Acts 15:12-21 The Jerusalem Council - Part II

After Peter's testimony on how the Holy Spirit guided him to minister to the Gentiles and how the Holy Spirit came upon them just like for the Jews, Paul and Barnabas take the stand and testify on all the signs and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. Both Peter and Paul had experienced the presence of the Spirit guiding them to minister to the Gentiles and the power of the Spirit upon them in conversion and baptism accompanied by signs and wonders just like among the Jews. There is no partiality in God and there should be none in the Church which means there should be none in me.

Now James, the Apostle, more likely the lead elder of the Jerusalem church, offers scriptural backing for what Peter, Saul, and Barnabas have experienced and are trying to explain. He cites Amos 9:11-12 that refers to the restoration of Israel in the end times to include all the nations of the world. It is interesting to note that the apostles are reasoning together to find a solution to the Gentile issue. They bring experience, but they also bring the Scriptures to bear upon it. There was no angel with a message, there was no vision (they had a few already on the issue), and they were not prophet speaking a word. Yet, the presence of the Spirit in their decision-making cannot be questioned. Experience, Scripture, and Reason are working together for the glory of God and the advancement of his kingdom.

James, based on the evidence before them, proposed a solution to the issue of asking Gentile believers to circumcise and keep the Law. He proposed that no undue burden be placed upon them, but "to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood." And the reason he gives for the Gentiles to abstain from these things is that the Law is proclaimed in the synagogues everywhere. In other words, to ensure that the Gospel would have no stumbling blocks among the Jews and to ensure the fellowship between Gentiles and Jews, there had to be some standard of conduct.

Am I willing to do whatever it takes to avoid being a stumbling block for the Gospel where I live? Am I willing to do whatever it takes to ensure fellowship with my brothers and sisters who are different from me in my local church? I think I am too prompt to sound the cultural trumpet to excuse myself from things that could offend others. Whether that be language, food, greeting, etc. I must be willing to give up my culture for the sake of the kingdom of God so that people don't have objections to the Gospel and my brothers and sisters can feel comfortable around me. Ultimately, my citizenship is from heaven and not from earth. And heavenly citizens are willing to give up their earthly customs to promote evangelism and fellowship.

Father, thank you for my heavenly citizenship. Help me understand that my culture may stand in the way of reaching others for the kingdom and it may stand in the way of bonding with my brothers and sisters in the kingdom. Grant me discernment to learn what I must give up to avoid being a stumbling block for the Gospel. Amen.