Spotlight on two shadows - Artemas and Crete

The Reference:           Titus 4:12        I am sending Artemas and Tychicus to you in Crete.

                                    

The story that emerges:

This profile addresses two insignificant entries in the New Testament: Artemas and the church in Crete. We know of Artemas because of half of one sentence by Paul. We learn of the church in Crete only by an off-hand reference in this same epistle.

Yet, these two bring to the foreground unexpected realities that deepen our appreciation for God’s mission. This will become more visible as we learn what we can about each shadow.

First, the church in Crete.  Nowhere in Acts does Luke tell us when Paul went there. In my books on early church history not one mentions Crete in any index. Apparently, Paul did visit Crete and was able to establish a church there. He had sent Titus to appoint elders and to correct misunderstandings and to address  “urgent needs.” But that is the only hint of Paul on Crete, the only indication of a congregation on that island.

Second, Artemas, and here I will indulge in a hunch. My hunch is that Artemas was originally a native of Crete, the very place Paul sent him. It is safe to say that Artemas was a devout follower of Jesus Christ. Since he was returning to Crete, we may assume that he became a convert somewhere away from Crete. Maybe Antioch, or Tarsus, or Caesarea. All of those cities are near Crete and had congregations. Somewhere or other, Artemas became a well-disciplined Christian, eager to serve the Lord. When Paul was reflecting on how to strengthen the young church on Crete, he thought of Artemas and sent him.  

End of story. Two entries that barely have any light upon them at all, known by inference (and hunch) but otherwise in the shadows of prominent churches and well-known leaders. But two entries that shine light upon God and His mission.

That Artemas was tentative when he arrived at my heavenly bench would be understatement. He looked around, clearly puzzled that he was expected. Before I could open with a welcome, he asked his question, “Well, did I win the lottery?”

I was a bit taken aback, though a couple of smart responses did come to mind. Like, “Lucky you, if you did. No taxes taken out up here.” Or, “Nope. Besides, what would you need all that money for? And by the way, just what is the name of the currency up here? Shekels?”

I restrained myself and assured him that I was the one who requested to see him. Apparently Artemas was not the only one taken by surprise.  The dispatcher at the kiosk where I paged him wanted to know how come we know each other. No one had ever wanted an interview with him.  We both got the same reaction at the kiosk: “Who? Artemas? Really?” And then again, “Who?”

We settled down, and I asked the question on my mind:  “Why did Paul want to send you in particular to the church in Crete?”  His answer verified my hunch. Yes, he was originally from Crete. God was returning him to his own people. These, then, were God’s key players: the unknown man, Artemas, and the overlooked church with great needs, Crete. When we put these pieces together, we see what God was orchestrating.

In fact, that could be the caption to the picture below, with the names and location changed, as a parallel to current circumstances:

Actually, this picture requires two captions, each truthfully describing what is happening. 

This photo captures some of the thousands of migrant workers on the outskirts of Delhi, India, trying to return to their home villages. Their survival has been threatened by the lockdown of all India, a move announced one day before going into effect. The lockdown has resulted in the elimination of jobs, food, and shelter. All have vanished almost overnight. Shops were closed, and business came to a sudden standstill. These low-paid workers had no hope but to take the journey back to their homes, miles and miles away. The lines of these workers go for miles. This migration is said to be the largest in South Asia since the Partition between India and Pakistan in 1947.

But there is another caption, one that shows what God is doing. 

In Delhi are hundreds of small house churches. These have given birth to hundreds of followers of Jesus. Many of these converts are among the migrant workers displaced from Delhi and walking among the throng returning to their villages.

They are displaced as workers of menial jobs in Delhi, but they are strategically placed as witnesses among those in “urgent needs,” the only source of hope and love. They are walking among their own as lights of heaven in the darkness and despair in the hearts of those around them.

In the last three months the Global Prayer Digest (http://www.globalprayerdigest.org) has carried names and descriptions of dozens of obscure and unreached peoples in India. The frequent prayer request is for Christian witnesses to rise up among these peoples and show the Father’s love in Christ. The best answers are those who come from these villages, speak their dialect, eat their food, and honor their customs. These are the ones God is placing as His missionaries. Many of them are among the throngs walking to their home villages.

And that is the light that God is shining on the overlooked villagers of India through unknown followers of Jesus who are loving many of their people into God’s kingdom.