Daily Scripture: Acts 15:1 But some men came down from Y’hudah to Antioch and began teaching the brothers, “You can’t be saved unless you undergo b’rit-milah in the manner prescribed by Moshe.” 2 This brought them into no small measure of discord and dispute with Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba. So the congregation assigned Sha’ul, Bar-Nabba and some of themselves to go and put this sh’eilah before the emissaries and the elders up in Yerushalayim.
15:22 Then the emissaries and the elders, together with the whole Messianic community, decided to select men from among themselves to send to Antioch with Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba. They sent Y’hudah, called Bar-Sabba, and Sila, both leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter:
From: The emissaries and the elders, your brothers
To: The brothers from among the Gentiles throughout Antioch, Syria and Cilicia
Greetings!
24 We have heard that some people went out from among us without our authorization, and that they have upset you with their talk, unsettling your minds. 25 So we have decided unanimously to select men and send them to you with our dear friends Bar-Nabba and Sha’ul, 26 who have dedicated their lives to upholding the name of our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. 27 So we have sent Y’hudah and Sila, and they will confirm in person what we are writing.
28 For it seemed good to the Ruach HaKodesh and to us not to lay any heavier burden on you than the following requirements: 29 to abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will be doing the right thing.
Shalom!
30 The messengers were sent off and went to Antioch, where they gathered the group together and delivered the letter.
Reflection Questions:As the early Christians shared the good news of Jesus far and wide, there came the almost inevitable day when some of them said, “Wait—you’re teaching what? We don’t agree with that.” Yet when that happened, they did not split into alienated factions. They worked together to discern God’s will, trusting that the Holy Spirit was at work in all of their lives.
- Instead of “going to war” as competing sides, what do you think moved the early Christian leaders to come together to work through their differing views and agree on major principles, if not every detail and emphasis? (Some still differed—cf. Philippians 3:2, for example.) When has the wisdom of others helped you in your faith journey?
- The Bible also tells of people who at times challenged, or even defied, their faith community (e.g. Job, Jeremiah, and yes, Jesus). What guidelines do you believe can help clarify when you should let consensus with other believers guide you, and when you should stand rigidly for what you perceive to be right? What do we lose when we try (or are forced) to make our journey alone?
Lord God, in this world of “rugged individualism,” I’m glad you haven't called me to follow you all alone. Bless me with the ability to listen, take in and value the discernment of others who love and serve you. Amen.Insights from Amy Oden
Dr. Amy Oden is Professor of Early Church History and Spirituality at Saint Paul School of Theology at OCU. Teaching is her calling, and she looks forward to every day with students. For 25 years, Amy has taught theology and history, pursuing scholarship in service of the church.
This story from Acts 15 always stuns me. How could these devoted believers give up God’s teaching from their own scripture? They don’t even require gentiles to follow the 10 commandments! Yet, together they sought the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and made this determination (Acts 15: 28).
The power of this testimony really convicts me when I grip my own views so tightly that I put them above my brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s so tempting to believe that I already know what’s right, that “No one can tell me what to believe!”
Seeking God’s will is something none of us can do on our own. We too often act out of unhealthy habits or self-interest, and then attribute it to God’s will. We need brothers and sisters who walk in God’s wisdom to help us see and hear that path. All around us the communion of saints points to God’s deepest desires for my life, for our common life, for all creation.
When I’m tempted to go-it-alone, I’ve found this image from one of our forefathers helps me. Dorotheos of Gaza, one of the desert fathers, describes a circle with spokes going to the center:
This story from Acts 15 always stuns me. How could these devoted believers give up God’s teaching from their own scripture? They don’t even require gentiles to follow the 10 commandments! Yet, together they sought the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and made this determination (Acts 15: 28).
The power of this testimony really convicts me when I grip my own views so tightly that I put them above my brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s so tempting to believe that I already know what’s right, that “No one can tell me what to believe!”
Seeking God’s will is something none of us can do on our own. We too often act out of unhealthy habits or self-interest, and then attribute it to God’s will. We need brothers and sisters who walk in God’s wisdom to help us see and hear that path. All around us the communion of saints points to God’s deepest desires for my life, for our common life, for all creation.
When I’m tempted to go-it-alone, I’ve found this image from one of our forefathers helps me. Dorotheos of Gaza, one of the desert fathers, describes a circle with spokes going to the center:
The center is God, and each spoke is a person moving toward God. Dorotheos says that as each person gets closer (or further) from God, each gets closer (or further) to other people. And vice versa, the closer (or further) we get to each other, the closer (or further) we get to God. This is our walk in Christ – together.
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