Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 19
June 15, 1967
NUMBER 7, PAGE 10-12a

Attention Getting

William C. Sexton

There is no limit, it seems, in some quarters, to which men will go to gain favorable attention. Great effort is made by some to avoid unfavorable publicity. There is a legitimate way of gaining attention, also, at times one must act so as to gain attention when it is very unpopular.

The apostles gained attention, by doing things that some men today would be ashamed to do. They also, gained attention by refusing to cater to the demands of certain prominent Religious leaders, to which many today would listen.

I call your attention to a passage of scripture, which I feel points to the attitude the apostles had with reference to attracting attention. The passage: Acts Four verse Thirteen--"They took knowledge of them..." they attracted attention. Considering the context with the text, we see how they did it; and I suggest that we would do well to imitate:

1. By taking advantage of the opportunity afforded them. In chapter three, we find Peter and John going to the Temple. They are asking for "alms." Peter says, "Silver and gold have I none but such as I have give I thee — " He was unable to respond with what was expected of him, but he was able to give something of much more value. Being willing to give what God had supplied him with, he acted: he healed the man. This attracted the attention of many. The man had been crippled from birth, and now he was forty years old.

The people looked upon Peter and John "as though" they possessed some "power of holiness" to heal this man. The apostles were acting in the name of Christ. Peter preached a sermon: teaching them to recognize that they had killed the Son of Glory; he calls on them to repent and be converted in order to have their sins. "blotted out." He reminds them of the scriptures, how that Moses had spoken of a "prophet" that was to be sent to them; he affirms that he had come; that Jesus was that "prophet." Appeal is made to accept Jesus as the prophet spoken of down through the years by many. "Many believed them which heard the word..." (Acts 4:5) The religious Leaders were "grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead." Therefore, they "laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day..."

Each of us should take advantage of the opportunity presented. If every Christian used that which the Lord has given us, we would attract attention, as did these men. We, many times, can't give men what they expect, but we can give them something of much more value. Something was expected of these apostles, by other men, but we must not over look the fact that something was also expected of them by God; the two were quite different. By taking advantage of the opportunity, they did well--pleased God and saved many souls. Would we not do well to follow? I think so!

We do not have the miraculous power Peter and John had, but we do have the Gospel of Christ which is the "power of God", unto salvation to all. Who will say that this is not more important than the healing of the body?

II. By preaching the truth. When asked, "By what power, or by what name have you done this?" Peter replies plainly and unashamedly, "By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth..." He courageously drives the sword through the heart by saying, "Whom ye crucified, ..." The second blow that pierces the heart with the horror of their action is dealt when he says, "Whom God raised from the dead, even by him doeth this man stand here before you whole..." (Acts 4:10)

Men can attract attention today, by acting in the name, by the authority, of Jesus Christ. All are called upon to do so, but few will so act. (Col. 3:17; Matt. 7:13-14,21) To act by the authority of men is vain. Yet it is so common! (Matt. 15:8-14) When one asks men for scriptural authority for what they are doing, he attracts attention and is looked upon, by many, as a square, narrow minded bigot.

I appeal to you though, to attract attention in this manner. Be unwilling to do what men expect of you, rather do what God expects: be faithful! Do the will of God--call upon men to be bound by the scriptures. This type of Attention Getting, I maintain, shall be profitable — both to you, and those whose attention you attract.

III. By telling Religious Leaders "You" have set at "nought." These men were "builders." Yet, they rejected the corner stone--the one the master architect has set forth. Even though they had rejected it, it was still made "the head of the corner." (Isa. 28:16; Psa. 118:22-23; Matt. 21:42; I Pet. 2:6 8)

So foolish for builders to reject the corner stone! That foolish were these men who were leading and directing the people, religiously. We might add too, if Peter and John had been Materialist as many religionist are today, how foolish for them to say You are wrong. It would have been to their advantage, materially, to have kept silent. But they were not materialist, so they tell them — though you lead the people, it isn't good, it is away from God, not to Him. For a man today, who isn't from one of the Theological Schools to say to the Theologian, "You are wrong; you are without scriptural authority," is to attract attention and be called a "fool", and perhaps a number of uncomplimentary terms. Still I suggest that this is not only a legitimate way to attract attention, but that we, if we are to please God, must so act; and in doing so, we shall cause some to turn to God and be saved.

