So
the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing….
About
that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who
made silver shrines of Artemis (the goddess Diana), was bringing no little
business to the craftsmen; there he gathered together with the workmen of
similar trades, and said, “Men you know that our prosperity depends upon this
business. You see and hear that not only
in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away
a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods
at all. Not only is there danger that this
trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great
goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the
world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”
When
they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great
is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
The
city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the
theater dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from
Macedonia.”
Acts
19:20, 24-29
No
one gets angrier when people turn to God and accept Jesus as their Lord, Master
and Savior, than those people who have a financial interest in sin. I am not going to name specific industries,
legal or illegal, but you know which ones I am talking about.
In
this case, the silversmiths thought Christianity was going to put them out of
business. Their outrage was for nothing
because Christians like ornate decorations as well as anyone and this can be
seen in many of the oldest churches in the world.
Those
who think Christianity brings poverty are wrong. Christianity brings change and
prosperity.
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