Birth of the Church: The Old and the New

Our story today begins with a conflict. It is a disagreement between Jesus followers over what is required for salvation.

The story last week about the Ethiopian eunuch marks a dividing point in Acts. Between the ministry that, to this point, has been primarily to Jews and those who worshipped the God of Israel, and the ministry to the Gentiles, which, in the Jewish perspective, is everyone else. 

In between last week’s and this week’s reading, we see the beginning of the church’s ministry to the Gentiles. These chapters include the conversion of Saul, who will change his name as he begins his own ministry with Barnabas, his colleague and companion. They travel to Antioch, which is a town, north of Judea, in present-day Syria.

But, it’s not only Paul and Barnabas who are preaching the Good News of Jesus to Gentiles. In Acts 10, Peter has a transformative experience. A vision that leads him to Cornelius, a Gentile, God-fearing centurion who belongs to the Italian Cohort - a unit of archers, that is based at the Roman administrative center in Caesarea. In his vision, Peter receives a message - that he is not to call anything “unclean” that God has made “clean.” It is a genesis moment for Peter, who will then, like Paul and Barnabas, begin in earnest to share the Good News with Gentiles.

But, there is a problem. A conflict. A theological question around the issue of circumcision. “How could a Gentile possibly participate in the blessings promised to the covenant people?” In short, how can Gentiles be saved, without being circumcised? The concern is not about exclusion because of race, but inclusion within God’s covenant.

Our reading is from Acts, chapter 15. 

Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.”

The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, “My brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written,

‘After this I will return,

and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen;

    from its ruins I will rebuild it,

        and I will set it up,

so that all other peoples may seek the Lord—

    even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called.

        Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things known from long ago.’ 

--Acts 15:1-18 (NRSV)

The disagreement begins in Antioch. Other apostles, presumably in good faith, have come into the community and have begun to preach that, in order for Gentiles to be saved, they must be circumcised. Paul and Barnabas get into it with these apostles. We can only imagine the argument that must have occurred. 

It is agreed among church leaders that Paul and Barnabas and a few others should go to the elder apostles of the church in Jerusalem, bringing this question. They recognize that, to require circumcision of every male believer in the Antioch church would be viewed as culturally inappropriate - an act of mutilation. 

So, Paul and Barnabas and the others go. As they travel south, going through other Gentile countries, they begin to witness how broadly the Holy Spirit has been at work. By the time they reach Jerusalem they are overjoyed with what they have seen on their travels. The council in Jerusalem also rejoice over this news. Except for a few, who continue to insist that the Gentile believers must be circumcised.

Notice what happens next. Paul and Barnabas and Peter don’t simply write off the council in Jerusalem. Instead, they honor this relationship. And together enter into dialogue about what to do.

Peter begins. Reminding them of his earlier revelation from God and his experience with Cornelius. He argues from a position of grace - of inclusive grace - that there is no difference between “them” and “us” - between the Jewish and Gentile believers. That, if the leadership requires the same yoke of circumcision on the Gentiles they will not simply be burdening them, but will be putting God to the test. Because it is clear to them that God, through the Holy Spirit, has been at work among these believers.

The leaders are silent. They do not interrupt or disagree. They simply listen to Peter’s argument. Then, Paul and Barnabas share their experiences. What they have been witness to in their ministry. The signs and wonders that God has been doing in the midst of these Gentile communities.

When they finish, notice what happens next. Each side makes concessions for the sake of unity. No longer will circumcision be required for Gentiles believers. Yet, these same believers will be required to engage in certain practices that all believers - Jewish and Gentile - will be compelled to follow.

What’s the lesson for us in this text? Perhaps it's that none of our own experiences are better or worse than any others - they are just different. We all come to faith in our own ways. We come with different histories, perspectives, and expectations. These different perceptions are not right or wrong - they just are. It’s part of the joy and the frustration of bringing people together. Yet, when we learn to listen to each other, to our leadership, and to the Word of God, and we are all working on the same goal - sharing the Good News of life through Jesus - we can learn to work together, despite our differences.

What are the yokes we need to shed? How are we constraining the work of the Holy Spirit? As we begin to move out of pandemic life, these are questions that we must be asking. And, like the early church, may we err on the side of grace, inclusiveness, love, and unity. Because these are the markers of the church. These are the markers of God. Yesterday, today, forever. Amen.

Preached May 9, 2021, online with Grace & Glory Lutheran, Goshen, KY, and Third Lutheran, Louisville, KY.

Easter 5

Readings: Acts 15:1-18, Luke Luke 2:29-32

God's Kingdom Announced: Calling and Conflict

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

    who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. 

--Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I need to begin today with an apology. If you believe that there were three wise men, then, I apologize to you. If you believe that their names were Balthazar, Caspar, and Melchior, then, I apologize to you. If you believe this is a lovely story about kings from a foreign land who have come to pay homage to Jesus and be converted, then, I apologize to you. I apologize to you, because I am about to burst your bubble around the romanticized and sanitized version of this story that has been perpetuated upon us. (I’m well aware of the irony of the church blessing we just did with our children and our use of some of the romanticized elements from this story.) 

