Acts 8: Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. ² (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) ³ But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

 

its crazy how we get so caught up in doing things one way that we can't allow any room for change.. even if the change is from God... paul was in agreement with the killing of a man... yet the bible clearly says we are not to murder... but because the plan of Jesus was so outrageous... and they didn't know how to control it... they thought they would take extreme measures.. just like the crucifixion of Jesus... that was murder.. yet it was done by the church! using the roman people who were persecuting them...

 

on the flip side.. this very persecution of those who believed in Christ as the Messiah... they were the very reason that the word of Jesus salvation was spread throughout the neighboring countries... they had to scatter.. yet they could not keep silent... that is how the word spread...

 

I find the church to often get so caught up in tradition that we cannot see if God could be trying something different... some days we need to allow the Spirit to cause us to just watch rather than fight everything He could be doing.. I too am guilty of this because I am quite sure (97%) that my way is always the best way of doing something.. it may not be the only way.. but surely the best way... I really need to overcome that and work WITH God rather than against those I think may not be from God... *sighs* change my heart O Lord.. create a clean heart and clean hands in me... in Jesus name I ask.. amen.amen.amen.