Year 7, Day 248: Acts 15

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Acts 15 is a very important chapter when it comes to understanding the human element in organizations.  We like to think that everyone is like us.  However, that just isn’t true.  The reality is that we all have our own agendas and our own motivations.  We must always be on the alert for those times when someone within the organization changes priorities without consensus or even knowledge of the group.  This is why maintaining unity within an organization is difficult.

For example, notice the people who come from Jerusalem down to Antioch.  They hear people giving praise to God for the various ways that God has been at work among the Gentiles.  Rather than celebrating with God, they feel the need to challenge God’s work.  They tell the Gentiles that unless they are circumcised that they really have no place among God’s people.

Naturally, this makes Paul and Barnabas and likely a whole host of other people mad.  These traditionalist Jews have just gone against what Paul and Barnabas stood for.  They have gone against God’s hand at work.  Paul and Barnabas set off to set the record straight.

Notice that when they get to Jerusalem, there is a group within the Jerusalem Council that is in line with these teachers of the circumcision.  Division is occurring in Jerusalem.  People are beginning to teach different things.  Unity is being lost.

Thankfully, Peter gets up to speak.  He remembers what God did in him at Cornelius’ house.  He’s the one who started this all!  He gets up and reminds the people what God has done and how God did it.

Fortunately, the people capitulate.  The religious leaders in Jerusalem find common ground that has nothing to do with circumcision.  They encourage these Gentiles to carry on with what God is doing in their midst, paying special attention to their purity.

What can we learn here?  Division will always creep into organization.  People will always stop adhering to God’s ideal and start adhering to their own understanding.  It takes a strong and bold presence to stop this.  When we see this happening, we must stand up like Peter in confidence and speak to where God’s truth resides.

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