No Distinctions - No 2nd class citizens

In a post Brexit COVID 19 world, the catch cries of Freedom of Movement and open borders seems like a distant memory.

The allure of globalisation, free trade and almost effortless international travel has been curtailed somewhat.

Who you can see, where you can go - those who are in and those who are out, are is now the order of the day.

Some, of course, would argue such distinctions are a necessity in the midst of a global pandemic.

You’ll be pleased to know we won’t be going there this morning!

But distinctions, or should I say the lack of them, seems to me the focus of our two readings from the lectionary, on this Sunday where we consider the Baptism of Jesus.

Almost in a flash, we have gone from Christ the child in Bethlehem to Jesus the man on his journey to Jerusalem.

Our Gospel reading brings us to the shores of the Jordan river, where Jesus presents himself for baptism. More on that later.

Our Acts reading helps us to see some significant developments in the expansion of the Christian church.

If you were to skip back to chapter one you won’t be surprised that the church is now in Samaria.

Before His ascension, Jesus had already prophesied that this would happen in Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 NIVUK84

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

And in God’s providence, on teh back of some horrific persecution that sees Stephen stoned, we see the church travelling into Samaria in Acts chapter 8.

I think we can skip over the significance here - notice Philip is the centre of attention. He had been chosen as one of seven Deacons earlier in chapter 6. He is not an Apostle, yet through his ministry the fledgling church breaks new ground.

Verses 14 to 17 of chapter 8 are an interesting addition to the flow of the text.

From the extremes of Catholicism and Pentecostalism, we see some interpreting this passage as proof of a two stage conversion process. In Catholicism and to some degree Anglicanism - though not here I should add - such teaching is expressed through the inclusion of Confirmation which follows baptism. Here the Bishop lays hands on the candidate, there’s a strong emphasis on the conferring of the Holy Spirit.

Not too long ago, such teaching was applied in a way that only served to create distinctions between those who have and those who have not.

Rather than vaccination enabling you to come forward to receive the Lord’s SUpper, Confirmation was held up as the status that made you either in or out.

Some branches of Pentacostalism see this passage as suggesting that a second baptism of the Holy Spirit is what God’s word presents as the Christian norm.

My feeling is that such teaching comes from a genuine place of wanting God’s people to experience the full ministry of God the Holy Spirit in their lives - but in the end such a rendering of this passage only serves to creat second class Christians and distinctions within the body of Christ.

But is this really what is going on here. I’m not so sure.

I’m going to put aside the Catholic teaching around Baptism and Confirmation due to time - I will just say that I do see value in Confirmation, particularly for those baptised as infants. I just don’t agree with a theology that underpins any perceived ‘necessity’ of this rite to be considered fully in. But come and see me if you want to talk about that further.

No, I want to briefly touch on some of the reasons why I don’t think this passage is to be taken as a Christian norm or expectation.

Some argue that the Christians in Samaria are some how deficient in their understanding.

But we read in Acts 8: 5-7

Acts 8:5–7 NIVUK84

5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.

Acts 8:6–7 NIVUK84

6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.

and in Acts 8:12

Acts 8:12 NIVUK84

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women.

As a result of Philip’s preaching Christ, the people paid close attention, miraculous signs including exorcisms and healings were evident, the preaching was about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus.

Luke has made sure there can be no suggestion of some deficiency on the part of these new Christians. Infact 5 times he refers to the proclamation of the good news.

Only one other time the Holy Spirit does not accompany conversion is when converts of John who have been baptised under his teaching enquire about Jesus. Up until then they had not even heard of the Holy Spirit. Only as they put their faith in the name of Jesus, do they receive. You can find that account in Acts 19.

Indeed the ‘norm’ in every other account of conversion is that the Holy Spirit is given at the time of believing. For example as Peter the Apostle ushers in the first Gentile conversions, seen through the events surrounding Cornelius we read at

Acts 10:44 NIVUK84

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

Acts 11:15 NIVUK84

15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.

Clearly something is going on here… for there to be a break in what Peter earlier in Acts 2:38

Acts 2:38 NIVUK84

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We can assume, I think correctly, that the Apostles were not in the business of doing follow up visits to every person that had converted on the preaching of those who were not Apostles.

Also, remember Luke wrote both Peter’s words at Pentecost concerning the connection between repentance, belief and the gift of the Holy Spirit - why just confuse things?

My feeling is if you take ‘everything’ into account, there is really only one plausible explanation.

