Peter VI - Outsiders and Insiders

Acts 15

This past weekend, I was asked by a car salesman, "What difference do denominations make? I understand the difference between Catholic and Protestant, but when I'm in different Protestant or non-denominational churches, there isn't a lot that's different in what they promote." I told him, "Most of the difference is history. They are movements that happened by God's Spirit at different times, but the message is mainly the same." In Acts 15, a rift develops between Pharisees who have become Christian converts and the Gentiles, on whether circumcision should be required of the Gentiles.

One of the difficult challenges for churches is, "Do we require those come to Christ be like us in our customs and practices?" One of the biggest missionary failures is found in Hawaii and the Polynesian parts of the world, because missionaries not only invited them to follow Christ but also our Western values and customs. The same challenge is hitting the southwest as anglo congregations are challenged to open up to younger and more diverse populations. Do we ask that they think, dress and worship "like us" or do we meet them where they are and have both groups discover something new? For instance, when I have us sing in Spanish in worship, there are those who debate saying, "Those people need to become like us. This is America." These people are sincere Christians, just as these former Pharisee Christians were in the controversy of Acts 15.

Notice Peter's role. He is showing visionary leadership, guiding the church into a new chapter of its life. He is also having to deal with Paul, a great blessing and a great challenge to the Jewish Church. Though Paul was a Pharisee himself, his transformation made him difficult to handle, because he was so confrontive with Pharisaical ways. I will say that his teachings on women still reflected a Pharisaical bent. In one church I served, I had former Mormons who converted. Who were they the toughest on? It was the belief of other Mormons. Peter and James in this passage are the two primary leaders of the Jerusalem Church. They have a difficult decision to make, that may even cause the new Pharisaical Christians to leave. Peter's position is clear, but it takes the confirming move of James to make room for Gentiles to follow Jesus. Notice the compromise given toward the Pharisee Christians in verses 19-21. After all, it is important that the leaders not look like anything goes, as long as you believe in Jesus. I love this passage. It reminds me that differences based on history, background, and perspective have always been and always will be part of being the Church.

Today, there are developing people who are Jewish who believe in Jesus but do not want to be labeled as Christians. The same is true of Buddhists. They are Jesus followers, but they wish for the distinctives of their own backgrounds to be honored and that they come to Jesus in their way. Gentiles did not want to become Christians in the way that the first Christians did - as Jews. They were simply Jesus followers. Here is the interesting question. How do we avoid being just a mix of religions - a pinch of Jesus here, a pinch of Mohammed there, a pinch of Buddha, too? Scholars call this kind of religion "syncretism." While we might not want that, we do want to honor the variety of ways the Holy Spirit meets people and not put God in a box. Our generation is seeing this challenge like none other in American history. How will the 21st century Church respond?