The Apostolic Council

Friday, September 15, 2006 -- Week of Proper 18

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 983)
Psalm 40, 54 (morning) // 51 (evening)
Job 29:1, 31:24-40
Acts 15:12-21
John 11:30-44

To my mind, the Apostolic Council of Acts 15 is the most important event of early Church history prior to Constantine. It is a critical turning point that allowed the church to evolve beyond its identity as a Jewish reform movement into a world-wide religion.

Jesus and all of the twelve were Jewish. Jesus was proclaimed as the Jewish Messiah by those who followed him and witnessed to his resurrection. As Paul and his associates traveled through Asia Minor, they spoke in Jewish synagogues, telling the story of Jesus the Messiah. They found a particularly receptive audience among the Gentiles who attended the Jewish prayer services but were not Jews themselves. They were called "god-fearers." Paul and Barnabas witnessed the authenticity of the faith of these Gentiles and they baptized them into the fellowship of the followers of Jesus.

Paul's experience of the risen Lord had opened this possibility to him. Like Martin Luther centuries later, Paul had been burdened with guilt in his struggles to live up to the demands of the Jewish law. He experienced great anxiety. Trying to live up to every jot and tittle of the law trapped him in self-absorption, doubt and performance anxiety. How am I doing? he asked continually. The revelation of Jesus on the Damascus Road freed him from that anxiety. His acceptance from God was a gift. A gift pure and simple. All he had to do was accept the gift. Justification by grace through faith. Christ freed him from the law.

Not all Jewish Christians agreed with Paul's gospel. They held the traditional position that Jesus' movement was part of Judaism. It was a purification and reform of Judaism, they said. Anyone who wished to be part of the Church, must be baptized, yes. But if they are Gentiles, they must also become Jewish. They must be circumcised and instructed in the Torah. They must follow the ancient law given by God to Moses. These Jewish Christians based their position on the scripture and the ancient traditions of their people.

They bring the case before the apostles in Jerusalem. James, the brother of the Lord, is now the leader of the Jerusalem church. Paul and Barnabas tell what they have seen of the response of the Gentiles. Jewish Christians debate them defending the tradition. Peter weighs in on Paul's side with his story of his vision and the conversion of Cornelius.

James speaks for the Council. He finds a passage from Amos that repeats the promise that Israel will be a blessing to the Gentiles. The decision is that Gentiles may indeed become part of the Christian movement without becoming Jews, without circumcision and the following of the Torah. He articulates four qualifications, probably the Gentile practices that would have been most offensive to Jewish Christians. It is the Magna Carta of the Church. Gentiles are welcomed.

It took great courage to embrace such a decision. It changed the church. Essentially the experience of witnessing the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the contemporary Gentile believers was the grounds upon which James and the council decided. The weight of scripture and tradition fell on the other side. Obedience to Torah and circumcision had been the marks of God's people for centuries. This was a courageous and pivotal decision that changed the church and brought it new life.

In so many ways I see our church facing a similar decision. Today's Paul and Baranbas and Peter are witnessing the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives and relationships of gay Christians. Other faithful leaders debate, defending the traditions. How will the world wide church, Anglican and otherwise, decide. I hope they will follow the brave tradition of James and the apostles as recounted in Acts 15.

Lowell

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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR