Today’s Readings: Psalm 45; Genesis 29:1-20; Luke 1:29-45a; Acts 15:1-12; Psalm 133
Many folks today think that facing contentious issues within the Christian community is a new thing. In their coverage of denominational meetings, newspapers nervously predict schisms will occur over issues like abortion or homosexuality. Each time I read these articles I chuckle because it shows how out of touch people are with the early history of the Christian movement. Today’s passage from Acts provides first century proof of this. In the passage, we are told the story of the conflict between Paul & Barnabas and the followers in Jerusalem. The issues over which they squared off weren’t homosexuality or abortion; if you can believe it, the issues they faced were much more emotionally and spiritually charged: circumcision and table fellowship. The passage provides a beautiful model for us “moderns” to follow in terms of how to deal with differences. Aspect one of the model: communicate. The church could have simply relied upon second hand information regarding what Paul and Barnabus were up to. They didn’t. Instead, Acts 15:2 tells us “the church decided to resolve the matter by sending Paul, Barnabus, and a few others to put it before the apostles and leaders in Jerusalem”. Aspect two of the model: listen. While some would assume that listening would automatically be included in communication, I’ve learned that today that’s a dangerous assumption to make. Many folks think communication is simply speaking your point. How do I know listening was an aspect of the model? Acts 15:12 tells us that after Peter took the floor “there was dead silence. No one said a word.” This tells me Peter’s audience had actually heard what Peter had said. This leads me to the third aspect of the model: be willing to change. The dead silence that followed Peter’s speech proves those in attendance didn’t spend their time during Peter’s speech trying to think of a clever reply. No, their silence meant that they had absorbed the truth and power of Peter’s words and were in a different place at the end of his speech than they were at the beginning. Communicate. Listen. Be willing to change. Those three elements diffused what could have been a fatal tension in the early Christian community. Imagine what might happen if we embraced those elements today in our own churches and in our own lives. Is there an area of your life where you are experiencing tension with others? If so, try using those three principles and see what happens. It’s amazing how God’s spirit can effect healing and reconciliation if only we use the tools that help create the space for the Spirit to work. Til next time…
Many folks today think that facing contentious issues within the Christian community is a new thing. In their coverage of denominational meetings, newspapers nervously predict schisms will occur over issues like abortion or homosexuality. Each time I read these articles I chuckle because it shows how out of touch people are with the early history of the Christian movement. Today’s passage from Acts provides first century proof of this. In the passage, we are told the story of the conflict between Paul & Barnabas and the followers in Jerusalem. The issues over which they squared off weren’t homosexuality or abortion; if you can believe it, the issues they faced were much more emotionally and spiritually charged: circumcision and table fellowship. The passage provides a beautiful model for us “moderns” to follow in terms of how to deal with differences. Aspect one of the model: communicate. The church could have simply relied upon second hand information regarding what Paul and Barnabus were up to. They didn’t. Instead, Acts 15:2 tells us “the church decided to resolve the matter by sending Paul, Barnabus, and a few others to put it before the apostles and leaders in Jerusalem”. Aspect two of the model: listen. While some would assume that listening would automatically be included in communication, I’ve learned that today that’s a dangerous assumption to make. Many folks think communication is simply speaking your point. How do I know listening was an aspect of the model? Acts 15:12 tells us that after Peter took the floor “there was dead silence. No one said a word.” This tells me Peter’s audience had actually heard what Peter had said. This leads me to the third aspect of the model: be willing to change. The dead silence that followed Peter’s speech proves those in attendance didn’t spend their time during Peter’s speech trying to think of a clever reply. No, their silence meant that they had absorbed the truth and power of Peter’s words and were in a different place at the end of his speech than they were at the beginning. Communicate. Listen. Be willing to change. Those three elements diffused what could have been a fatal tension in the early Christian community. Imagine what might happen if we embraced those elements today in our own churches and in our own lives. Is there an area of your life where you are experiencing tension with others? If so, try using those three principles and see what happens. It’s amazing how God’s spirit can effect healing and reconciliation if only we use the tools that help create the space for the Spirit to work. Til next time…
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