I dont think anything could have prepared me for the crowded vendors on the streets, the smell of basil along with strong peppers and a slight hint of sewage that permeate through the breeze, the colorful taxis lined up on the street awaiting customers, the legless beggars that shuffle between the alley corners, the fresh fruit cart that passes in front of my house, the modern architecture serving as a shield to the pocket slums. Its hard not to get caught up in the fast pace city of Bangkok. As I was preparing a bible study yesteryday, I thought of Paul visiting Ephesus in the book of Acts. Ephesus, very much like Bangkok, was a city that revolved around sex worship and idolatry. As the Ephesians offered sex to their great goddess Artemis, the notorious red light districts in Bangkok are full of young women offering their bodies as sacrifices in order to appease their countries economical well being. The temple steps of Soi Cowboy, Nana Plaza, and Patpong serve as altars for many of these women's souls- a dark doorway leading to a life from which few women ever recover.
In Acts 19 after Paul begins performing miracles in the city of Ephesus, many people converted to Christianity. Shortly after, a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis is enraged because he loses a significant amount of business. Demetrius, along with many other Ephesians, start rioting and demanding that the Ephesians return to their worship of Artemis. Because so many Ephesians had been heavily involved in idolatry, the economy was greatly shaken as many people burned their idols /(withcraft) and converted to Christianity.
I cant help but think of how I am also living in a country so dependent on sex tourism and idolatry. Because approximately 90% of Thais claim to practice Buddhism, it is impossible to walk very far without noticing the colorful shrines, spirit houses, and little buddha idols. Many of the children wear bracelets signifying their dedication to a spirit. Sometimes the spiritual darkness of this country is overwhelming. Like a dark cloud hovering, I wait patiently for the slightest bit of light to penetrate the darkness.
From Acts 19 to 20, Paul spends three years converting and discipling the Ephesians. The new Christians of Ephesus created a Christian community founded on repentance (19:18) serving the needs of the weak in humility. A body of believers who had previously been enslaved to deep spiritual bondage were slowly learning what it meant to serve Christ. Although the church of Ephesus was a novice, slowly forming its structure, the new Christians' hearts were genuine and transparent. Sadly, only 40 years later the church of Ephesus is rebuked for "losing their first love" (Rev. 2:4) John writes, "I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perservance and have endured for my name's sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love." John then encourages the Ephesians to repent and return to the deeds they did first. I wonder what went wrong with the church? Its as if the humility of not having it all together, the humility that comes with constantly confessing that you are a screw up and need God's grace, is more satisfying to God than being the Christian who gets caught up in good deeds and self righteousness.
As I continue serving in a spiritually oppressed country, it is this truth that encourages me: God favors the humility of the repentant. Although I will walk down the streets of Bangkok today and be confronted with porn dvds and little buddhas, these symbols of spiritual bondage will remind me of the hope that awaits the people of Thailand. These symbols will remind me that it is the darkest places that receive the most light. These symbols will remind me there exists a world of pain awaiting a Savior.
(See letter to Ephesus: matt chandler- for scripture outline)
