Caring Enough to Confront

TODAY'S READING: Lev. 7, 8, 9; Acts 15

SCRIPTURE: Acts 15:1-21
¹ Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” ² This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. ³ The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. ⁴ When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.

⁵ Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

⁶ The apostles and elders met to consider this question. ⁷ After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. ⁸ God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. ⁹ He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? ¹¹ No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

¹² The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. ¹³ When they finished, James spoke up: “Brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. ¹⁵ The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

¹⁶ “‘After this I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
¹⁷ that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’
¹⁸ that have been known for ages.

¹⁹ “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. ²¹ For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

OBSERVATION: The leaders of the Church had some serious disagreements with each other about doctrine. These differences of opinion weren't over trivial matters; they involved issues of how to live the Christian life and what constituted being saved. They wrestled over the meaning of scriptures and how to apply them. It took quite awhile for them to come to a satisfactory agreement about how the new gentile believers should behave and what they should be taught. They were not afraid to confront each other with their convictions of what they thought was right and they did not shy away from dealing with difficult issues. They stayed with it until there was an answer they could all stand behind. I'm sure not everyone was completely satisfied, but at least they came to an understanding with each other.

APPLICATION: I'm so glad this story is in the Word. It is an example of what we should be doing today in the Church. But all too often no one wants to go through the discomfort of confrontive discussions over areas of disagreement. No, we just tend to split churches and start new ones with people who agree with our point of view. There are precious few who will take the time necessary to work out their problems with each other so that community and fellowship are maintained. I think God is much more pleased when we don't allow our flesh to rule our decisions by avoiding anything uncomfortable. The Church would have a much more effective witness to the world if we engaged with each other so as to maintain a unity (not necessarily total agreement) with each other. This principle not only would help churches stay together but families too! Care enough to confront. It doesn't take any strength of character to walk away from someone you disagree with and simply cut off the relationship. It does not honor God to do so either.

PRAYER: Father, I have certainly done my share of cutting off relationship with others for all the wrong reasons in my lifetime. But I thank you for teaching me that this is not the right way to do things. Help me to be a peacemaker while still not compromising the truths in your Word. May I be one who deals with issues in a positive way and helps others to do likewise. In Jesus' Name, Amen.