Acts 15:1-21

“OUTSIDERS” WELCOME?

Do Newcomers to KEMC Feel Welcome?

Are these church signs welcoming? “Don’t let worry kill you; let the church help,” “Too hot to keep changing sign; sin bad; Jesus good; details inside,” “Honk if you love Jesus; text while driving if you want to meet him,” and “Whoever stole our A/C units, keep one, it is hot where you’re going.”

            Imagine approaching a church with a sign over the main entrance that read “Outsiders Welcome.” What would be your initial reaction? You might think that this is a church that is open to newcomers; you would expect a warm and friendly reception.

            But wait, do you really want to begin your relationship with a church that labels you an outsider from the start? Nevertheless, you decide to attend this church and see what happens. As you worship with this group of people you begin to feel that you are an outsider. Certain markers continually remind you that you are new, not from around here and uninitiated to this group’s way of doing things. You are an outsider and you begin to wonder what you have to do to be “in” or considered one of the family, as it were.

            A long time ago, I read that small communities are the hardest to break into as a newcomer. The article said it took ten years to be considered one of the pack. To a certain extent it is true. But just because it is true doesn’t mean that is how it ought to be. And in the case of the church community, where Christ welcomes all who will come to him, this is a tragic reality.

            We have read in Acts about the good news of Jesus being spread to Gentiles and how they responded with enthusiasm. The church rejoiced at the news (14:27) that God had opened the door to Gentiles. But it was one thing for the Jerusalem leaders to approve the conversion of Gentiles; it was another thing to approve conversion without circumcision and of faith in Jesus without the works of the law. Was their vision big enough to see that the gospel was bigger than their traditions, that it was good news for the whole world, that it was more than a sect but an international family of God?

            Do we have a vision that embraces our newcomers, not as guests, but as those who belong to the family of God?

What do I need to do to be “IN”?

While the church at Syrian Antioch rejoiced in Gentiles coming to faith in Christ, some men came from Jerusalem to teach them something about inclusion. They claimed to be from James (brother of Jesus, leader of the church) and to have authority to teach and correct.[i] They said, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” (15:1). What they were really saying was “In order to become a Christian, you must first become a Jew.” Otherwise you are a second-class Christian, you’re not really IN.

            The issue had a socio-cultural aspect to it since faith in Christ was conceived in the Jewish context. It also had a theological aspect to it in that Jesus was born under the law, was circumcised according to tradition and he himself declared that he had come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Mt. 5:17-20). You can see their point.

            But Paul would have none of this. It was ten years since Peter helped Cornelius come to faith in Christ. Peter started eating with Gentiles; ham sandwiches and bacon and eggs. Then some Jews from the circumcision party came and put fear in him. That’s when Paul rebuked him for his hypocrisy (Gal. 2:11-14) [read 14].

            The issue of being “IN” can be clarified by a series of questions: Is the sinner saved by the grace of God in and through Christ crucified when they believe? Has Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection done everything necessary for salvation? Or are we saved partly by grace and partly by our good works and religious duty? Are Gentile believers a sect of Judaism, or authentic members of a multi-national family?

            This was the tension. A culture-clash mixed with two different views of Scripture.

            We don’t have an issue with circumcision here at KEMC, but you can’t deny that we have socio-cultural markers that make it hard to break in and belong. Sometimes it’s simply the language we use on Sunday morning. Do we call you “guests” or “newcomers”? If you are new here and we call you a guest, we might as well tag you as an “outsider.” A guest is just here for a visit; a newcomer, it is hoped, will stay.

            Is there a special code language we use in our church? Do newcomers have trouble decoding it? You better believe it. A pastor was a visiting speaker at several churches and noted this code in bulletins: “The WMU will meet in the CLC in the room where the GA’s usually meet.” We don’t do that do we? Ask a newcomer what “West of 60” is, or what 7691 means and what it’s for. How about our Multi-gen Faspa? Those are three words that the uninitiated would like explained. (I’m as much to blame as anyone for assuming we all know).

            No we don’t have something as awkward as circumcision keeping people “outside,” but we do need to evaluate the sincerity of our hospitality.

How you are “IN” with God

Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem by the church at Antioch to bear witness to Gentile evangelism. A great council of elders and apostles was held to decide the issue of whether Gentiles (non-Jews) could be followers of Christ without being circumcised or obeying the law.

            Please note that those who were of the circumcision party are called “believers” in v. 5. They knew the Scriptures and they loved the Lord, and they understood – from their perspective – that this was the right way to follow Christ.

            After intense debate, Peter (not Paul), stood up and shared his perspective of the gospel and who was IN with Jesus. These four points are timeless in considering who is IN concerning the body of believers, the church. Peter said this:

a) You’re IN by God’s choice – From the very beginning of Peter’s ministry God taught him this lesson. Peter had a vision (Acts 10) whereby God revealed his desire for non-Jews to join God’s family through faith in Christ. Peter told the council, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe” (15:7).

            The OT tells of God’s intention to draw in all the nations to his house of worship. God has always wanted to shine his light of truth on the nations (Is. 9). And when Jesus was born, old Simeon at the temple declared Jesus to be “a light for the Gentiles” (Lk 2:32). God chose you to be IN – to always be IN the family no matter what church you come to, as long as you believe in Jesus.

b) You’re IN by God’s witness – The proof of belonging rests in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Peter told the council that God himself “bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us” (15:8b). Gentiles had their hearts cleansed by the same Spirit as the Jews – there was no difference. This is where the gift of tongues was a visible token of their acceptance at that time.

c) You’re IN; no heavy yoke required – Then Peter challenges them to their faces that the effort to obey the law by trying their hardest was nothing but a burdensome yoke upon their necks. It always has been – the yoke of the law breaks the neck because no one ever came to God by being good. But the heavy yoke of the law has been replaced by the easy yoke of grace through Jesus (Mt. 11:29-30).

d) You’re IN through the grace of Jesus – Peter’s final point is the blockbuster. “But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will” (15:11). He could have said “they will be saved just as we are,” but Peter puts a twist in this statement saying, “we will be saved, just as they are.” But there is no distinction. Salvation is through faith alone, by grace alone, in Christ alone.

            Are you new here today? You’re IN – we love you and accept you as a brother or sister in Christ. Are you a long-time KEMCer? As one who has been IN, make the effort to draw newcomers IN, making them at home in this circle of faith and worship. Because we are all IN who have Jesus as Lord and Savior.

For the Sake of Church Harmony

Now James stands up after Paul and Barnabas to affirm what Peter said. James was the accepted leader of the Jerusalem church and people listened when he spoke.

            First, James quoted a scripture from Amos 9 and relates it to how God would seek out the Gentiles to be a part of his family. I love how these great men of faith back up what they say with the Bible.

            Then James decrees “that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God” and adds something very strange to our ears. James says that they should avoid four things: abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, abstain from sexual immorality, avoid meat from an animal that has been strangled, and from blood (which might mean murder).

            Why would James put these restrictions on the Gentiles?

            I think there are two closely linked principles here that James expresses for the sake of harmony between Jews and Gentiles in the church: We accept you, but you have to accept us too. These matters that James highlights are sensitive points for the Jews. Unity and harmony in this situation means being careful to respect what is delicate to one group.

            What does that mean for us as KEMC? It means that we want to welcome newcomers from every background into our fold and make you feel at home with us (and not just ten years from now). It also means that we have an identity at KEMC that has been shaped by many aspects. For instance, the name “Mennonite” appears on our sign. That is not a cultural reference (or it shouldn’t be) but a perspective of Christianity that can be claimed by people who don’t speak Low German or aren’t named “Friesen.” And you don’t have to eat high fat pork products to be one of us.

            We are all saved through faith alone, by grace alone, in Christ alone. That makes us one family.