IV. By teaching that there is just one way to heaven. In the twelfth verse, he says, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Salvation is in Christ, and there is only one way to get into Him. That is having believed and repented of his sins and made known that faith by confessing with the mouth, he then is baptized into Christ. (Jn. 8:24; Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 10:9-10; Gal. 3:26-27) Until one has done this, he is still in his sins and is conditioned to eternal destruction. (H Thess. 1:7-10) Therefore, the important thing is to cause him to see his condition and turn to God. To tell him that there is but one way to heaven, and that he is out of it, may bring his wrath on you; but if you are able to help him, you must cause him to see this.

To preach this is to attract attention today. Because so many have come to believe that there are many ways to heaven. They feel that any person so narrow minded as to say that there is just one way to heaven, needs to be shown up for "What he is: either a fool or self-righteous, conceited, biased individual."

This has long been the attitude of denominationalist. But the sad thing is that we see and hear such in members of the "church of Christ" today. There are devout advocates of this cry; they are so loving toward the world, but those who stand for something receive the full force of their attack. Nothing is too bad to say about those who believe and teach that the Bible teaches the whole truth about man's salvation.

V. By their boldness. These Leaders were amazed by the boldness of Peter and John. They could hardly conceive of them being so bold; in front of these men — Schooled, authoritative in the Jewish religion — they spoke so boldly. "Did they not understand the consequences? Did they not know that we have the power to prison them?" must have been among the question passing through the minds of these leaders.

We need to understand, of course, that the boldness with which Peter and John spoke, was indicative of their courage. They were not arrogant nor haughty; they knew what they believed and why they believed it; they were determined to stand firm for that teaching, regardless of the consequences. Men with such qualities are needed today. They too will attract attention; many are afraid to so act. Brethren, may our supply of courage be increased.

There is a great difference, I believe, between a "Know-it-all", and a person who humbly, yet firmly stands for the truth of God's word in the face of strong opposition. Some may fail to make the distinction, or one may be mistaken for the other. One is concerned about FAME while the other is concerned with FAITHFULNESS; one is concerned with HELPING while the other is concerned about being HELPED. May we see the distinction and never mistake the one for the other.

VI. By being "Unlearned and Ignorant. " This does not mean that they did not know what they were talking about, on the contrary, they knew so well what they were talking about; these schooled men could not answer their argument.

There is nothing great about being "unlearned."

To often this is to the shame of the member of the Lord's church: they are unlearned about the things they should know — the will of God. Many schooled men are unlearned as far as god's will is concerned; they are like Paul's kinsmen, "ignorant of God's righteousness, ..." (Rom. 10:1-3) Peter and John were not schooled as these Religious Leaders were, yet they had the message of God; these Leaders were schooled, yet they were "Unlearned and Ignorant" as to the will of God. Peter and John attracted attention by being "unlearned and ignorant men", yet able to manifest such wisdom over these schooled men. So it is today, the men of God instructed in the wisdom of God can stand firm against the wisdom of men — the schooled men — when it comes to discussing the teaching of the Bible.

May we never find comfort in being just "unlearned and ignorant men." May we never look down on the educated man. Education is good, if it be used in teaching and applying God's will; but may we never become too fond of education, thinking that scholarship or scholasticism can substitute for God's will. It can not!

May we be willing, even if we are considered to be, "Laymen", not "ordained Ministers", below the "Clergymen", to tell them that the word of God is the standard and not their opinion! In doing this we shall attract attention--unfavorable much of the time--yet, it is the kind sanctioned by God.

VII. Finally: results. Motivation is important, and must be considered. If we are interested in making a name for ourselves which will result in material gain, we should not follow these apostles' examples. But their goal was not material gain, rather, spiritual: they wanted to please God and gain His favor. This, I suggest, is a worthy endeavor, and deserving of every Christian's effort and energy.

Many believed their preaching — 5000 men. (Acts 4:5) There was a separation of the good from the evil persons. (Acts 4:15-18) The evil Leaders were not concerned about the rightness of what was done. Their chief concern was how to stop the mouths of these men. They didn't deny that God had worked through these men; they desired that it "spread no further..." They threatened them, then let them go, only because it seemed at the time to be the most advantageous to their cause.

Peter and John's answer to the demands of these Leaders: "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." This is indeed a commendable attitude, and one each of us should manifest at all times.

As we seek to gain attention, may we well consider: Our goals? Are we more concerned about their favorable reaction, than about their well-being? Are we concerned about gaining God's pleasure over and above man's? Is the gain we seek material or spiritual? Is our goal to be famous or faithful? May we be honest enough to examine self, and have the proper motive; may we have faith enough and courage necessary to attract attention as did these men of old. If we act as did they, I have no doubt but that the results shall be the same: we shall win some to Christ, and save our souls, while we make several enemies.