Day 04 - Sardis and Aphrodisias

Be strong and courageous. Be strong and very courageous. Keep this book of the law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night. Be strong and courageous. Be strong and very courageous. Joshua 1:6-8

We covered a lot of ground today! 

After our morning devotional, we headed a short distance from our hotel to the ancient city of Sardis. We started with a short hike up to a hilltop, through thorns and thistles as the sun was rising, to get to a place where we could hear Marty start to teach. As we learned about the city of Sardis throughout the day, we were able to understand why John made all the references that are included in the letter from Revelation. 

I was especially touched by two elements of the city of Sardis and one in Aphrodisias. First, the Jews were able to have a synagogue right outside the gymnasium (think university) in the city center. Second, the new church in the early centuries put up a medical center outside, at the back of the temple to Cybele. Cybele was a goddess of fertility who asked her male followers to purposely castrate themselves and place their “family jewels” on the altar to show their devotion. Then, in Aphrodisias there is inscriptional evidence that a set of Jews and God-fearers sponsored and built a soup kitchen in order to serve the community they were a part of. 

Think of the implications. 

The Jews were able to be in the midst of the educational process without compromising what they stood for. The early christians were able to serve those who committed some serious self harm right as they exited the temple. The Jews and God-fearers together decided to serve food to those they did not agree with. 

No group ignored what was going on in the culture. They ran their own race and let it impact the culture around them! They found a way to meet people where they were; to BE the medium, instead of shouting the message. 

Could it be that the courageous thing to do is to engage the culture? What if being at the front of the clinic, telling people not to go in isn’t what we are called to do? What if the courageous thing is to set up shop at the back of the clinic, caring for the people who come out? 

I’m going to end this day how we began, with a prayer from Shane Clayborne. 

“God, give us discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts. Grant us anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people so that we may wish for justice, freedom, and peace. 

Bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done.”

Grace and Peace. 

~Jordan