Chapter 15 of Acts is the turning point in Luke’s book. There are subtle shifts that take place in the story to tell us something significant. In this chapter Jerusalem is still the focus of interest and Peter makes his final appearance in the story. From here on, Paul takes center stage and Jerusalem fades to the background as Rome becomes the target. But here in ch. 15 we witness the gospel being liberated from its Jewish swaddling clothes into being a message for all humankind. Jews and Gentiles are reconciled into one people of God.

            That’s an important message for the church today. All who are saved through faith in Jesus are IN. Newcomers – you shouldn’t feel odd in our midst.

            But there are some obstacles that you newcomers face and that we who have been here awhile need to erase. What are these obstacles to new people coming into this body?

·         Family networks – there may be family circles that are so large and so busy that they don’t have room or time to include new people at the dinner table. Do you have room to adopt some folks into your gatherings? (Maybe we need to promote a “Beyond Sunday Project” whereby we bring the church to weekdays).

·         Existing Friendships – The energy of our church may be given for existing members rather than identifying the needs of newcomers. We may be a friendly church in the foyer – with those we know – but be aware of the newcomer standing alone.

·         Church history – We don’t want to get bogged down in the past so that we don’t see the future. Some of us still reference former members who have not been here for a long time. To a newcomer those names don’t mean anything.           

Someone did a Twitter poll asking first-time guests why they chose not to return to a particular church. Number one on the list? Having a stand up and greet one another in the worship service. I was surprised too. It actually made guests feel uncomfortable. Others included non-genuine friendliness in church members, lack of church information, a bad church website, poor signage, and (as I mentioned before) insider church language.             

            My intention is not to bash our church. If any of us feel badly because of these lists, maybe it’s because it’s true. But I know that there is genuine warmth and a caring heart in this body of believers. I know the generosity you possess because I have received it. Above all I have witnessed a passionate love for Jesus Christ and his truth in you. So we, not I or Pete, but we, have something to share with you newcomers. Sometimes we just forget ourselves.

            I pray that we would be a church that welcomes newcomers with the hospitality and generosity that we have experienced in Christ – for his glory.

                                                                        AMEN

           

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[i] Galatians 2:11-12

Acts 13:38-52

REACTING TO THE GOSPEL:

How People May Respond When You Share the Good News

Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ is a challenging task in our world today. People are generally well informed about the different faiths and ideologies through education or the internet. There exists a smorgasbord of values and beliefs that individuals tend to mash together to form their own faith system. In a context like this, what kind of reaction can we expect from people when we share the good news of Jesus?

            On our recent trip to Arizona, Sharon and I were quite set on seeing the Grand Canyon. We had traveled from the southeast corner of the state to Sedona and so, tired of driving, we chose to go on a tour of the Canyon. We imagined a busload of tourists, but to our surprise our guide showed up with a Suburban and said we were the only two who had signed up.

            Dave Reed, our guide, was a real character. He had us laughing throughout the day and often stole my camera to take pictures of us (One time when we returned to the suburban, Dave was reclined and doing knee exercises. He said he was calming himself to breathe in and out at the same time. I said, "Really?" He said, "No, I just made that up."). Dave lives in Sedona, a New Age town with psychic readings, crystals, and native spirituality.

            When I first learned that we would be alone with Dave, my first thought was “I wonder if I will be able to share the gospel with him?” I quietly prayed that I might bring Jesus into our discussion sometime in the day. Then I wondered how he would react to our faith in Jesus. Our conversation with Dave will come up again in this sermon as a means of illustrating how people may respond to the gospel.

            In Acts 13 we are introduced to the first missionary journey featuring Paul and Barnabas. As a template for future missions, Paul and Barnabas made it a habit to visit the Jews in their synagogues first before preaching more widely. Coming to Pisidian Antioch, they are asked to bring a word to the synagogue gathering. Paul begins with a history of Israel and brings it around to Jesus. We want to look first at his gospel presentation and then the reaction of the people.

Sharing the Gospel Concisely

Paul’s address to the synagogue appears to be short. He tells them about being chosen through Abraham and moves quickly to David. Then in vv. 26-33 he recounts the passion of Christ, how no one recognized him as the Messiah and asked for his death on a tree, but how God raised him from the dead.

