macedonia and Achaia, and after that he hoped to go to Rome. He sent Timothy and Erastus ahead, while he remained to wrap things up. But in those final days, trouble arose. The conversions over the past 2 years caused unhappiness. In fact, the unhappiness was so bad, there was a riot. Verse 23 says, “And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.” It was no small stir - meaning, there was big trouble. Many were unhappy about the way - about Christianity. And this tells us they were angry because Paul preached that Christ was exclusive. They called it the way. People are okay when you say Christianity is one way to God and all religions are valid. But Jesus said he was THE way, truth, and life. He also said, there are many ways that lead to destruction. But only Christianity is the narrow way that leads to life. And this narrow message was embraced by many Jews and Gentiles in Ephesus and the region. They believed. Verse 26 says, “Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people.” And many were angry.

But more than that, their livelihood was threatened. This is why they angry. You see, the conversions impoverished those who profited from idolatry. They were so angry they rioted. Verse 24 onwards tells us a certain Demetrius gathered his guild of silversmiths. They had made shrines for the goddess Artemis, or Diana, as the KJV has put - which is the Roman name. We see that these silversmiths became rich through their trade. “Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.” So Christianity was bad for business. Demetrius was concerned about his shrinking pocket. And he agitated others. He wasn’t content to remain alone in his discontentment. That’s what the wicked do - they stir others. If you remember, the price of the magic books that were burned amounted to 50,000 pieces of silver. 1 piece of silver was a day’s wage. The equivalent today of 50,000 pieces of silver would be millions of dollars. All burned up. When something like this happens, the stock in magic books diminishes. Diminished supply, leads to increased cost. But there was diminished demand as well. If people were converting to Christianity, they were no longer buying magic books, amulets, idols, etc. With fewer worshiping Diana, fewer were going to the temple. And this hurt their pockets. This was their livelihoods and their livelihoods were being challenged.

But secondly, Christ confronted the security of cultural identity and tradition. Demetrius was angry - for his pocket. But he was angry about something else too. When he agitated the people he showed how their culture and traditions were being threatened - that Diana was dishonored. Verse 27 - “So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.” As he stirred the people, he not only articulated how their livelihoods were at risk but also Diana’s temple and influence were being challenged. Now, they emphasized the temple. They called it the temple of the great goddess Diana. They were afraid it would be despised. This was a truly magnificent structure. It was 1.5 times the size of a soccer pitch. It had 127 columns holding up a roof. It was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. At the site today, you’ll see a really tall column - this shows how high and large the temple would’ve been. The fact that people came from Asia and all over the world showed her prominence. But the size of the temple was only rivaled by the religious industry. Artemis or Diana was the goddess of fertility. Her idol depicts that - just google it. Her priestesses were involved in fertility rites - shady things were going on in the name of religion. So it was a big cultural and religious industry of worship, sensuality, and money. And it was also shrouded in myth. She was called the great goddess Diana. But what was she actually? Verse 35 quotes Greek mythology. The image of Artemis fell down from the sky. What was this image? Consider these historical accounts. Pliny the Elder records that the temple was built and rebuilt 6 to 7 times to house an object which fell from heaven. Ancient coins have an image of something lumpy - like a rock. It looked like a small meteorite. They were worshiping a rock. But since their whole culture was built around this, they were angry.

This is why they used threatening words and behavior to defend their traditions. Verse 28 says that after Demetrius stirred them up, they were full of wrath. The word literally means to “breathe hotly.” Plato described it as a rage which makes a man pant and swell. And they all started shouting - “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” In fact, verse 34 says they shouted this for over 2 hours. They were angry because their security had been challenged. They had to assert Diana’s greatness. Why? Because Paul would’ve spoken about Christ’s greatness. He would’ve taught what he did in Athens, that we worship a God who doesn’t dwell in temples made by hands. He would’ve taught that Jesus was God in the flesh who left heaven’s glory to be born so he could die for the sins of his people. Jesus didn’t need a shrine or temple. He was not a rock that fell from heaven. Jesus came to give his life, not to take people’s money. He left behind heaven’s glory to be born in a stable. Christ’s disciples were fishermen - not rich people. Even tax-collectors gave up everything to follow him. He never promised to make his disciples rich - in fact, foxes have holes and birds nests - but he had no bed. But he offered the glories of heaven to all who would receive him. They said that Diana was magnificent. But Christ was despised - a man of sorrows - who was not esteemed. His people chose a murderer to release over him. And in the end he was crucified. That’s why Demetrius was so flabbergasted that people could spurn Diana for a crucified man. But Christ turned their cultural security on its head. The gospel that God sacrificed himself for his people - that’s true magnificence. That’s why people put aside Diana because of this message. He offered them salvation.

But what we see in these two truths is that when the gospel is preached and believed, it actually confronts the security of self and self-worth. That’s the third point. We see something interesting in verse 26. Yes, Demetrius blatantly said that their livelihoods and the greatness of Diana were being robbed. But it was actually their self-worth that was attacked. Notice his words in verse 26 - “Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands.” In other words, Paul persuaded people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. Now, that sounds obvious to us. Gods are supposed to make man - how can man make gods? But in their system, they were crafting their own god. Demetrius and friends made these gods with their hands - it was their livelihood. That’s is how they gained significance. But Paul preached that handmade gods are not gods. Christianity turned their whole system upside down. Handmade gods are no gods at all. And that’s why they were angry. Ultimately, it was not Diana that the people really worshiped. She was just an excuse. Ultimately, the money was not the fundamental issue. It was their idol of self. Notice the order he says these things. The order is significant.