I expect at some point in time you have heard about the schism between Jews and Samaritans…it had existed for centuries. We don’t have time to explore it again now, except to say that it was a schism that ran deep in the Jewish psyche. So much so that when Jesus wanted to communicate what it meant to be a good neighbour he used a Samaritan tending to an injured Jew to make his very controversial and counter-cultural point.

In accordance with Jesus’ words at Acts 1 verse 8, Samaria was the next phase of Christian expansion after Judea. This is a huge step for God’s people who up until this time were Jews, the chosen ones.

The next phase would also require some explanation and justification when Gentiles were included. In that instance, recorded in Acts 11, it was an Apostle Peter, who witnessed the Holy Spirit fall on those converted.

I wonder what may have happened, if this strange and unique little passage had not occured?

The Samaritans had welcomed the gospel - but would the Jews welcome the Samaritans?

Might two distint sects of Christianity have emerged?

Michael Greenin his book I believe in the Holy Spirit, suggests Acts 8 demonstrates:

The Message of Acts b. One-Stage Initiation

‘a divine veto on schism in the infant church, a schism which could have slipped almost unnoticed into the Christian fellowship, as converts from the two sides of the “Samaritan curtain” found Christ without finding each other. That would have been the denial of the one baptism and all it stood for’

Of course, whilst I believe this to be a much clearer and logical rendering of this passage along with all the surrounding passages, there are of course opportunities to consider what our readings may be saying to us today.

Whilst the gospel tears down barriers and distinctions between believers - this thing we call Christianity isn’t a free for all.

There is an intentional purpose behind Jesus offering himself for baptism.

Let’s not forget that John’s baptism was one given as a sign of repentence, not saving faith. Yet Jesus, perfect in his humanity as a fully human being whilst maintaining his divinity as fully God, didn’t need to do this.

He choses to do this in order to show God identifies with us. He choses to do this to show Jesus is in unity with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ baptism is an endorsement of His authenticity - Luke 3:22

Luke 3:22 NIVUK84

22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased”, comes the voice from heaven.

The Apostles who journey to Samaria to affirm and confirm that what is happening there as authentic, shows that in our diversity there is unity around the authentic good news of Jesus made manifest through the teaching of the Apostles.

There are no distinctions - there is but one Spirit that unites us all, it is given to us at our conversion when we believe in Jesus, His saving death and resurrection for us, as our only hope in life and death.

If there is any questions for us to ask ourselves in the light of today’s scripture, then perhaps consider these:

Is my faith grounded in the belief of the Authentic Jesus presented in God’s word the bible?

If I have received the Holy Spirit through conversion to that Jesus, am I open to the fullness of His ministry in my life?

What might that look like?

How might I live in community with God’s people without distinction and boundaries as I connect with my brothers and sisters and reach out to my neighbours?

You know, there’s something we can learn from our Catholic and Pentecostal brothers and sisters.

From Catholics we might learn to see that there is something good in seeking to remember that we are connected to the first century church and a faith that is historicand apostolic, one that is grounded in truth, purpose and continuity.

From Pentecostals we might be encouraged and challenged to consider that perhaps we aren’t living as we could be in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. That the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is living in us, a gift form God at our converstion and a seal on all the promises of God yet to be realised.

I just don’t think we need to be creating distinctions and boundaries that don’t exist and I hope that as we reflect on our scriptures today, as a church community in mission, we won’t do that either.

Many of you may have picked up that we had our PCC Vision Day yesterday.

I have to say - you have an awesome PCC.

Our discussions centred mainly on Jesus’ Manifesto as we considered His mission and the purpose of His coming to us.

Luke 4:16–21 NIVUK84

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4 amongst other passages seems to point to a few major themes.

Proclaimation of Good News & Kingdom

Bringing Freedom and Release

Fulfilment of God’s Promises

Death and Resurrection

Redemption

There was much to be thankful for and we considered some of the areas of church life that we would have liked to be a reality but which have ‘not yet’ materialised.

We certainly hope to reveal more as we prepare for our 2022 APCM. But here are a few priorities we have identified - I should say the How is yet to be worked through, but we hope to engage with that when time allows:

Gathered Community

Encourage engagement/interaction

Discipleship - Spirituial Growth

Outreach & Evangelism

St Andrew’s Space

Partnerships

Accessibility - a space for all

Stewardship/Ownership

It seems to me that there is great potential in all those areas flourishing within the St Andrew’s community - the only barriers are the ones that we create.

May we be inspired by the biblical accounts we have read today. May we be a diverse group that is committed to unity around the one risen Lord, gathered, equipped and sent out by the one Spirit to the glory of our heavenly father.