            The punch line of Paul’s sermon comes in vv. 38-39 (read). Here he uses five words that will become the power words of his letters to the Romans and the Galatians: sin, faith, justification (“freed”), law, and grace. The message is simple and the choice is stark. God’s promise to Israel is fulfilled through Jesus crucified and raised again to life. Through him there is forgiveness of sins. Obedience to the law does not bring justification (removal of sin) because no one could obey the law perfectly – it ends up condemning you instead. Through Jesus there is justification for all who believe.

            This was the extent of the gospel Paul preached. We find it to be concise and to the point. Writing to the Corinthians Paul summed up the gospel in a nutshell (read 1 Cor. 15:3-4). Whatever else we may add to the gospel by way of explanation or testimony, the core truth is Jesus dying for our sins as the Son of God with God raising him from the dead for our justification.

            Post-modern attention spans are short. You need to make your point quickly or you will lose your audience (with any subject). I knew that if I was going to share my gospel values with Dave I had to be concise. I didn’t know how to begin, to be honest, and so I waited.

            At one point, Dave must have asked some questions about us. I shared that we were Mennonites – that surprised him considering our dress and manner (and the fact that we gave him a gratuity). Then I broke my own rule and confessed that I was a pastor (I avoid this because of the walls that might go up). To my surprise it opened up a door. I shared that we were “evangelical” Mennonites and explained that it meant we were gospel-believing Christ-centered followers of Jesus. The impact of Jesus’ death and resurrection came easily into the conversation.

Responding to the Gospel with Enthusiasm

When Paul shared this gospel truth with the Jews of Pisidian Antioch, they received the news with enthusiasm. A synagogue might have 40 solid members and the interest of this little group was raised. Three words pop out in vv. 42-43: begged, followed, urged (show on slide).

            This synagogue of Jews was a tiny island in a sea of paganism. So a word of scripture like this intrigued them. The people begged Paul and Barnabas to come again next Sabbath and to share more of the Christ. But to think that Paul and Barnabas just sat and waited from Sabbath to Sabbath before teaching again is mistaken. They will have taught all week so that Jews and devout converts (Gentiles who worshiped Yahweh) followed them. What excited them was the talk of grace, the freedom from the strictures of the law, and they urged them to keep talking about grace.

            Let’s not confuse enthusiasm or curiosity with faith. Our listeners can be politely interested in what our faith means to us. They will ask questions and even affirm us in our beliefs. That does not mean acceptance of Christ.

            There are basically four types of reactions to the gospel: Mockers who scoff at the gospel and excuse it as a gospel for weaklings; Skeptics who say “prove it to me” and want all the intellectual data before deciding to believe in Jesus; the Shamed who feel they have too many horrific things that they feel that Jesus could not forgive them; and the Seeker who wants to hear more.

            Dave was interested. But in the eleven hours we spent with Dave I could tell that he was living in a sea of choices. He didn’t believe in the power of crystals, but he and his wife had chosen to be married by an Indian medicine man. He accepted many of the truths I shared with him, but with caution. For Dave there were many ways to God, or shall we say enlightenment, and that clouded Dave’s ability to see the truth of Jesus solely. That’s really what we are dealing with as witnesses of Christ. We are encountering people who are well-informed with a variety of options; they affirm us in our beliefs but reserve the right to believe what they will.

Responding to the Gospel with Hostility

After a week of teaching in Pisidian Antioch, almost the whole city showed up at the synagogue to hear Paul and Barnabas. Those 40 Jews suddenly found thousands cramming to hear the evangelists. Many prominent synagogue members had marked seats reserved for them. Imagine the ire that was raised when they found Gentiles sitting in their seats. Imagine the jealousy aroused when the good news they thought was for them is now available to these “others.”

            So we read, “But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him” (13:45). One of the marks of true evangelism is that those who are affected by it are divided. They are either for it or against it. Neutrality is just not possible when the exclusive claims of Jesus are presented.

