This release from Mennonite Central Committee U.S. (from one of their in-house chapel services), provides Australian Christians opportunity to reflect on our own government’s policies, popular as they are with the majority of our population, including church-goers. Feel free to forward this email to others who may find this meaningful. Neil Horsburgh., Community Church of Saint Mark, (Clifton Hill Baptist)

Stories: Protests and prayers in Ephesus and Washington

Note: This is the slightly condensed text of a chapel presentation, “Protests and Prayers,” given by Titus Peachey and Kristin Reimer, both of MCC U.S., on May 14 at MCC in Akron, Pa. The story of Paul’s troubles with the silversmiths of Ephesus is found in Acts 19:23-41.

It happened in the city of Ephesus nearly 2000 years ago.

It happened in the city of Washington, D.C., nearly three weeks ago.

An uproar … a great disturbance … a near riot broke out in the city because of something said by a man named Paul who was a follower of The Way.

An uproar … a great disturbance … but no confrontations, violence or trouble. As D.C. police chief Charles Ramsey commented, ?This is what protest ought to be.?

In Ephesus there was great prosperity. Much of that prosperity could be traced to the silversmiths who made silver shrines for the temple of the goddess Artemis. Artemis was the primary divinity of Ephesus, and her temple was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

In Washington, D.C., the capital of a very prosperous nation, prosperity and economic interests are protected by missiles and rockets of steel named after gods: Atlas, Poseidon …. and by nuclear submarines with names such as the Trinity.

Paul, a man of deep faith, walked into the city of Ephesus and shook its economic and religious foundations with a simple sentence. In a public place where everyone could hear, Paul said seven words: “Gods made with hands are not gods!”

Demetrius, a silversmith, became alarmed. … He gathered the silversmiths together, saying: ?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.?

On April 20, 75,000 to 100,000 people marched on Washington, D.C., to oppose the Bush agenda for escalating U.S. military involvements. At least 15,000 people specifically attended the April 20 Stop the War Mobilization, which was one of four jointly coordinated rallies. It was possible to stand on Washington Monument grounds and hear simultaneous speeches from three rallies nearby — anti-war demonstrators, counter-demonstrators and pro-Palestinian activists — in a mind-boggling surround-sound mix.

When they heard this, the silversmiths were enraged, and they began to shout, ?Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!?

When the people began to realize the death and destruction this war was bringing and would continue to bring on people both far and near, they were enraged and began to shout: Ain’t no power like the power of the people, ’cause the power of the people won’t stop. Ain’t no power like the power of the people, ’cause the power of the people won’t stop.

There was a great deal of turmoil and the whole city was filled with confusion. The silversmiths grabbed Paul?s traveling companions Gaius and Aristarchus, and dragged them to the city theater. Paul, the one who had said that ?gods made with hands are not gods? also wanted to go to the theater, but the officials would not let him.

The confusion and turmoil intensified. Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some shouted another. Some in the crowd didn?t even know why they were there.

The people arrived carting their own individual motives for participating: to call for an end to all war; to appeal for mercy for the Palestinian plight; to call attention to the racism behind this war; to insist that a true patriot questions his or her country; to live out God’s call for peace on earth as Christians, Muslims, Jews; to denounce the government’s power policies; to break the silence. …

Alexander went to the theater and tried to silence the crowd, but when they discovered that he was a Jew, they became incensed. For two hours the crowd shouted in unison, ?Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!? ?Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!?

Finally, the town clerk entered the theater and the crowd quieted down. The clerk said: ?Citizens of Ephesus. Everybody knows that the city of Ephesus is the keeper of Artemis and the wondrous statue that fell from heaven. You don?t have to be defensive about that. … These men you have brought here are not temple robbers, nor have they blasphemed our goddess. Now if Demetrius and the other silversmiths have any charges they wish to bring against anyone, the courts are open and we have judges and lawyers. Let them handle it that way. Now everyone go home before we are charged with a riot.?

Finally, in the words of Amber Amundson who entered the theater and spoke to an attentive crowd: “My husband, Craig Scott Amundson of the U.S. Army, lost his life in the line of duty at the Pentagon on Sept. 11 as the world looked on in horror and disbelief. Losing my 28-year-old husband and father of our two young children is a terrible and painful experience. His death is also part of an immense national loss, and I am comforted by knowing so many share my grief.

“But because I have lost Craig as part of this historic tragedy, my anguish is compounded exponentially by fear that this death will be used to justify new violence against other innocent victims. I have heard angry rhetoric by some Americans, including many of our nation’s leaders, who advise a heavy dose of revenge and punishment. To those leaders, I would like to make clear that my family and I take no comfort in your words of rage. If you choose to respond to this incomprehensible brutality by perpetuating violence against other innocent human beings, you may not do so in the name of justice for my husband.”

Two cities … separated by two millenia Two cities … with strong faith in gods of silver and steel

Ephesus … troubled by voices which question voices which probe voices which shout gods made with hands are not gods!

Washington D.C. … unperturbed … absorbs voices which question voices which probe voices which shout our grief is not a call for war … weapons of death are not gods!

Two cities … two millenia … and followers of The Way …

Are you a follower of The Way? What are your words, simple and direct? In what public space will you be called to create a holy disturbance?

Related Articles:

• Michael Hardin, The Jesus-Driven Life: Reconnecting Humanity with Jesus
• The Jesus Driven Life
• Paul: ‘inspired’? What does that mean?
• 25 LISTS OF EVERYTHING INTERESTING/IMPORTANT
• Miracles and the Virgin Birth etc.

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