"It Ain't Necessarily So" is a popular song with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. The song comes from the Gershwins' opera Porgy and Bess (1935) where it is sung by the character Sportin' Life, a drug dealer, who expresses his doubt about several statements in the Bible. (wiki)
I was introduced to the song in 1965 when Australia's "King of Pop" Normie Rowe released it. The chorus is:
It ain't necessarily so
It ain't necessarily so
The things that you're liable
To read in the bible
It ain't necessarily so
It came to mind when I came across this article today, "Preaching God's Love in Acts?"
Here's a summary.
What was the emphasis in the evangelistic preaching of the Apostles as recorded in the book of Acts? Does the record of Acts support the notion that the central focus of Christianity is one's love relationship with God and personal life enhancement? Or did these disciples of Christ focus on something else?
The list below includes every instance of evangelistic preaching in the book of Acts, (a summary of content, well it did, I deleted that bit for a shorter post ...FFO), and an analysis of emphasis.
1. Pentecost, Acts 2:14-39
The emphasis is on forgiveness of sin by Jesus the Messiah. There is no mention of God's love or a relationship with Him.
2. Peter at the Gate Beautiful, Acts 3:12-26
The emphasis is on forgiveness of sin by Jesus the Messiah. There is no mention of God's love or a relationship with Him.
3. Peter before the High Priest, Acts 4:8-12
The emphasis is on forgiveness of sin by Jesus the Messiah. There is no mention of God's love or a relationship with him.
4. Peter's Defense a Second Time before the Council, Acts 5:29-32
There is no mention of God's love or any kind of tender relationship with Him.
5. Stephen's Defense before the Council, Acts 7:1-60
Emphasis is on the guilt of the Jews. There is no mention of God's love.
[Note: When God speaks to Saul about his future during the events surrounding Saul's conversion (Acts 9), there is no mention of an intimate relationship, only that Paul would suffer much for the sake of Christ.]
6. Peter's Message to the Household of Cornelius, Acts 10:34-43
The emphasis is on Jesus, the prophesied Messiah who either brings judgment or forgives of sin. There is no mention of God's love.
7. Paul's Message to the Jews in the Synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, Acts 13:16-41
Paul proclaims Jesus the prophesied Messiah crucified and resurrected. His emphasis is on forgiveness amidst warning.
8. Paul at the Areopagus in Athens, Acts 17:22-31
Emphasis is on the nature of God, and the reality of judgment. There is no mention of relationship or God's love.
9. Paul's Defense before the Jews in Jerusalem, Acts 22:1-21
Emphasis is on Paul's personal encounter with Christ, his own forgiveness from sin, and his subsequent mission. There is no offer of personal relationship with God or mention of God's love.
10. Paul's Defense before the Sanhedrin, Acts 23:1-6
There is no mention of the love of God.
11. Paul's Defense before the governor, Felix, Acts 24:10-21
There is no mention of God's love or even of forgiveness.
12. Paul before Felix and Drusilla, Acts 24:24-25
There is no mention of God's love or of a personal relationship with Him.
13. Paul's Defense before the Agrippa, Acts 26:1-29
Emphasis is on the resurrection of Christ, prophetic fulfillment and forgiveness, and Paul's responsibility to preach the Gospel. There is no mention of love or a relationship with God.
The love of God is never mentioned a single time in the entire book of Acts. (emphasis mine)
And that's why I thought of that song. I suspect that most people would assume that love and a relationship with God are mentioned. But apparently they aren't.
The things that you think
Are written in the Bible
Ain't necessarily so