Tag: Acts

Links for today’s readings:

Jun 29  Read: Isaiah 28 Listen: (4:49) Read: Acts 15 Listen: (5:43)

Scripture Focus: Acts 15.5-11

5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” 
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 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.”

Reflection: Neither Cave Nor Cling to Culture

By John Tillman

It seems silly to have to say it, but…Jesus was Jewish.

One reason we must say it is that, at times in history, the Jewishness of Jesus was de-emphasized or erased to promote anti-Semitism. Another reason we must remember that Jesus was Jewish is in order to understand New Testament controversies.

Jesus and his followers were so Jewish (How Jewish were they?) that many had a hard time imagining anyone following Jesus without first becoming a Jew. Jesus’ followers affirmed that the gospel was for everyone. Some just thought it had the prerequisite of Jewishness.

Don’t you have to become Jewish to follow a Jewish rabbi named Jesus? Don’t you have to be circumcised? Observe Sabbath laws? Food laws? Purity laws? Is Jesus for everyone? 

To some, not upholding circumcision was caving to Greek culture. “If we approve of uncircumcision, what’s next? Eating in idol temples? Sexual immorality? Eating impure foods?”

It’s a valid concern. Accommodating some cultural norms would mean betraying vital truths of our faith. We must look downstream and beware slippery slopes. When addressing a cultural shift, we should rightly ask, “What’s next?”

Caving to culture as it changes is a problem and erodes true faith. Clinging to cultures of the past is also a problem, and poisons our faith with pride, self-righteousness, and hypocrisy. On one hand, we “let go of the commands of God” to hold on to new “human traditions.” On the other hand, we “nullify the word of God by” the traditions we “have handed down.” (Mark 7.8-13)

When the Jerusalem Council struggled with these questions, they set an example for us. They separated essential from non-essential. They separated unchanging commands from cultural traditions.

How? They 1) listened to the Holy Spirit 2) applied the teachings of scripture, and 3) analyzed the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work.

Through Peter’s vision, Paul and Barnabus’ testimony, and James’ application of the scriptures, they realized requiring circumcision would hinder God’s work. Then they carefully and lovingly explained their convictions.

Christian communities engage in this process today. The Holy Spirit will not negate or overturn scripture. If we think he is, the error is our own. In biblical communities, we must check each other, challenge each other, and work to convince each other, all within the security of loving and accepting one another as Christ loved us.

Neither cave nor cling to culture. Cling only to Christ.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Retched Leaders

There is vomit covering the tables…like the aftermath of a fraternity party….Israel’s religious elite…were unfit for their jobs and…a nauseating mess.

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Links for today’s readings:

Jun 25  Read: Isaiah 24 Listen: (3:11) Read: Acts 11 Listen: (3:52)

Scripture Focus: Acts 11.1-2

1 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story:…

18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Reflection: Listen and Change

By John Tillman

We’ve heard Peter defend himself to the Pentecost crowds when accused of being drunk too early in the morning. We’ve heard Peter defend himself before the Sanhedrin for healing a crippled man. But now we hear Peter defending himself, not to strangers or Romans or the powerful Jewish leaders, but to fellow Jesus followers!

These Jewish Jesus followers were incensed that Peter had eaten with the “uncircumcised.” He had done something that, according to their interpretation of the Bible and of Jesus, was unquestionably wrong.

Sometimes we must defend ourselves from those who should be standing with us. Sometimes those whose beliefs are the closest to ours attack us more often and with more vitriol than atheists or adherents to other faith systems. However, Peter’s confrontation doesn’t drag on forever like endless Christian-on-Christian attacks on Twitter.

First, Peter explained himself. But then, two things happened that rarely seem to happen today. First, the confronting parties listened to what Peter said. Then they changed their opinion about what he had done.

We can’t get too idealistic about the New Testament church. They were learning how to be the church following Jesus’ ascension. Many things went wrong. Like us, they had scandals, squabbles, and horrible errors. Church history after the canon of scripture includes even greater fights, arguments, and power struggles. There are heresies, councils, excommunications, and, according to tradition, at least one famous punch/slap thrown by Saint Nicolas.