            For these Jews, pride was a stumbling block. The gospel robs people of any grounds for boasting. Jealousy follows since the Jews wanted everyone to stay in their system of works, to validate their way, and to affirm their status as the “religious” ones. Grace threatened all of that, grace through one man, Jesus Christ.

            Dave remarked that he wondered why we call it “the Living Bible.” I used his own illustration of the Grand Canyon. He said that you can see the Canyon thousands of times and it always looks different. The Bible is living because you can read Isaiah 53 today and see one thing, read it again next week and see another truth. The Canyon doesn’t change just how we see it. The Bible doesn’t change either.

            Then in our discussion of the merits of different faiths, I referred to the living Bible. I said, “Jesus claims exclusivity when it comes to salvation, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.’” Dave didn’t like that; he wasn’t hostile but you could see he was rattled. He resisted a little, but I said, “Dave, I didn’t say that – Jesus did.”

Responding to the Gospel with Joy

The Jews rejected the good news of Jesus as quickly as it had percolated their interest. “Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles” (13:46b).

            Note that they judged themselves unworthy of eternal life – they rejected the good news. It wasn’t taken from them; it was not withheld from them; it wasn’t hidden from them. They decided the good news was not worth the cost.

            But the Gentiles rejoiced! The way was opened to them to believe in Jesus the crucified and risen Lord and to receive eternal life. I can’t imagine the party that ensued.

            Here, though, we find a curious phrase related to their joy and belief, “and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed” (13:48b). Some would firmly state that this is a reference to divine election. Divine election is the belief that God chooses (appoints, elects) who will hear and believe the good news and be saved. Both John Stott and F.F. Bruce, solid commentators, reject that theology and suggest that when these Gentiles believed that they were immediately written into the Lamb’s Book of Life.

            While I and this church believe in the free will of the person to believe in Jesus apart from some sort of predetermined plan of God, I think there is a mystery in election that we don’t understand this side of heaven. God chooses us, and we choose him. It is a divine mystery. Jesus said that none come to him unless the Father draws him (John 6:44), and later in Acts 16, Luke writes that the Lord opened Lydia’s heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul (16:14). Yet I remind you that in this chapter the Jews have the mental, emotional and spiritual power to reject God. It is truly a mystery.

            The joy in this mystery is the joy of somehow being chosen by God to be saved through Jesus Christ. If he had not chosen us we could not be saved at all. For Paul says in Eph. 1:5 “In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will.” Does God choose us? Yes. Do we have the freedom to choose God? Yes. Hallelujah! And thank you to the Jews for making it possible for us to hear the gospel.

Did Dave become a follower of Jesus after our conversation? No. Did I fail in my sharing of the gospel? No. God answered my prayer in giving me an opportunity to talk about Jesus to Dave. He gave me gentleness and wisdom to share with Dave without being annoying or obnoxious.

            What I am encouraged by in this interaction is that conversion is God’s job, not mine. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the seeker. We are responsible for proclaiming the truth. What God does with those words is up to Him. But it was an affirming experience nonetheless.

            How will people react to the good news when we share it? We really have no idea. I don’t think people are as hostile as we imagine. They can be quite affirming when we talk about Jesus (hot topics are another issue – we did not talk about homosexuality – my aim was to talk about Jesus).

            What we may be afraid of is that the gospel will be offensive to our conversation partner, so we try to take the offense out of it. We make it safe and palatable and boil it down to “if you’re unhappy in life, try Jesus. He will make you happy. Don’t worry about your sin.” But that is not the Gospel. Augustine pointed this out a long time ago: “If you believe what you like in the gospel and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”

            The gospel confronts us with our sin. It also offers to every sinner the grace of God through Jesus Christ if we believe in him as the just substitute for sinners.

            Will Dave one day believe in the Son of God? I pray that he will. And I pray that I may have more opportunities to share the good news of Jesus and be content to let him do the converting.

                                                                        AMEN