the    sides

This is part of our weekly journey through the book of Acts. Today is from Acts 11.

We need more ‘you’ve got some ’splaining to do’ moments in church. Moments when people hold up their hands, raise their voice and say - “Would you mind telling me what the heck is going on here and why ‘we’ are doing it?” I know of a church in the San Jose, CA area that is partnering with one of the most liberal gay organizations in the Bay Area to help fund and run an AIDS crisis center for families. Needless to say they’ve been asked why in the world are they doing that.

Here’s their answer - because it’s right and good and Godly to be the hands and feet of Jesus to AIDS patients - our modern day lepers. We’re not compromising our beliefs on homosexuality or drug use or anything else. We are saying that no matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been Jesus loves you and is available to you.

Needless to say there are people who will never attend or support that church because of this relationship. And honestly, it’s their loss, not the church’s.

It’s a similar situation in Acts 11 with Peter. He’s not just visited an uncircumcised Gentile, he’s “allowed” him to accept Jesus (like Peter or anyone else could’ve stopped it). The “natives” are now restless and demand an explanation.

I’ve got to give Peter some credit. He handles it maturely and redemptively. Instead of coming back combative and argumentative, he patiently walks them through the story from the beginning and answers their questions. Peter’s maturity doesn’t just diffuse a potentially explosive situation, he sets the course of mission work for the Church from now on. It also sets the stage for the most influential leader in Christian History - Saul/Paul. (I know, it’s not really Peter but rather the Spirit of God.)

Barnabas (there’s a great teaching series here - the life of Barnabas) hears of this work of God and immediately starts connecting some dots. “You know who would be awesome at reaching the Gentiles? Saul. Yes, that Saul - the former Christ-follower killer/Jewish scholar/Pharisee Saul.” Which was another one of those - “You’ve got some ’splaining to do” moments.

See…we need more of them. It’s how God changed the world.