The Boulder Rolls Downhill

Acts 5:27-32

One thing I have found to be true in my lifetime is that once a movement begins it is unstoppable until that movement is obstructed by a force stronger than the movement itself. When a boulder rolls down a hillside it will not stop until it reaches the bottom of the hill or it hits a tall, wide, strong tree. Once a ball is thrown it won't stop until it reaches the hands of the one catching it or gravity brings it to the ground. Nothing can stop a movement unless it is stronger than the movement itself.

This law of physics, if you want to call it that, can also be applied to social movements. Women were given the right to vote because they, and those who believed in them, kept pushing society until it realized the women were, and always have been, entitled to that right. African-Americans, and those who believed in them, pushed society until it realized that they were always entitled to the same rights as every other human. Currently, society is recognizing that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual people are also, and have always been, an equal part of our communities.

Such was what the Christianity movement experienced in the first century of its existence. The apostles were teaching about Jesus Christ and they wanted all people to know that there was a new way, a way filled with unconditional acceptance where all people were welcome to be the people they were and know that all they had to do was accept others in the same way. In this way life would become filled with peace and joy.

For their beliefs and teachings these followers of Christ, or apostles, were jailed, beaten, outcast, had all their property seized, and more in an attempt to stop these new Christians from all their false teachings. At least that was the viewpoint of leaders of society at the time. In retrospect we can see how that fight for equality by the early Christians was too powerful to stop and it was not going to meet a force more powerful to stop its momentum. The Christian movement had become a boulder no tree or bottom of the hill could halt.

Christians, at least those who really understand the love of God as shown to us through Jesus, know what it's like to be prejudiced against. We also understand that there is only one way to get through the prejudices being shown in current societal human right issues - unconditional, unabated love.

Be a love-filled boulder and never stop rolling downhill. Not until all people are treated equally, anyway.