Read Acts
10:34-43
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that
God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts those from every nation who fear
him and do what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of
Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of
all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning
in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and
healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39
“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in
Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him
from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by
all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and
drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the
people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the
living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who
believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Peter is struck by the revelation he has had that God is welcoming to
all those who put their trust in him, not just the Jews. However, it is not an
indiscriminate acceptance…
- What do you think Peter means by those who fear God and do what is right?
- How does this qualification fit with verse 43?
- What application might all of this have for us today?
If you have a
bit longer :-)
In a similar vein, I was asked recently to speak at a church on the
subject of inclusive community. I based this talk on the Parable of the
Prodigal Son and I’ve pasted an extract below:
…It is the Pharisees’ attempts to convert people to their particular
doctrine and behaviour that Jesus contests so strongly. Pharisees, Jesus
argues, focus on minor details of the Law (at least, their interpretation of
it!) whilst neglecting the Law’s underlying ethos (e.g. Matt. 23:23). They
value external piety above internal purity (e.g. Matt. 23:25). In fact, as we
see the parable of the Prodigal son, they focus so much on adherence to their
legal code that – somewhat ironically – they think that by ticking all the
right boxes they are being faithful to the Law, and therefore God, even whilst
rebelling against him! Further, for a Pharisee, repentance was a sombre and
contrite affair, to be characterised by ‘prayer, fasting, and mourning.’ The
repentant was required to change their behaviour, in particular adopt the
‘weight’ of the Pharisees’ legal code; only then could they be welcomed by God,
and thus the Pharisees.[1]
In contrast, for Jesus repentance is joyful. Further, his acceptance
of people and offering of forgiveness precedes any change in behaviour – it
requires only faith and a desire to receive help (e.g. Lk. 5:20; 19:1-11).
Repentance, in Jesus’ eyes, simply means turning to God in humility and
acknowledging one’s sinfulness (e.g. Lk. 18:9-14). Further - and what would
have angered the Pharisees the most - for Jesus, repentance is intrinsically
connected with himself; those who are “found” are those in fellowship with him
– those who follow him.[2]
And so as we come to think about what it means to be an inclusive
community we have our first challenge! Do we simply point people to Jesus or
have we, perhaps without realising it, adopted any kind of Pharisaic legal code
that people have to subscribe to before they’re really welcomed? Do we accept
people just as they are – with all their baggage, idiosyncrasies, problems,
failings, weaknesses and so on – or is the subliminal message that we convey
something along the lines of: “Sorted people only please.”
Are we creating a community within which people feel just as free to
cry as they do to laugh? Do we allow people to express their real questions,
beliefs and doubts? Will we welcome and include people as they are? Or, if
we’re honest, do we expect them to change first?
In response to the Pharisees grumbling, Jesus tells 3 stories… all
about something or someone that is lost being found. We’re going to focus on
the third of these, the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
Now, in this parable there are two sons and Jesus is addressing two
distinct groups of people: “tax collectors/sinners” and “Pharisees/scribes.”
It’s, therefore, safe to assume that each son is representative of one of these
groups – albeit not an exact match – and that the reckless younger son points
to the first group - the “sinners.”
I don’t know if any of you have heard of or watched the TV soap East
Enders? I’ve seen it a few times but I don’t particularly like it, mainly
because the characters are usually so nasty to each other. The opening part of
this parable is like a scene from East Enders; the younger son is incredibly
rude! In Jesus’ day, asking someone for your inheritance early was like telling
that person you wished they were dead! In doing so, the younger son both
insults his father and completely rejects him; it is as if he’s saying to his father,
‘Dad want your money but I don’t want you!’ And this, Jesus implies, is an
indication of just how badly those he’s now eating with have treated God.
You see, through this parable, Jesus is not denying the fact that the
people he’s been hanging out with have made some bad choices. He’s not saying:
“Hey Pharisees, stop grumbling. These people haven’t done anything wrong.
Loosen up! Their lifestyle may not appeal to you but - hey - I’m fine with it!”
No!!! On the contrary, Jesus paints a shocking picture of the damage these
people have done to their relationship with God (who, we’re assuming, is
represented by the father.)
If we then keep going with the story, we see that the younger son
gets in a lot of bother and decides to come back. His father runs out to meet
him and restores him to full sonship again. And then we hear no more of him.
But can you imagine the outrage if, in Jesus’ story, the younger son – having
been so graciously and warmly welcomed back – then went off again, this time
with his brother’s money for example! While not completely inconceivable, this
would seem an incongruous ending. Rather, the unstated assumption, at least in
my mind, is that the younger son now does his best to honour and love his
father. He’s not instantaneously perfect - but he is different; he is changed!
Similarly, when people meet Jesus, they don’t stay the same! Thus,
while being accepted by Jesus doesn’t require a change, it does induce one –
which is an important distinction!
And so here we have our second challenge when wanting to maintain an
inclusive community; a challenge which, when combined with the first, presents
us with a difficult task. How can we create a community that readily loves,
welcomes and accepts people just as they are… but also introduces them to a
Jesus who won’t have them stay that way!
You see, if we just had one of these challenges we’d be fine! If,
like the Pharisees, it was all about getting people to change; if we were just
concerned with getting people to behave in a more Christian-like way (whatever
that looks like) then we’d be fine. We could greet people at the door with a
huge check-list: Have you this week done any of the following: Drunken too much
alcohol? Indulged in self-pity or unhelpful fantasies? Harbored jealousy or bitterness?
