Table Matters

(Illustration)Have you ever taken a trip that should have taken a short time, but ended up taking a lot longer than it should have? I remember visiting the city of Los Angeles for the first time. It’s one of the most famous cities in the US, if not the world. It’s the city where the Hollywood stars live, and the Hollywood hopefuls flock.

I just wanted to explore the city. But as I made my way from Redlands/Loma Linda area into the city we were confronted by miles and and miles of traffic. It was stop and go as far as the eye could see. It didn’t bother me at first, but then after the first hour, I started to get restless. Thirty minutes later, I lost all desire to explore LA and wanted to turn around.

How can one maintain a desire to continue when there were so many obstacles in the way?

(Transition)Do we do the same thing when it comes to ministry and mission? Is it possible that people who are interested in exploring what it means to follow Jesus can lose their desire to do so because of the obstacles that we place in the way?

Body

The book of Acts records the opening chapter of the Christian movement. After Christ ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit was poured out among His Disciples, and the Gospel spread from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and onward. The Apostle Paul, formerly Saul the Pharisee and persecutor of the early church, was instrumental in the spread of the Gospel among the Gentiles.

Many Gentiles accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior, and soon, churches began to sprout in Asia Minor and Europe. While that should have brought great joy amongst the still small group of Christians in the world, this influx of Gentles caused a great deal of dissension. What was going on?

Acts 15:1–2 ESV

1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 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 the apostles and the elders about this question.

These men were Christian Jews that Paul referred to as Judaizers. They believed and taught that unless you were circumcised, adopted the customs of Moses, basically, become a Jew, you could not be saved. This caused “dissension and no small debate,” between them and Paul and Barnabas. If you want to read more details on their conflict, look into the book of Galatians. From reading that book, you’ll see that this wasn’t simply a dissension, but an argument that was ready to blow up into a riot.

One could say that they were polarized in their positions, unlike today. There’s no conflict in the church today.

(Illustration) When I was serving at Camp Meeting, a fellow pastor mentioned that church conflict is “new.” Back in his father’s day, there was no conflict in the church. I thought he was kidding, but he was being serious. With apologies to my brother pastor, what world does he live in? There has always been conflict in the church!

It’s not the fact that we have conflict - the fact that we are humans means that we will have disagreements and conflict. For those of us that follow Christ, the key is how we work through that conflict. In order to address this conflict, Paul, Barnabas, and other representatives were sent to Jerusalem to join other leaders to work towards a solution.

Acts 15:4–5 ESV

4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

The party of the Pharisees (yes Pharisees did become followers of Jesus), presented their case that it was necessary for Gentile Christians to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. While we are quick to castigate the Pharisees, we must understand their perspective. The first Christians were Jews, and retained their practices and prejudices. Their customs blended into their identity. If those were disregarded, that would be lost. Custom and ritual become bound with the law, and if disregarded, it would be the breaking of the law.

Acts (A. Motion (vv. 1–5))

The Judaizers had tradition on their side. Jews had been welcoming Gentiles into the faith for hundreds of years; the procedure was well fixed. Since Christianity was just a messianic branch of Judaism at this time, why should the rules change? Why should they back away from requiring circumcision and the keeping of the Mosaic law

But circumcision doesn’t save. Christ does.

Ritual doesn’t save. Relationship to Christ does.

Keeping the law doesn’t save. Being saved leads us to keep the law.

Peter then stands up. Not as a leader, but as a missionary-delegate.

Acts 15:6–11 ESV

6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

Peter, like many of the delegates to this conference, were teachers and missionaries. That was intentional and necessary because those who are actually engaged in ministry will work towards solutions. They don’t debate just to debate. They don’t want to win, own, or destroy the other side. They want to work in unity for the sake of the mission.

Peter recounts his experience - how God had to give him a vision three times in order for him to visit Cornelius! He recounted how the Holy Spirit was gifted to the Gentile believers as readily as it had fallen on them. He recognized that God does not make a distinction between Jews and Gentiles. He does not save because of race, class, or denomination.

