Person-2-Person - July, 2020

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by David Phelps

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa

July, 2020

In recent weeks our cities have been the scenes of demonstrations—and in some cases violence and looting—because of both real and perceived police violence, especially against persons of color. Some members of our local Maplewood UMC family have participated in local demonstrations. For the most part, these events have been peaceful and the police respectful but not always. A convenience store was burned two blocks from where I work, and there have been numerous incidents of overreaction by authorities.

When I heard about the demonstrations and rioting, I thought of Acts 19:32: “The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.” (New International Version, emphasis added). Paul had come to the city of Ephesus (vs. 1) and spent the next two years preaching and teaching (vs. 8-10). Because of his teaching, people began turning from the worship of the goddess Artemis to the worship of Paul’s God.

A silversmith named Demetrius made his living fashioning replicas of the temple of Artemis (vs. 24), and when people turned from the worship of Artemis, his livelihood was threatened. Demetrius stirred up his fellow craftspersons (vs. 25-27) so that there was an uproar, which turned into a riot (vs. 28-32). The people seized Paul’s companions Gaius and Aristarchus and dragged them into the auditorium (vs. 29b). Paul wanted to speak to the crowd but the disciples wouldn’t allow it (vs. 30). Some of Paul’s friends even sent him a message telling him to stay away (vs. 31). During the resulting confusion, there were people who didn’t know what was happening or why they were involved (vs. 32 again). A man named Alexander tried to calm the crowd (vs. 33) but when they discovered he was a Jew they ended up spending the next two hours shouting, “‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’” (vs. 34b NIV).

The people of Ephesus may not have been looting or setting fires but they weren’t doing anyone any good either. They were simply shouting what we would call “slogans” or “hashtags.” And while they were shouting they weren’t listening, either to Alexander or to anyone else. The city clerk finally called for order and sent the crowd home (vs. 35-41). Shortly afterward, Paul left for Macedonia (20:1).

I wonder where we would fall in the crowd at Ephesus? How would I respond? Would I be one of those who was shouting, with no idea what was happening? Would I understand what I was shouting or why? Whose name would I be shouting? Artemis’? Jesus’? Paul’s? Someone else’s? Would I be afraid like Paul’s friends? Would I be confused? Would I try to be a voice of calm like Alexander? Or would I stand on the sidelines?

As disciples, we’re called to speak out but we’re also called to know what to say and why we’re saying it. Scripture says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, / for the rights of all who are destitute. / Speak up and judge fairly; / defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Prov. 31:8-9 NIV). As United Methodists, we’re supposed to be keenly aware of societal injustice. Many years after the incident in Ephesus, Paul’s letter to the church there reminded them that they should only say things that were constructive (Eph. 4:29). We have a duty to defend those who are disadvantaged, to expose what Paul called “the fruitless deeds of darkness.” (Eph. 5:11b NIV). But will we attack individuals or groups, or will we recognize that both those outside and within “the system” can be victims? We are called to remember that our battle is not simply against people but

“. . . against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:12b NIV).

We must always know what we need to say and why we need to say it. The author of 1 Peter wrote, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Pet. 3:15b NIV). Those around us can’t see God, or why we do and say what we do. But they can see us. They can see who and what matters to us and—by extension—who and what we believe matters to our God.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. . . . Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (Eph. 4:29, 31 NIV.)