I'm very grateful to live in a day where it's possible to get on a computer and express my thoughts. For the last 2 1/2 years I've been teaching seminary for the youth at the local LDS church. One of the things I loved about teaching was the time I spent studying. That chapter of my life has ended but I wish to continue studying & sharing my thoughts with others. I hope this blog will be as beneficial to others as it is to me.
My first topic for this blog is inspired by a talk that was given recently by one of my friends. The talk left an impression on me that made me consider, do I see things as they really are? Do I make decisions based on if something is attractive & pleasant instead of reality? This post is also in connection with a Sunday school lesson I taught recently that included the beginning chapters of Acts. It's always interesting to see how people behave after they have been under the tutelage of someone grand like Jesus Christ.
In Acts 3, Peter & John arrive at the temple and are stopped by a lame man who was carried daily to the gate of the temple to beg for alms. Acts 3: 4 -7 states: "And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
The man stands up, walks into the temple praising God. This of course was witnessed by several temple attenders who marveled at the events. Peter takes advantage of the platform to teach a lesson by saying: "why marvel ye at this.....ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you and killed the Prince of life;....faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know."
This account is fascinating to me for several reasons. I find a great deal of irony in the fact that Peter is the one that takes the lame man by the hand to lift him up so that he may stand. How parallel is the lame man's experience to that of Peter's own experience of being taken by the hand and lifted up to avoid drowning in the sea of Galilee? Peter recognized someone drowning and wanted to give a gift that was given to him. Do we always take the time to "pay it forward?"
Another point that intrigues me is the audience to which Peter rebukes. His strong defiant language is to a group that are worshiping at the temple. When I think of people that go to the temple I think of someone that is righteous, worthy and dedicated; and yet these people are being called ignorant murderers. They were most likely apart of the crowd that chose Barabas over Jesus and consequently allowing him to be crucified. Why are these people at the temple? Is it possible that they felt like they deserved to be there, that they were worthy? Hugh Nibley, a respected LDS scholar stated," The worst sinners, according to Jesus, are not the harlots and publicans, but the religious leaders with their insistence on proper dress and grooming, their careful observance of all the rules, their precious concern for status symbols, their strict legality, their pious patriotism....the haircut becomes the test of virtue in a world where Satan deceives and rules by appearances." Peter's rebuke was aimed at those that looked and acted the part but inwardly their appearances were comparable to a decaying corpse. This story has caused me to contemplate about whether or not I act with sincerity or am I just pretending for show.
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