Comments on: Acts 15

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:59:00 +0000

Ben, I think your analysis contains a lot of truth. Not only does this madness drive some men out of ministry, it causes good people to do bad things.

By: benoverby

benoverby — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:04:24 +0000

Darin,

That’s so true. The early disciples understood that God was uniting all things, things in heaven and things in earth. That ultimate purpose modulated their beliefs about their own boundary markers. They weren’t willing to allow their national boundary markers to become a test for fellowship and therefore a stumbling block for non-Jews. Today it is still a fact in general that churches of Christ are willing to make their own identity markers a boundary to fellowship with all others. Contrary to the early disciples, churches of Christ allow identity markers to modulate their beliefs relative to other matters. Fear and pride are at the center of this anti-gospel which has the effect of attempting to unite all things in the “church of Christ” denomination.

It’s a madness that can drive some men out of ministry! : )

By: Jason Harris

Jason Harris — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:45:30 +0000

Yeah. I missed my calling. It is sooo much fun coming up with lesson outlines. You’re right. Some things just preach. I should have been a preacher instead of construction. HAHA!! Although… I like not having my paycheck tied to my study of scripture. They can’t fire me and they can’t dock my pay. I enjoy being our pastor’s ally.

Love you bro.

By: Darin

Darin — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:58:43 +0000

I have heard that as well. Doesn’t that make it even more confusing?

By: mattdabbs

mattdabbs — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:31:51 +0000

Some have argued that the requirements put on Gentile Christians that you mentioned in your post were basically the rules from Leviticus that God says are expected of the aliens and strangers (Gentiles) living among them. In other words they were expected to keep the same rules as Gentiles had always been expected to keep if they were a part of God’s people. I have looked at Leviticus and it seems like there is a connection there but maybe not 100%. Hard to say.

By: Darin

Darin — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:38:28 +0000

That is not a rant, that preaches.

I have to use that one. That is an outline ready made.

By: Jason Harris

Jason Harris — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:09:18 +0000

Darin – Thanks for the post. We got to this verse during a study of Acts and it always seems funny to me. I mean, of all the things that the Jerusalem council could have written it was not the “biggies”. It is also interesting how people who try so hard to hold on to a pattern decide that this is not one.

Here’s what is interesting… What IS Acts 15 saying? First I think that we can ALL learn from Acts 15:19 – we should not make it difficult for people who are turning to God. There’s a lesson there isn’t there? What do we do that makes it difficult for people who are turning to God? What should we stop doing? The second part is vs. 20 & 21… While we need to make sure we are not making it difficult for those who are turning to God, we also must understand the cultural context in which we live. The reason for their instruction in vs. 20 is because the law of Moses has been preached in every city from very early times (vs. 21) and so there are certain things we need to be aware of so that our influence isn’t damaged.

Sorry for the rant, but it was a post that struck a chord in me.

Love you brother.