Settling differences

Acts 15:1-29

When the tsunami struck countries bordering the Indian Ocean in 2004, maps were changed in an instant. Villages were wiped from the land, lagoons filled and doubled in size. Many found themselves in uncharted territory, strangers in their own country. The maps had become instantly misleading.

The same is true of the seismic changes that have convulsed Western society in the space of a single generation. Our old maps are no longer a reliable guide for us; what worked in previous generations is no guide to what will work now. Instead of a map we need a compass to chart way forward

This story of the first major crisis that faced the fledging Christian movement offers us such a compass. What does it have to teach us?

1) crisis

A small Jewish renewal movement was spreading around the eastern end of the Roman Empire. Gentiles were joining it in large numbers. How would the existing Christians respond?

In the same way, the world we grew up in has gone and it’s not coming back. How do we respond to this? In this story there is a row over strangers in the sanctuary:

> how do we treat newcomers, especially those who aren’t like us?

i) make them like us: that’s the response of a sizeable chunk of the church: 151,5: if these Gentiles want to be Christians, they’ve got to be like us culturally as well spiritually; they’ve got to be Jewish to be Christian – it’s as simple and obvious as that, isn’t it?

> what of our culture might we be unnecessarily imposing on newcomers?

ii) move goal posts: others asked ‘can we make room for these new people without compromising gospel?’ The row gave way to a discussion about charting a way forward – and very quickly what became certain was that the insiders (Jewish believers) would have to change the way they did things to welcome the newcomers. In one sense this is a simple spiritual principle: love! (it’s embodied in Rom 15:7)

> how much are we willing to change to make room for newcomers?

2) compass

So they gathered in Jerusalem – notice who the ‘they’ is: it’s the leaders not the whole church: 2, 4, 6 – interesting for Baptists! They gather to chart a way forward and here’s how they do it:

i) what’s happening? The church is forced to have this meeting because of what was going on – Gentiles were joining a Jewish movement: Peter reports (7-11), Barnabas and Paul do the same (12). In every generation the followers of Jesus need to look and see what’s happening in society, who’s coming, who’s not and why.

> are we prepared to take that risk and to make any necessary changes?

ii) where’s the Holy Spirit? Peter was forced to ask what’s going on because the Holy Spirit falls while he’s still talking to Cornelius (10:44; 11:15); the same happened at Antioch:

> are we looking for where HS at work on the edge of the church (see John 5:19)?

iii) what does the Bible say? Surely scripture supports the conservatives? James, one who is seen as an arch conservative, thinks not (13-17). It had always been God’s plan to draw in Gentiles. He’s doing it apparently without reference to the Law – so scripture has to be interpreted in fresh ways to meet new circumstances. The new movement is being asked to ditch what worked for one generation in order to reach another.

> it’s bold and uncomfortable: are we prepared to do it?

iv) agreement: The Word and the Holy spirit together showed the assembled leaders a way forward:

ü 19 – James speaks on behalf of the leaders to the assembled church who seem happy to own what’s been decided (31)

ü 22 – James then puts it in writing for all Christians everywhere – especially in Jerusalem and Antioch

Note that Biblical values are not compromised in any way. And the church agrees some temporary, transitional rules that will soften the blow for Jewish believers (20). The issue of meat remained controversial for Gentile congregations (see 1 Cor 8-10).

> are we prepared to submit our preferences to scripture?

v) are you feeling this? There’s a lovely bit in James’ letter ‘it seemed good to us and the Holy spirit’ (28); it felt right, God brought a smile to our faces as we shared with one another and reached this conclusion

This is what our church conference we’re holding on 28 April is all about: looking at how world is changing, seeing what opportunities God is opening to us, asking what the Bible and the Holy Spirit are saying to us and seeking to agree a way forward. Hopefully, as we do this, it will feel good to us and to God and we will go joyfully into the future He has for us.

Areas for further discussion [remember to use the questions in the notes as well]

How significant do you think the meeting in Jerusalem was for the growth of the church around the world?

How do we deal with issues where Christians disagree?

At the Jerusalem Council, the believers felt able to re-interpret some key parts of the Bible in the light of their experience of the Spirit: which parts were affected? Can we do the same thing today?

What are the areas of the church’s life that we feel will have to change most to make room for newcomers who don’t share our way of doing things?

What are we not prepared to compromise on?

How do we feel about the changes we think the church will have to make?

What kind of transitional arrangements (like the things Acts 15:20, 29 spells out) ought we to put in place to help those most uncomfortable with change to cope with the changes we have to make?

What are our hopes for the church conference on 28 April?