The New Testament church had many of the same problems we do but they did at least one thing better than us by far. They listened to one another and changed. The apostles listened to the neglected Greek widows. And they changed. They listened to Barnabus about Saul. And they changed. The Jerusalem church listened to Peter about the Gentiles. And they changed. Peter listened to Paul when challenged about slipping back into hypocrisy. And he changed.

When was the last time you listened to a brother or sister in Christ…and you changed? I don’t mean abandoning the gospel or losing trust in the scriptures or compromising biblical principles… When have you listened and turned away from an idol? When have you changed your treatment of others? When have you apologized and made amends? When have you repented? When have you admitted you were wrong?

May we, when confronted with truth, be willing to listen and to change.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Turn to me and have mercy upon me; give your strength to your servant; and save the child of your handmaid. — Psalm 86.16

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Cursebreakers 

Cursed is the ground because of us.
Reversed is the curse because of Christ.
God, make us cursebreakers.

Read more: Cultivation Means Tending

Cultivation begins with destruction, but continues with tenderness and care…cultivated ground…is carefully controlled.

Links for today’s readings:

Jun 22  Read: Isaiah 21 Listen: (2:32) Read: Acts 8 Listen: (5:10)

Scripture Focus: Acts 8.4-8, 35-39

4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.

35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

Reflection: The Gospel Crosses Boundaries and Brings Joy

By John Tillman

Acts begins with Jesus saying, “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1.8) This serves as an outline of Acts, showing one of its main themes is that the gospel crosses human boundaries.

Beginning in Jerusalem, the apostles take the lead. Peter is the frequent frontman. They often minister in the temple and clash with the same religious leaders Jesus did. But for a time, the story shifts from the apostles to a new group called “deacons.”

The first seven deacons were men, but in scripture and church history many women filled the role. Stephen and Phillip the Evangelist (not Phillip the apostle) are the first two deacons introduced, and help to define what deacons do. Deacons were commissioned out of a controversy regarding distributing food to the needy. However, through Stephen and Phillip, (and later through Phoebe) we see that deacons do more than “wait on tables.” (Acts 6.2)

Deacons weren’t merely sanctified hospitality experts, chefs, or waiters. Deacons were speakers, evangelists, teachers, and miracle-workers. Stephen wasn’t killed because he gave food to widows, but because he taught, using the scriptures, that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 6.8-12; 7.55-58). Deacons led complex church ministries and Phillip, the second deacon spotlighted in Acts, takes the gospel beyond Jerusalem’s boundaries.

The persecution that followed Stephen’s killing forced everyone except the apostles out of Jerusalem (Acts 8.1). Phillip’s stories, in Samaria and with the Ethiopian eunuch, show us examples of what those believers did—they “preached the word wherever they went.” And where the gospel is preached, joy follows.

In Samaria, Phillip took the gospel to a hated ethnic group and culture. Through his meeting with the Ethiopian, Phillip initiated the gospel’s introduction to the continent of Africa. Many Africans captured and enslaved in the United States were Christians who traced their spiritual heritage to this moment. 

When the focus of Acts shifts to Paul, he is called and commissioned as the first “missionary.” But Phillip and the Ethiopian were Paul’s forerunners. Taking the gospel across human boundaries brings joy (Acts 8.5-8, 38-39).

You don’t need to be commissioned or ordained as a deacon to take the gospel across boundaries. What boundaries are around you? Race? Culture? Political alignment? Misunderstanding?

The same Holy Spirit that used Phillip wants to use you. Are you listening? Let the Holy Spirit carry you over boundaries to spread the gospel and bring joy.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long. — Psalm 25.3-4

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Sufferings and False Prophets

False prophets today may be religious or political…what they have in common is typically telling us exactly what we want most to hear.

Read more: Be On Lookout

Some Christians with a vigilante spirit confuse the call to alertness with a call to arms or a declaration of war.