Friday, July 11, 2008

Disagreement

After the decision in Jerusalem to accept non-Jews (Gentiles) as believers based on faith alone (check out the “Same” entry in the archives), the leaders sent out a letter to announce this decision (check out Acts 15:22-31). Today, Paul begins his second missionary journey.

Acts 15
36 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” 37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. 41 Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.



Disagreement. A lot has been made of this story among Biblical scholars and theologians. Ironically, they disagree about the “sharpness” of the disagreement. I guess the real question for me is whether or not two passionate Jesus followers can disagree on this journey and not lose their way. Both had valid “arguments”.
- Paul knew this journey wouldn’t be easy (check out Acts 14:19 for a reminder) and he didn’t want to be left again by Mark (check out Acts 13:13) in the middle of the journey.
- Barnabas knew that people need a second chance (check out Act 9:26-27 where he helps Paul get his).
The picture we are given here is that for a time it is okay for us to agree to disagree and go our separate ways …
as long as we continue with our responsibilities (in this case telling people about what Jesus has done in our lives) …
and eventually reunite to work together again (check out 1 Corinthians 9:6 where Paul is working with Barnabas, also check out Philemon 1:24 where Paul is working with Mark and 2 Timothy 4:11 where Paul is requesting Mark’s help).

There is nothing wrong with temporary disagreements with temporary separations in this journey. It is the permanent ones that cause the real damage.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Same

Yesterday, we read and discussed Paul and Barnabas’ return from their missionary journey. Today, we are going to listen in on what has become known as “The Council at Jerusalem”. A debate had developed concerning the process of how non-Jews (Gentiles) became saved. Did they have to convert to Judaism first (specifically being circumcised and following the Mosaic law) and then “Christianity” to be considered a believer or could they just simply believe?


Acts 15
6 So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. 7 At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. 8 God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. 10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? 11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” 12 Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself. 15 And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted.“ ... (Check out Amos 9:11-12 including the footnotes) ... 19
And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood. 21 For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”


Same. I love Peter’s simple statement of the obvious ... “we are all saved the same way”. We are all in the same place ... separated from God. We all need the same help ... a savior to reunite us with God. We are all offered the same gift ... grace. Why are we so quick to forget the depth of grace needed to save us? Why are we so quick to establish categories of “us” and “them” when the only difference is we have accepted a gift and they haven’t? Why are we so quick to create expectations around that gift, placing ourselves in an equation we don’t belong? Why are we so quick to forget that we were the same as they are ... separated from God, needing a savior, hoping for grace? The beautiful symmetry is that that same God is asking us to tell them about that same savior so they can experience that same grace?

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Returned

Today, we are finishing Paul’s first missionary journey. There is a link in “the sites” section that will help you track his journey. Each day, I will share with you a thought about one word that really stands out to me.


Acts 14
21 After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, 22 where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. 23 Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. 24 Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia. 25 They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia. 26 Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed. 27 Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too. 28 And they stayed there with the believers for a long time.


Returned. This main focus of this passage is focused on the physical return of Paul and Barnabas. First, they returned to the churches (Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia) they had started. Second, they returned to the church (Antioch of Syria) that had sent them out. A journey that most commentators believe lasted nearly two years. This whole concept of returning brings to mind two questions: Is there someone or somewhere you need to be sent to share the Good News (so that you can then return)? Is there someone or somewhere you need to return to so that you can strengthen and encourage them to continue in their journey?

Monday, July 7, 2008

Human

This week, we are finishing Paul’s first missionary journey. There is a link in “the sites” section that will help you track his journey. Each day, I will share with you a thought about one word that really stands out to me.

Acts 14
8 While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting 9 and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. 10 So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking. 11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!” 12 They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. 13 Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings - just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, 17 but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” 18 But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them. 19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. 20 But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.


Human. I was struck by the “human”ness in these verses. Crippled. Healed. Praised. Misguided. Misunderstood. Dismayed. Corrected. Humbled. Vengeful. Swayed. Violent. Persistent. As humans, we have so many frailties and so much potential ... and neither are realized more than in this story ... this Good News ... this Jesus ... God in human form.