Lied? Sworn out loud or in your head? Watched an unsuitable film? etc... If you
tick more than 3 you’re out! We may not get many people get in – certainly I’d
be outside – but it’d be easy! Clear! Measurable!!!
Equally, however, it would be easy if we just chucked right and wrong
out of the window. Come in! Welcome! So you set up Internet scams to steal
people’s money? Fine! No problem, it’s not how I like to behave but if it works
for you that’s okay. Oh you keep stealing off elderly and vulnerable people.
That’s fine. We don’t like to judge around here so come in, be yourself!” Okay,
so it would be carnage but easy. No uncomfortable confrontations, no need to
risk anyone’s wrath by telling them they’re in the wrong. No need to walk with
people as they make shaky steps forward before crashing back a few before
moving on again…
To be an exclusive community is easy. To be an inclusive community
that does not and will not stand for anything is easy! But both of these
options fall well short of what Jesus is calling us to do. And that is to walk
in a tension. To walk in a tension within which – on the one hand – we follow
him in welcoming, accepting and loving people just as they are. We don’t ask
people to put on their Sunday best! We don’t ask them to leave their true
personalities, doubts, questions, weaknesses, failings and so on at the door.
Rather we welcome and love everyone in exactly the place they are currently in.
And yet, on the other hand, we also follow Jesus in displaying a love and a grace
that induces change. We make it clear that not all choices are morally equal.
We make it clear that we follow a God who is not indifferent to sin and its
consequences. That there is such a thing as right and wrong and – while it’s
often hard to know what this looks like in particular situations – we believe
God’s given us significant insights.
And so the big question is this: How do we walk this tension? How can
we faithfully represent a God who loves everyone just as they are but loves
them too much to have them stay that way?
- Any thoughts?!
Dear Helen,
ReplyDeleteI'm a second year student here at Loughborough University. I've just been reading through this blog on Acts and found it very interesting. I've been thinking a fair bit recently about who God's people are and how they are called and what our role as Christians is concerning others.
You finished day 49 by asking for thoughts on the post and though I haven't given myself time to study it further yet I do have some initial thoughts which are as follows. You mention this 'tension' set up for us by God between accepting people as they are but also wanting them to change and turn whole-heartedly to Him. And as you said these two extremes are both wrong and will lead people to fall away.
I feel the problem here stems from implying we can do anything of ourselves. As Ephesians 2:8 says we are saved by grace, through faith which was given as a gift by God. We are also told that God's elect who will be part of the first resurrection were predestined or chosen before the foundation of the world to receive that gift (Ephesians 1:4-5). These two points were to emphasise fully that we are all inherently sinners and nothing we do can bring us to salvation, only God has the power to do that. So when we start discussing how to bring others to God and salvation I feel we are certainly moving outside our realms of jurisdiction.
We should certainly not judge others based on their current or past lives for we do not know what God’s plan is for them. We only have to look at Paul to see how God can change the direction of someone’s life in an instant. Due to this I feel our role is mainly to be a ‘light to the world’ (Matthew 5:14) by living as best we can in a manner that is acceptable to God. Sticking to the Shema of Israel as Jesus emphasised in Mark 12:29-31.
It is also not our place to bog others down with laws, or rules, or judgements as Christ got rid of these hindrances under the new covenant. As you quoted in Jeremiah in another post on this blog God says in relation to the new covenant “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33).
So here we are left with a picture where God has not only already chosen his elect but he will also put the law in their minds and on their hearts. So what is there left for us to do? We are told in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 to “study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That you may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that you may have lack of nothing”.
By studying and living the word of God ourselves, we are acting as the light which Christ spoke of. We are not to be haughty about it, or put anyone beneath us, but act as humble servants who love their neighbours as themselves. God will choose those who see this light and inspire them to come and find us in his own time, and if they truly are His elect He will write his law in their minds and on their hearts as this is His place and not ours tell or command.
So to bring this all back to your initial point, I feel the true church of Christ or his ‘ekklesia’ (called out ones) is exclusive and is not something we have power to add members to. Humans only have power over human churches and therefore if people gather together to study and live the word of God then why should we be exclusive?
In groups such as OH for example, each member must be a light, studying and living as best they know how. So when others join or see them they have an example to live by. If then some join who have seen this example and heard the word of God but don’t accept it or change then God is not truly working in them at this time. There is nothing we can do beyond this, only God has the power to enlighten them. Paul said in Acts 20:20-28 that once he had preached the word of God he was clean of the blood of those that heard and whether they accepted or not was in their power, it was not Paul’s problem anymore.
(Sorry I've run out of characters, this finishes on the next comment)
If however someone comes in to cause trouble or lead the flock astray then as churches are human organisations the members by all means have the authority to exclude them from the group. They couldn’t exclude them from the ekklesia of Christ even if they wanted to as they don’t have the authority; all they can do is what is best for their group. By using the scripture to teach, rebuke, correct and train in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
ReplyDeleteSo to summarise church groups should be accepting so that all may hear the word of God, whether those people then listen to that word and are transformed by it is only in the power of God. As long as we have shown a good example, been the light, and spoken truth concerning the word of God our hands are clean.
I don’t know what your views on this are? I just didn’t feel this really was dilemma without a biblical answer. I’ve literally just written this as it has come to my head without looking properly into it, so I may not have written it very well, but I hope you find it insightful to some extent and I look forward to your response.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Rowan Smith