Have you ever stopped to think about the 12 guys Jesus stuck together? Some fisherman, craftsmen, farmers but there are two guys we sometimes miss. The was Simon the Zealot, a political revolutionary who wanted to see Rome overthrown and kicked out of Israel. A Jew for the people. Then there was Matthew. He was a tax collector, a traitor to the Jewish people, collecting taxes for the enemy, the ruling Roman empire.
I can’t imagine these two guys were close friends. They probably didn’t like each other at the beginning, but even after the death of Jesus, they were in the upper room together. Think of the breadth of ministry these two men could reach together, both extremes. They didn’t have to agree, to like one another’s opinion or view. They did have the same allegiance to Jesus Christ and gave their lives to follow and serve Him.
So, Calvinist and Traditionalist you think you have anything on these two? I hear the Ts talk about the Cs and vice versa. If Jesus called a Tax Collector and a Zealot, it’s time to recognize He is using Traditionalist and Calvinists (and the occasional Wovenist) to reach people. The question is, when the time comes, are we going to be in the Upper Room together? Will we stand faithful together, or are our differences larger than our allegiances? Some days I have little hope for us, but I am holding on to that hope. What do you think?