For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well.
—Acts 15:28-29, NASB

Reflection:
As the church continued to grow, the significance of Cornelius’ salvation extended far beyond Caesarea into every territory where the kingdom of God was preached and was expanding. Although those in Jerusalem admitted that God had allowed Gentiles to be part of this Jewish faith, few believers actually sought out the non-Jews.

We must understand that every Jewish man and woman was accustomed to not associating with Gentiles because that is how countless preceding generations had lived. So even as believers were scattered throughout different regions because of persecution, still they were preaching the word to no one except Jews.

Things were different in Antioch. The intercultural atmosphere of the big city meant Jewish believers had more opportunity to interact with Gentiles. The church there began growing so much that the mother church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to help. Eventually Barnabas and Paul left as missionaries, preaching to both Jews and Gentiles throughout modern-day Turkey and Syria. The incredible success of that first missionary journey meant more Gentiles now believed in Jesus.

But as their numbers increased, it raised a question so important that a council was called in Jerusalem. The issue, as recorded in Acts 15, was whether these newly converted Gentiles needed to become Jewish. A Pharisee sect of believers in Jesus argued that a non-Jew needed to be circumcised and follow the Torah to have a relationship with the God of Israel. Barnabas and Paul argued adamantly that this was not the case, as evident in God’s blessing upon the growing movement of Gentile believers.

Much was at stake. If the answer was that non-Jewish believers needed to become Jewish, then the explosive church growth seen from the missionary journeys would certainly dampen.

Can you see how drastically times have changed since this debate? Today the tables are turned, and the question is whether you can believe in Jesus and still be a Jew. The paradigm is the exact opposite of what it was at the Council of Jerusalem. Back then it was assumed that a follower of Jesus was already Jewish, so the issue in question only involved non-Jews. They were the outsiders looking in; yet today it is the Jewish people who are largely on the outside. Christianity is seen as a Gentile religion, while Judaism is, of course, a Jewish one.

There is living proof that you can follow Jesus and be Jewish. In fact, there is nothing more Jewish than following Jesus. The Council of Jerusalem saw this crash course in the works, but under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, they reconciled the two.

After Peter and James offered their opinions, the group reached a conclusion: it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to put on you no greater burden than these necessary things. They gave Gentiles the freedom to live as Gentiles, while asking them to abstain from the things that would make fellowship with their Jewish brothers and sisters incredibly difficult.

This was not about destroying the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but it is evil for a man to cause someone to fall by what he eats. The Holy Spirit was forming one family in Messiah, with freedom, honor, and love guarding the fellowship.

Application:

• Honor the work of God by refusing to place burdens on others that the Holy Spirit has not required.
• Walk in freedom with love, being careful not to put a stumbling block or obstacle in a brother’s way.

Prayer:
Father, thank You that it seemed good to the Holy Spirit to open the kingdom to the Gentiles and form one family in Messiah. Teach me to honor the freedom You have given without destroying the work of God. Keep me from placing unnecessary burdens on others. Give me love that refuses to put a stumbling block in a brother’s way. Let my fellowship with others be guarded by humility, honor, and obedience to Your Spirit.Forgive me for the places where fear has caused separation in my fellowship with You. Give me light to see from Your perspective, and grace to obey Your word. I belong to You, and You are mine.