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CLIQUES

When I was in high school it wasn't hard to know what group of people folks belonged to simply by the way they dressed, walked, and talked.

If they were wearing wide-legged jeans and straightened hair - they were probably a part of the skater/punk rock crowd.

If they were wearing Abercrombie or Hollister and had short hair - they were probably a part of the athletic crowd.

If they were wearing simply plain clothes and had frazzled hair - they were probably a part of the school band crowd.

In high school there were markers that identified people as belonging to a certain group.

Something similar is happening here in Acts 9:2.

ACTS 9:2

"[Saul] went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem."

As early as weeks after the resurrection and ascenscion of Jesus, a sect within Judaism emerged called "the Way."

It was probably called "the Way" for a variety of reasons, however, the most probable reason is they understood themselves as following "the Way" of God as marked out be Jesus.

This "Way" apparently had identifying markers - a unique way of talking, worshipping, thinking, behaving, acting, etc.

The markers were so unique, that Saul feels confident he can find them out - men and women alike.

WHAT "WAY" ARE YOU?

I think this is a compelling question for all of us.

Are we living in such a way that the markers of our life would cause people to say of us - they belong to "the Way," they are "Christian," they "follow Jesus," or does our life reflect little of "the Way"?

If our primary identifying markers are:

  • How much money we make
  • What job we work
  • What political party we are affiliated

...then we may want to rethink how we are actually living out "the Way."

Is our life marked by:

  • Worship
  • Prayer
  • Giving
  • Kindness
  • Order

...to the degree that our neighbors co-workers, family, and friends would say - "Yup - their life markers are 'the Way' markers.'"

It's a good reflection.

I hope we would all be marked by "the Way."