We are saved through grace.

(Lyrics from Marvelous Grace) Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Acts 15:12–19 ESV

12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 “ ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’ 19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,

They listened. What a concept! They didn’t interrupt or grumble - they listened to the testimonies of how God had been working through Barnabas and Paul. After they were done, James, known as the Just, and leader of the Jerusalem Council spoke up. He went to Scripture (Isaiah 45:21) and applied, another principle we would be wise to follow.

Acts C. Action (vv. 12–21)

Rather than allowing the question “How did those Gentiles get in?” James insists rather on pressing the question “What is God doing?”

Acts of the Apostles Chapter 19—Jew and Gentile

James sought to impress the minds of his brethren with the fact that, in turning to God, the Gentiles had made a great change in their lives and that much caution should be used not to trouble them with perplexing and doubtful questions of minor importance, lest they be discouraged in following Christ

Acts 15:19 ESV

19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,

James tells the gathered leaders and representatives that we should not further trouble, cause difficulty, or place unnecessary obstacles, in the way of those who are turning to God. This is a present participle in Greek, which means that they were not to make it difficult for those who were in the process of turning to God.

In other words, those of us who by choice have accepted Christ and live under His lordship, should not cause a traffic jam for those who are still, turning to Him.

James wanted the brethren to recognize that the Gentiles had already made a great change in their lives in even turning to God. They renounced their pagan gods, their cultural religions, perhaps lost family and status in their communities, and you want to bar their way to Christ?

(Illustration) Sometimes I wonder if any of us remember what it was like before Christ. Like some of you, I grew up in the church. I don’t have a conversion story where I was outside the church and God brought in. I was the son that stayed in the father’s house but was still a prodigal. I was quick to point out the wrongs of others - proud that was in the church, and yet, gave no one the same grace that God had given me.

Does anyone remember what it was like to be plucked out of lives that were heading in the wrong direction?

Perhaps someone here remembers what it who could not see that they were a Pharisee but recognized that had it not been for grace, we too would have been lost?

So do we just, let people do what they want? No. Keep reading.

Acts 15:19–21 ESV

19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

All four of these directives were for the sole purpose of bringing down the barriers of fellowship. The Jewish Christians would not associate with Gentile Christians that practiced those things. They both had to make concessions so that they could come together - and if they could not come together at the table, nothing would change.

The table matters

Why does the table matter? The table was where people came together not just to eat, but to fellowship, to share, to learn, to grow together.

The Jewish Christians were to love their Gentile brethren, bring them into their homes, and teach them. Together, they would grow in unity with Christ and one another.

If they could not come together at the table, then they would stay in their groups. Listening to their echo chambers. Unwilling and unable to be challenged.

Have we done the same? When we sit at our potlucks do we only sit with those who we agree with? When you invite people to your homes for dinner, do you only invite your friends or your favorite church members?

Is there space at your table for someone who is turning to the Lord who does not have everything together? Perhaps they don’t eat or dress the way you think they should. Are they welcome at your table? Or will they have to shape up in order to get an invitation?

People of God, the table matters.

The table mattered to Jesus - that’s why He was called a glutton because he was always having meals with people.

The table mattered to Jesus because all welcome to the table.

Ask Mary Magdalene.

Ask Judas Iscariot.

You know who they are. So did Jesus, and they were still welcome at his table, why? Because the table matters.

There was a time when people said we couldn’t come to the table, but thank God, that Jesus did not make it difficult.

Appeal

The table matters. Despite everything that’s happening, people are still turning to God. I’m not just talking about those on the outside, but those who attend church and STILL don’t know him.

Maybe there’s someone in here that really wants to follow him, but people have been causing a traffic jam - placing difficulties in your way to keep you from the table.

You’re welcome at Jesus’ table.

Matthew 11:29 ESV

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

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