So that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. (Acts 9:2)
A movement is defined as a group of people working together to advance their shared political, social, or religious ideas. Today in America we have movements like Black Lives Matter, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), #MeToo, and the Green New Deal. Many of us have joined movements to declare war on hunger and poverty and to reform the healthcare system. The Wesleyan Church has long had a movement to share our faith around the world.
The Way is the name by which the Christians in Acts referred to their movement. This new movement was a group of people working together to advance their faith in Jesus Christ. The book of Acts mentions the Way a number of times. Acts 19:23–27 says a great disturbance occurred about the Way in Ephesus over man-made idols. In Acts 22:4, Paul said that he persecuted the followers of the Way to their deaths. At his trial in Caesarea, Paul admitted that he was a follower of the Way (see Acts 24:14).
We too can join a movement that declares war on hunger, deliver a meal to the doorstep of someone who is sick, or empower the life of a black teen in our neighborhood. We can pray for those who are persecuted because they follow the Way.
Live so that others see the Way in your life.
Linda Valente, a nurse practitioner, is the wife Wesleyan pastor Frank Valente. They have served together with Wesleyan Native American Ministries, as missionaries to Africa, and now as grandparents of three.
© 2022 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
