The Narrative Lectionary text for today is Acts 15:1-18. The Jewish Christians of the first church were very concerned that Gentiles were becoming followers of the Way (the original term used to describe people who followed Jesus as Lord) without conforming to the Law of Moses and being circumcised.
Think about that for a minute. Imagine if the only way you could become a member of a church today was to willingly submit yourself to the physical surgery of circumcision. First of all…OUCH! Secondly, this is obviously a men’s only club.
Why would the Jewish followers of Jesus demand this? Here’s our clue. They say, in verse 5
It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.
This is a completely true statement. The Law of Moses was given to the people of Israel immediately after they were released from slavery in Egypt, 1400 years before Jesus lived. That law was given to protect them, show them how to be nation, and provide a national identity to a newly forming group. It was a life-giving, expansive gift from God, in its own time and context.
Jesus came in a different time and context. That once expansive gift had now become a constrictive tourniquet of exclusivity.
True, to be a Jewish person required following the Law of Moses. There is nothing wrong with being a Jewish person. Plus, it is 100% possible to follow Jesus as Messiah and Lord and remain 100% Jewish, circumcision and everything.
Here’s the main point of Acts 15 (and the main theme of most of the Apostle Paul’s letters): YOU DON’T HAVE TO BECOME JEWISH TO FOLLOW JESUS!
My new lead pastor, Kris Capel, put it this way in her sermon last night, “God’s welcome is expansive, and it is for everybody.” Kathryn Tanner talks about it like an invasive DNA where the Gospel doesn’t call you out of your host culture to become a separate “Christian Culture.” Rather, the Gospel penetrates every culture and seeks to redeem and transform it, within its own context, to bring about the Grace and Peace of God that resonates in the key of the host culture.
This debate in Acts chapter 15 is the first record of the practical, human dialogue about how difficult it is to grasp the expansive nature of God’s Grace. ALL are welcome, and God usually colors outside of our cultural and comfortable boundaries.
That doesn’t mean God doesn’t want you to remain within YOUR cultural identity (being Jewish and circumcised, or white of European descent, or black from African descent, or Japanese, or Lebanese, etc. is perfectly fine). It means that God doesn’t require other people to become JUST LIKE YOU in order to experience the love, grace, and transformation of life in God’s Kingdom.
May we rejoice that God colors outside the lines that we create!
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