Verse 24 - Demetrius the silversmith had brought in lots of business. Verse 25 - he gathered his guild, agitating them - saying they got money from their idol business. Verse 26 - he accused Paul of saying these handmade gods are not gods. Verse 27 - he was angry their craft was dishonored. Only then, did he mention the temple of Diana, which their craft had built. Only then did he mention her magnificence would be diminished. Only then he said she’d robbed of prestige. The order shows what really mattered to him - not Diana, but himself. This is what happened to Jesus and the Pharisees. The Pharisees were proud of their law keeping and setting up extra laws. But when Jesus revealed their hypocrisy, they sought to kill him. Religious people trying to kill someone. Imagine that! They used false accusation - he blasphemed, he threatened to destroy the temple, he has a devil. Their self-righteousness was attacked, so they used religion to get Jesus. Same here. Religious craftsmen used the excuse of Diana to accuse Christians. They didn’t care about Diana - ultimately, they cared about themselves. Their god was not Diana, but seen by their money and tradition, their god really was them - their trade, their security, their self-worth. The Pharisees had manmade laws, the Ephesians had manmade gods. Not very different - idolatry and legalism both exalt self.

That’s why we see what they did next - they attacked Christians. Just like the Pharisees who by a mob captured Christ and Stephen, these silversmiths dragged 2 companions of Paul in verse 29 - Gaius and Aristarchus - to the amphitheater. This mob was blood-thirsty. They yelled for 2 hours - “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” Who shouts continually for 2 hours? Very angry people! And we also see their anger in their senselessness. Verse 29 says the whole city was filled with confusion. Verse 32 says most of the people in the amphitheater were unsure why they were there. And when a Jew - Alexander - was pushed forward by other Jews to explain they weren’t part of this, the crazy mob didn’t care - they shouted louder thinking he was defending Christianity. Now, one of the city officials could see through this senseless anger. He knew the self-worth of these men was threatened. In verses 37-39, he reasoned - the Christians have not stolen anything from the temple, they’ve not spoken against Diana - if there really was a crime, then Demetrius and his guild should bring formal charges. Don’t just stir people up - settle it in a legal assembly. You see, even sound unbelievers could see what was happening. This city official was a shrewd man. There are legal ways of handling dispute.

We’ve seen those unwilling to sacrifice self-worth. But we see one who was. Fourthly, Christians willingly forgo security for Christ. Now, all through this, Paul was absent. But he wanted to be there. Verse 30 says he’d have gone in but Christian friends who were province officials begged him not to enter. He would’ve spoken up for Christ. He was willing to be persecuted! He was willing to place himself in that situation. Why? Because he counted not his life dear to him. The gospel had changed his heart. He was not riotous or angry. He didn’t drag anyone to the amphitheater. But he was willing to go and join his friends to stand with them in defense of the gospel. And we see further proof of his selflessness. He was willing even to die! Verses 21-22 says he wanted to visit Rome. Now, these details are not incidental. The Divine Author wants to tell us something here. We know that Paul died in Rome. History suggests he was beheaded by Nero. So here, he intended to walk the road to his own death. He would go to Macedonia and Achaia - places where he suffered for the gospel. He would go to Jerusalem. But after that, Rome. Nero was there and was cruel towards Christians. But Paul was willing because to come after Christ is to deny self, to take up the cross, and to serve Christ. This is the way.

Today, those who have been baptized have declared their allegiance to Christ. They have declared that theiir security in this world is not their livelihoods, not their cultural traditions or old ways of thinking, neither their self-worth. Their allegiance is to Christ alone. We too must remember our own baptisms that we may improve upon them. To remember that our allegiance is to Christ alone. That as we have been purified. We’re dead to the world and sin - let us therefore, love that Christ confronts and destroys our love for this world. Let us cherish how Christ tears down every imagination and every high thing that exalts itself agains the knowledge of God - to bring every thought, every doctrine, every tradition to the obedience of Christ; that we may love how we are crucified with Christ, but only live because he lives in us.

There are friends and visitors today who are not Christians. Where does your security lie? Where do you find your worth? Is it in your livelihood, your culture and tradition, your own morality? Come and know this savior that those who have come today have professed in baptism. Dearly beloved in Christ, are you still trusting something in this world for security? When Christ confronts our idolatry, how do we react? Do we only want to follow him when he doesn’t place too many demands on us? When he doesn’t ask us to give up too many things for him? When he allows us to hold on to our sins and lusts? Or when he doesn’t challenge too much of the righteousnesses we cherish in our religion of dos and don’ts? Have we made an idol of Jesus? When we compare our own hearts to Demetrius - maybe he's more honest than we are. He admitted he didn’t want his livelihood, tradition, and self to be confronted by Christ. As believers, let us desire it, welcome it, cherish it. What security must Christ confront in your life today?

1. What carnal security do you think Christ must confront and destroy in your life that you may follow him more wholeheartedly?

2. What are the ways that Christians can react poorly to such confrontation by Christ?