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Acts 19:18-20 Book burning in Ephesus - Day 213

Good evening friends,

I hope today's devotional will help answer a possible question from sceptics.  Forces of evil often co-opt the events of scripture.  That does not make the events wrong in the context in which they occurred in New Testament times.  Nor does it make their use right in any other context.

Blessings,

Jeff

Most of us have probably seen pictures of book burnings in Germany in the 1930's.  Are there any differences between that and what we read here?

Yes.

Beginning on May 10, 1933, Nazi-dominated student groups carried out public burnings of books they claimed were “un-German.” The book burnings took place in 34 university towns and cities. Works of prominent Jewish, liberal, and leftist writers ended up in the bonfires. The book burnings stood as a powerful symbol of Nazi intolerance and censorship.

Voluntary in Acts, coerced in Germany..

Private decision in Acts, Government decision in Germany,

Liberation from occult practice in Acts.. Suppression of thought in Germany.

Does this passage make book burning a norm within Christianity?

My opinion is no.  Occurs once in response to mass conversion of people who had practiced magic arts.  So this is a description of what happened, not a proscription of what should happen.

Should people who have been involved in occult practices destroy materials related to these practices?

My opinion is yes.  Someone addicted to pornography should destroy all materials.  Just as alcoholic must avoid alcohol.  All addictions are powerful.  Removing the source is at least part of the solution.  In some cases, conversion can result in total removal of attraction.  But removing source of temptation is still a good thing.

The real message seems to be the power of the gospel over all sorts of spiritual oppression.  No one is so far gone that they cannot be saved.  When a person is converted, a thorough confession should be expected.  Public renouncing known sin should not be discouraged.


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