How often people have acted...
Illustration
How often people have acted ignorantly, believing sincerely that what they were doing was ordained by God. Robert was having severe difficulties with his family's finances, and so he prayed that God would help him and guide him to some sort of solution. Shortly thereafter, when the opportunity presented itself for Robert to embezzle enough money from his business to cover his debts, he believed that certainly this was God's way of helping him. It's easy to rationalize strange ideas when one is desperate.
White Christians who settled in South Africa sincerely believed that God had ordained white supremacy. Even in our own country there are white supremacists who back up their position by quoting the Bible.
Adolf Hitler sincerely believed that killing off the Jewish race was the right thing to do. He easily quoted holy scripture to back up his actions.
In the same way, Saul believed that killing off the leaders of the new Christian movement was the right thing to do. He was proud of his zeal. We can only imagine the regret that he lived with for the rest of his life following his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. He tells of it over and over again in his letters to Christians, making his own story the very illustration of God's grace and mercy through Jesus Christ. "I'm living proof," he said, "that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."
White Christians who settled in South Africa sincerely believed that God had ordained white supremacy. Even in our own country there are white supremacists who back up their position by quoting the Bible.
Adolf Hitler sincerely believed that killing off the Jewish race was the right thing to do. He easily quoted holy scripture to back up his actions.
In the same way, Saul believed that killing off the leaders of the new Christian movement was the right thing to do. He was proud of his zeal. We can only imagine the regret that he lived with for the rest of his life following his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. He tells of it over and over again in his letters to Christians, making his own story the very illustration of God's grace and mercy through Jesus Christ. "I'm living proof," he said, "that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."
