THE LIVING CHURCH
Meditations in the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 16:35-40

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IN THESE last verses concerning the story of the conversion of the Jailer in Philippi we read of how Paul and Silas were released from prison. The morning after the earthquake the authorities send word to the prison that Paul and Silas could now be released. There is no explanation for this or apology for wrongful arrest. The stain on the character of Paul and Silas caused by the wrongful arrest and being placed in custody would remain. The gospel would thus be tarnished. The credibility of the new born church in Philippi would be undermined. Paul saw all this and so he made a stand. He demanded that the authorities made a positive move to declare their innocence and the falseness of their arrest. Paul wanted the whole town to see that the gospel was pure and the message not against the Roman government.

There is a very important lesson to be learnt here. We may feel, bearing in mind the teaching of Jesus about 'turning the other cheek' and loving ones enemies in Matthew 5:38ff that Paul was un-Christlike in standing up for his rights, but this is not so. There is a difference between the situation of Paul in Philippi and the situation Jesus was addressing in the Sermon on the Mount.

I feel the best way to illustrate this is from my own experience. I have suffered all my life from the condition called Gender Identity Disorder. This is a very painful condition which is very little understood, specially in some Christian circles. I retired early after 37 years in the parochial ministry of the Church of England to find healing from this condition in full Gender Reassignment through treatment and surgery. Since then I have received a great deal of judgement and rejection, specially from other Christians. I have also been refused permission to officiate as an ordained minister in the diocese I am now living.

As far as the judgement and rejection I have received from people, this comes under the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. So I must not seek to defend myself to them. I must not retaliate or judge these people who reject me, and I must seek to love them for Christ's sake. However hard this is, and believe me it is very hard, Jesus tells me I must turn the other cheek and I must love those who abuse and judge me. It does not matter that I know from the Word of God and peace in the Holy Spirit, that God led me through my decision to Gender Reassignment. It does not matter that people make judgements about what they do not understand. I must not retaliate or defend myself, but love those who have hurt me. I can't say that this has been easy and that I have altogether been successful in obedience to Christ's teaching. In my thoughts I have retaliated and defended myself, but I thank God that in general he has enabled me so that I have not retaliated outwardly, and Christ is teaching me to understand and love these people. In fact the teaching of Jesus is very wise. To return hurt for hurt is always harmful and counter productive and never does any good.

However as far as the refusal of the Church of England to grant me permission to carry on active ministry in churches by taking services and preaching, etc., like Paul in Philippi, I am pursuing dialogue with the Bishop of the Diocese to have this wrong and injustice removed. I know God has given me gifts in ministry which the church should not reject. I know God approves my action in Gender Reassignment. Gender Reassignment is not wrong or evil, but another healing presented today through the advance in medical knowledge, which can bring healing, just in the same way as healing is provided in all sorts of other conditions of mind and body.

As far as defending myself to other individuals I must not do so, but must 'turn the other cheek'. As far as the principle of the rightness of Gender Reassignment and the wrongness of discrimination against those who seek healing from this suffering, I must do all in my power to correct this injustice. The same is true with Paul. Personal abuse he does not retaliate against, but when injustice against himself effects the work of God and brings sufferings to other believers, etc. he stands out to bring correction to this wrong.

When properly understood the Bible presents us with principles of life which meet all situations. We will not learn these principles by throwing around proof texts used out of context. However when we apply the teaching opened to us by study, meditation and in the Holy Spirit, the instruction in God's Word will always be right and helpful.