The Way – Christianity or a sect within Judaism?

Thursday 6 May 2010

Reading Acts 15: 7 – 21

⁷ After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. ⁸ God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. ⁹ He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? ¹¹ No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

¹² The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. ¹³ When they finished, James spoke up. "Brothers," he said, "listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. ¹⁵ The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

¹⁶ " 'After this I will return
       and rebuild David's fallen tent.
       Its ruins I will rebuild,
       and I will restore it,

¹⁷ that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord,
       even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
       says the Lord, who does these things' —

¹⁸ things known from long ago.

¹⁹ "It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. ²¹ For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."

Gospel John 15: 9 – 11

⁹ "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Sermon

Last week we read from Acts 13. Paul and Barnabas in Pisidian Antioch. Paul invited to speak in synagogue. Long sermon expounding history of Jews over more than 450 years. Object to explain how prophets foretold coming of Messiah, and how Jesus, descended from David, was the Christ.

Jews in Antioch rejected them. Shook dust off their feet in protest and went to Iconium. Same thing happened. Accepted by some Jews and Greeks but religious authorities opposed them. Then travelled through Lystra and Derbe strengthening church already established there. After that, went by ship to Antioch and thence to Jerusalem.

Here debate still raged as to whether gospel for Jews only or Gentiles too. Some rejoiced when they heard from Paul and Barnabas that many Gentiles had been converted. Others wanted Christianity to remain a sect within Judaism, which meant new believers would have to observe all the law of Moses.

There was a debate. James brother of Jesus was in charge of the church in Jerusalem. Eventually, he was persuaded by the fact God had intervened and bestowed gift of Holy Spirit on all – Jews and Gentiles alike, making no distinction between them.

So the church wrote to all the new believers telling them no further burden would be imposed on them, and sending Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch with the good news.

Fact is, faith does not have to be this complicated. Sometimes I think the church puts more people off by its rules and regs, its ways of doing things, its condemnation of those who are different in some way. Read the gospel and see how simple Jesus made the law, compared to the complex web of dos and don’ts men had spun which only entrapped rather than freed adherents.

Today’s gospel passage is short but full of meaning. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

That’s it really. What more is there to say?