The gospel transcends oppositional culture.

And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

“‘You are my Son,

today I have begotten you.’

Acts 13:32-33

Preaching the gospel had a profound response in Pisidian Antioch. The Jews gathered for Saturday synagogue there were enthusiastic for the initial preaching of the gospel by Paul. He showed from the scriptures that Jesus is the risen Lord and Savior. And by the second sabbath in town, Paul and Barnabus had become minor celebrities just by preaching Jesus. People were overflowing the synagogue to hear the gospel again. And that’s when the opposition began (Acts 13:45).

But the gospel just kept gaining new converts. What the Jews there would eventually reject, the gentiles excitedly embraced and believed. In fact, the gospel spread not just to the gentiles in that one city, but it began to make a regional impact. And a joyous church was born, even as persecution drove Barnabus and Paul on to the next big city, Iconium. You cannot stop the Holy Spirit working in the gospel to outrageously change lives of those who find life and forgiveness in Jesus!

The gospel still advances. I suppose Paul and Barnabus could have chosen to focus on the unfair cultural bias against the gospel. They could have gotten sidetracked into a “culture war”, or complained to the local magistrates, or formed their society’s version of a political action committee to focus on the lies and opposition. But they wisely let the gospel transcend a culture that hated it. And they just kept preaching the gospel and moving on to those who DID listen and WERE transformed.

The truth is that even right now the gospel still transforms lives… and it seems to advance most in climates that actively are hostile to it! Imagine that! Why can’t so many American evangelical Christians get that? It’s right here in the scriptures for us to see! I think that sadly we have sold our gospel birthright for a sad pot of political porridge. Like pouting Esau we sit hungry for weak power in the moment. Look what it has got us?! Powerlessness… as we abandon the gospel and true care for souls who need it while we grasp for weak human political power. Let’s return to the good news! Let’s preach Jesus! His kingdom always wins.