Word Live: When We Disagree
How do Christians decide together what is God’s will? Reflect on any times you have seen this done well (and not so well).
Bible passage
Acts 11:1–18
Peter explains his actions
11 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 criticised 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: 5 ‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
8 ‘I replied, “Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.”
9 ‘The voice spoke from heaven a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
11 ‘Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, “Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.”
15 ‘As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: “John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?’
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.’
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Explore
It can be surprising when Christians disagree. After all, if we are all praying, surely discovering God’s will should be straightforward? Today’s reading reveals, however, that there is often more to discernment than that. We may need to take time to work through issues together.
When Peter returned from baptising Cornelius, not everyone was happy. Many of the Jewish Christians were shocked that he had eaten meals in the home of someone who was not a Jew (v 3). Traditionally Jews avoided such contact with Gentiles because they did not want to eat food which hadn’t been prepared according to Jewish dietary rules.
So, how was this disagreement resolved? First, Peter understood their concerns. He took time to carefully explain the reasons for his actions. Secondly, those who had the objections listened carefully to Peter’s words and kept their minds open to what he said, despite their feelings (v 18). And their main concern was to find God’s will, so they were happy to back down and support Peter when they were convinced God was behind his actions (v 18). How often do arguments persist in churches because people are more interested in what is best for them than discovering God’s will?
Author
Caroline Fletcher
Respond
Bring to God any disagreements there are in your church or that you are dealing with personally. Pray that things may be worked through well and that God’s will becomes clear.
Deeper Bible study
‘Be still, and know that I am God’.1 Identify what is foremost in your mind. Then ask God to tell you what he really wants you to hear.
Are you prone to knee-jerk reactions? As a group, the Jewish believers and circumcised Gentile converts in Jerusalem certainly react prematurely to the news of Peter’s encounter at Caesarea. Their primary concern is the legalistic purity of Peter’s activities. The edifice of compliance with Jewish law stands, in their minds, before anything else that may have occurred.
Peter, however, has been given time to think things through. His initial reaction to his vision in Joppa mirrored that of his critics in Jerusalem. What is unclean is not to be touched. God, however, has taken him slowly through a series of confirmatory events: the triple occurence of the vision, the unsought invitation from Cornelius and finally the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all present there. He is assured that God is at work in all this. Patiently and in detail, he tells the whole story, with the support of his six companions. Rumours and second- or third-hand versions of the story that abound in Jerusalem are rendered worthless. Then, conclusively, he draws together Jesus’ promise of baptism with the Spirit, the experience of the Spirit given to the disciples at the first Pentecost and the events at Caesarea. Can one be denied as authentic without nullifying the others? His conclusion is, how could he stand in God’s way? All objections are apparently answered: Gentiles are, theoretically, welcomed into the church and God is praised. Job done? Maybe not.
Later chapters in Acts and parts of Paul’s letters indicate that the issues of circumcision and unclean food rumbled on within the church. Even Peter appears to renege on his decision.2 Each time, the debate risks overwhelming the missionary imperative – to preach the gospel.
What are the presenting issues in your church? Finance? Premises? Theological divisions? Scandals? Pray for leaders who place the gospel first.
1 Ps 46:10 2 Gal 2:11–13
Author
Brian Radcliffe
