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Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Separate Ways

(Today's reading - Job 40-42; Acts 15: 22-41)

Yesterday, I told you about how the church remained unified. Today, we look at a time where brothers parted company. Interesting isn't it... same chapter, different results. The disagreement isn't doctrinal or even about a spiritual matter; rather the disagreement is over who to take along on a trip. Take a moment and read...

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Acts 15: 36-41)

I appreciate that the nature of the disagreement is fully exposed. It was a "sharp disagreement". It wasn't a little spat, it wasn't a mild disagreement; it was sharp. The words used by each man are not given, but the flavor is there for all to read. We were introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4 as a man who sold a field and gave the proceeds to the apostles to feed and care for the needy. He is called the son of encouragement. Later, when Saul (Paul) comes to Jerusalem to join the Christian movement, he is rejected... until Barnabas takes his side and tells his story. That is the kind of man Barnabas is... caring, kind, generous and trusting. It should not come as a surprise to anyone that he would want to give John Mark another chance to grow in the Lord.

Paul, on the other hand is all about the mission. Mark had abandoned them once before (Acts 13) and the mission is what is important. Why take along a man who had abandoned the mission? I understand both sides of this dispute. They are both right. Can that be? Yep. In the Lord's church, people can disagree on matters of opinion and both be right. Paul and Barnabas had different opinions of John Mark. I have heard people say that this was about God splitting them up to cover twice the territory... but I don't see that here. These two men had a disagreement and went on their way, apart. I don't read that they hated each other or that they wouldn't speak to each other. Both continued to work for the progress of the kingdom and I don't read that they went around talking about each other.

That's how a disagreement over opinion should be handled in the church... agree to disagree and move forward with the mission. Jesus commanded us to "love one another". That's how we are to disagree... love one another! I have failed at this several times in my life and I know I hurt others. For that, I am sorry. I intend to work to restore those relationships in as much as it depends on me. How about you? Any damaged relationships in your past? Let's all get busy and fix them.  

Monday, July 8, 2013

Unity Among God's People

(Today's reading - Job 38,39; Acts 15:1-21)

Imagine for a moment what it was like for the Jew when God decided it was time to bring the Gentile into the family, into a covenant relationship with Himself. From Abraham forward, the Jew was God's "chosen". What does that even mean? They had been chosen from among all people to make the one God known the world, to share His word, His "will" with the rest of the world. They were given the Law and that was to make them a different people, a people that would demonstrate God's goodness and His will for mankind. That made them a special people, not because they were special, but because God chose them and that made them special. (Deuteronomy 7:7)

Many people misunderstand the concept of "chosen", as if the "unchosen" were in some way inferior or even unloved. The chosen had a specific responsibility to the those that had not been chosen. A proper understanding of this is needed to understand and appreciate the responsibilities that God's people have to the rest of the world today. It was never that the Jew was going to heaven and the rest of the world was condemned. Rather, the Jew was to take the message of God to everyone else. Their disobedience in no way removed their responsibility. (this must be understood) It is also important to remember that the Jew, the Israelite was a branch of the family; it is not as if we are talking about some particular race of people.

As we begin to read Acts 15, we see that Jews (Christian Jews) were teaching the gentile Christians that they must abide by the Law of Moses. (and be circumcised) I can imagine that this was causing quite a stir among these new followers of God. I am sure the Jew was thinking that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. They had lived under the Law (not an easy task) and had been subject to all its' rules and regulations, why not these new followers of God?

I appreciate the way this is settled. Pay close attention and see how disputes should be handled among God's people. They didn't vote. They didn't find out what was popular. They didn't turn to culture or society. They didn't consider what might offend people. They didn't ask the most powerful in the church. They didn't ask the smartest people in the congregation. Instead, they turned to the Apostles, those whom God had entrusted with His Word. The final Word came down from the proper authority and the dispute was settled.

Wouldn't that be amazing! Instead of allowing our wants, our desires to determine what we practice and believe, we turn to the Apostles for direction from God. Had they not done that, I can imagine that we would have seen two churches in town... the First Church of the Circumcised and the Assembly of the Uncircumcised. They would have been running around trying to convince people why they were right and "that other church" is wrong. Instead, we are given the solution to doctrinal differences... God's Word. An honest reading of His Word will settle the issue and keep people united. And where a disagreement remains after an honest look, I believe God calls on His people to extend love to their brother and sister. Maybe time and more study will change the heart and mind. Maybe the dispute is over something that really doesn't matter anyway. (can I get an O Yeah)

Whatever the issue is, I am sure of this one thing... God expects His people to work it out and stay united. Jesus prayer before His ascension was for our unity. He knew we would struggle with wanting our own way, so He took it to the Father in prayer... maybe we should do the same. Not everything is all important. Not everything carries the same weight. (read 1 Corinthians 15:3) Let's follow the example of the early church and seek God's will on matters that pull us apart. Spend time in prayer for the brother that you disagree with! Let love do its' work. As His people, we are His chosen... the world is watching, how are we going to settle our disputes?



Thursday, July 4, 2013

Prison and Prayer

Today we read Acts 12. This is not a great time to be a Christian. Unlike the times we read about earlier in Acts, disciples of Jesus are facing persecution and execution. It is difficult for us to relate to this (for now). We live in a nation that protects our religious freedom and few of us have ever faced people that threaten harm or imprison because of what we believe. In Acts 12, we read about the death of James, the brother of John. (I will leave you a moment here to think about James)

We often read verses and they don't really impact us. James, the brother of John, was one of the first four disciples that Jesus called to follow him. He left his fishing business and his father, Zebedee to become one of the "Sons of Thunder" as Jesus would name them. Take a moment to think about this man of God who died because he chose Jesus over a fishing career.

After James is executed, Peter is taken into prison and his fate is to be the same as James. But God has other plans. Let's read... Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.  And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.  Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” (12: 5-8)

I want us to read that slowly. Peter is in prison, bound with two chains between two soldiers. There were guards keeping the door as well, a total of 16 soldiers. Sounds like a "high security prison". No doubt, Herod had heard of the previous prison breaks (Acts 5) and wanted to be sure that Peter stayed put this time. What I want us to focus on is the little phrase "but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church". Why does Luke, by the direction of the Spirit tell us that while Peter is chained in prison, the church is constant in prayer? Sixteen professional soldiers, a high security prison, chained to two soldiers and the church is constant in prayer. Why? Why are they praying and why are we told about it?

My faith is in a God that answers prayers. He listens to the prayers of His children and then acts in their best interests. Sometimes I see the results of my prayer, sometimes I don't. Either way, He still acts and He still answers my prayers! Maybe God planned on rescuing Peter without the prayers of the church. Maybe. I don't know (and you don't either), but I know this, God saw fit to tell us that the church was praying (constantly) and that Peter was set free. Why tell us that if prayers are not efficacious? Why set us up for wasted efforts? I have prayed for friends that were ill and they were healed. I have prayed for friends and they were not healed. That is truth. I don't fully understand why God answers my prayers with a yes sometimes and at other times it is a no. But this I know for sure... he knows what is best in every situation and by faith I accept that.

Let me leave you with a verse that covers this very adequately... And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) He is working in our best interests... always, in all things! That is the kind of God we love and serve. Sure I wonder "why" sometimes and that is alright. but in the end, I have to remember who is God and who is not. Isaiah tells us a truth that helps... “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9) I believe one day I (and you) will understand better the "why", but until then... trust and faith.