So, what do we have here in this story?

First, we have the magi. There has been much speculation who these magi were and where they were from. Current scholarship places their origin from Persia. Present day Iran. (The irony of this story on this very day also does not escape me.)

It is believed that these magi were followers of Zorastrianism, which was a predecessor religion to Islam. They were pre-Muslim. They were also astrologers. Our Matthew text portrays them as men. However, it is well known that in these caravans both women and men were present. Both women and men were practitioners of this religion. It’s a reminder for us, once again that, in these times in which scripture was written down, male voices had privilege and predominance.

So, have I burst a few bubble for you, so far?

We know that this was not a short trip that the magi were on. There were weeks and months between the different elements of the nativity story. We know in the very next verses - verses that have conveniently been left out of today’s lectionary because they are so horrendous - that, by the time the magi reach Bethlehem, a likely 2 years has passed since Jesus’ birth. Along the way, there has been a detour to Jerusalem. Because, while these astrologers have discerned that the star will lead them to a new king, they know little else. So, they, naturally, travel to the place where kings reside in Israel. To Jerusalem. To inquire about who this king might be and where he might be found.

Enter Herod. Our text reads that, when the magi made their inquiry and Herod heard it, he was frightened. As was all of Jerusalem. Frightened. Because a new king is a threat to Herod’s power. It may be a threat to those in Jerusalem, who reside in this seat of power. It may also simply be the fear that arises from among the people because they know of Herod’s empirical ways.  They know how he responds when he feels threatened. How he responds when someone tells him that he is not the center of the universe. They have experienced the pain of living under imperial rule. Perhaps the people of Jerusalem live in as unstable times as we are living in at this very moment. 

Herod inquires of his scholars and theologians. Who is this king? Where is he to be born? Do you find it as interesting as I do that these people in Herod’s own court know the answers to the questions he asks. And yet, they have not sought this new king. Instead, it is foreigners, coming from a different religious tradition who are seeking this king. 

Herod shares the information and then sends them on their way. But before he does, he asks them. No, truthfully, he orders them to return once they have found him so that Herod can go and pay homage. Likely story. We can see through Herod. Because we know the Herods of this world. This is not a Herod who will bow down to another king and pay him homage. This is a Herod who, in the very next verses, will order the slaughter of innocent children 2 years old and younger. 

This Herod is very different from these foreign astrologers. They go on their way and, as they leave Jerusalem, once again see the star that leads them to Bethlehem. To the young Jesus. In their joy and then in their humility they kneel down and worship him. Bringing gifts - gifts that seem so appropriate. Gold, meant for kings. Frankincense, used by priests. And myrrh, an embalming oil and symbol of death.

Then, they return home by another way. Transformed. And disregarding Herod’s order.

This story, this story of the journey of the magi reminds us of many things. It reminds us, first, that we do not have exclusive claim to the revelation of God. This revelation is given to and can come from persons well beyond our ethnic and our religious boundaries. God is generous with revelation and with salvation. God calls us into places of discomfort to encounter others with different experiences and beliefs. To discover and to grow from these encounters, trusting that through them God is further revealing godself to us. I have a dear friend - a dear friend who is Wiccan - who tells me that each of our different religious and faith traditions give us a broader understanding of who God is. This God who we want to keep in a neat little box, because that is so much easier and less disruptive for us.

This story also reminds us that God is at work in the world despite the existence of true evil. There is no guarantee for us that bad and evil things will not happen. But God promises that we will not walk through these dark valleys alone. God is not naive about the evils of the world. We should not be either. And we should not, in our privilege and our ability to read and then close the newspaper and put it neatly away - we should not understand that our life of faith is to be a comfortable life. We should understand that we are called by God to places of discomfort. To times of confronting evil. To challenge the powers that seek violence, instead of love and understanding. That divide instead of uniting.

And, finally, this story reminds us that the birth of Jesus Christ is of cosmic and astronomical importance for all people. It is good news for all who wish to participate in God’s kingdom - a kingdom of radically inclusive love and grace. And bad news for those who desire power over and against others.

It is these characteristics of love and grace that are the mark of a believer of God. One who puts God at one’s center. Who seeks God daily and weekly so that God is at the center of our lives, rather than our own self. A believer of God is one who is called to places of conflict and discomfort, to speak out and to challenge leaders that do not follow God’s kingdom - those who don't seek justice. Those who don't seek mercy. Those who seek to walk humbly with God. It is the mark of a believer to seek others out - others with different beliefs and experiences - that, they might be transformed. And, mostly, that we might be transformed. It is a mark of a believer of God, a believer who has been freed by God, to live into radical grace and love. These are our markers. Markers of lives of calling and lives of conflict. Who we are to be as we live out the kingdom of God.

So, I’m sorry this morning. I’m sorry if I’ve burst any bubbles you might have had about this story. But, it’s in the bubble-burst version where we find the real truth. Where we find God.

Amen.

Preached January 5, 2020, at Grace & Glory Lutheran Church, Goshen, KY.
Epiphany of Our Lord
Readings: Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12