Copyright © S P Townsend
DCF - Sunday Evening Service
11 February 1990
Acts 15 v 1 - 35
Dealing with Disagreements
The Christian Church depended very heavily in the first years on the teaching of the leading Apostles, much of which initially was passed on by word of mouth. Later on the written gospels and the apostolic letters were circulated, and this provided disciples with a more reliable record of the Apostles' teaching. During the first few years groups of disciples were vulnerable to mis-informed or deliberately misleading teaching offered by travellers from distant parts claiming to speak with apostolic authority. And there were also some topics about which even church leaders were confused. This passage is concerned with a topic which was confusing the church at Antioch - the church to which Paul and Barnabas had returned from their mission to Cyprus and Galatia.
The problem was basically this: should the non-Jewish people who had become disciples of Jesus also become Jews? To become Jews they would have to obey the law of Moses, and the men would have to go through a special initiation ceremony called circumcision. And if the non-Jewish people didn't do this were they really Christians at all? Some of the Christian Jews with a strict background said, "Yes, every Christian convert must also become a Jew, otherwise they are not saved." Other people said, "You don't have to become a Jew to be a disciple of Jesus." And so a disagreement arose in the church at Antioch.
Paul and Barnabas along with others were appointed to go to Jerusalem to seek the advice of the church leaders there. At Jerusalem a council was called to discuss the matter and come to a decision. Then Paul and Barnabas were sent back with representatives from the Jerusalem church carrying a letter with the decision of the apostles and elders. Basically their answer was, "No you don't have to become Jews to be saved, but you ought to take notice of the law of Moses, since it makes provision for spiritual, physical and moral health."
• This one came about because travellers from another area came with a new teaching that conflicted with that of the church leaders at Antioch. It was not an explicitly anti-Christian teaching, but it did add something extra to the gospel as the leaders understood it.
• Today common ways for conflicting teachings to arise are through books that we read, or videos that we watch, or other meetings that we attend. The danger signs are when feelings of dissatisfaction are allowed to build up, and are expressed within small groups, rather than to the leadership directly.
• Such disagreements, when not dealt with, result in one group of people saying to the church leadership, "You are not teaching certain things that are essential for Christians to know" and, "You are not doing certain things that are essential for Christians to do."
Dissatisfaction is inevitable, indeed is often a healthy sign of spiritual growth. And differences in background, emphasis and approach will undoubtedly cause some of us to disagree with others. And we all succumb to temptation from time to time. So the emphasis should not be on preventing disagreements, but rather on resolving them before they cause major damage.
• Discussion and debate (v2,6,7). Firmly based on the Word of God. Often the whole question is resolved completely in this way. Even if not, it is brought into the open, exposed to the light, and not allowed to ferment in the darkness. Often problems of attitude and personality are revealed, which can be acknowledged and dealt with separately.
• Honest and unprejudiced approach. Notice that the church leaders at Antioch didn't try to give a false image of omniscience. Nor did they trivialise the question and attempt to ignore it. Nor did they say, "Well, we're right and that's the end of the matter." Paul and Barnabas tried to convince the others by debating it with them, but when this failed another course of action was adopted.
• Being prepared to be wrong. There will be a possibility that one group, or the other (or even both) is wrong. But both positions may contain some truth. Disagreements don't often get resolved very quickly, if at all, unless this is recognised.
•
Seeking guidance from others.
When the disagreement was not resolved, the church at Antioch asked for help
from the leaders in Jerusalem whose authority they recognised.
Such a call requires humility.
They weren't ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help in this way.
• Recognising the will of the Holy Spirit. At the Council in Jerusalem, after hearing all who felt they had a contribution about the matter, James, as the overall leader of the church there, gave his judgement. They all recognised that James was voicing the judgement of the Holy Spirit, and were prepared to obey. Here is the dimension that is missing from modern industrial disputes. The firm conviction that the Lord, by His Spirit, will and does guide His people when they come humbly before Him in an attitude of faith and obedience. Notice how they expected that the Lord's will would be revealed through the ordained leaders. This requires (1) complete openness and submission to the Lord on the part of the leaders, and (2) complete submission to the leaders, as unto the Lord, on the part of the rest of the people.
• Communication. The church at Jerusalem wrote a letter, sent leaders with it, and made sure all concerned knew the decision. Sometimes problems fail to get resolved merely because of breakdowns in administration and communication. Never underestimate the part that swift and accurate comnmunication can play in defusing explosive situations.
• Problems we face may be problems for others as well. By involving others in the problem, a much wider group can benefit from the solution.
• Everyone can be encouraged and strengthened by the fellowship that comes about through sharing problems (v 31-34).
• The whole church is forced to recognise the frailty of human reasoning, and is thus encouraged to depend more fully on God's grace. WHAT DID THIS PARTICULAR SOLUTION MEAN?
• It meant that the Gentile Christians, along with us today, did not have to become Jews as well as becoming Christians in order to be saved.
• It recognised that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, and by nothing else - not by joining a religious group, not by doing good works, not by keeping the law, but only by His grace as we put our faith in Him.
• It meant that Christians recognised God's law as given to Moses, not as the means by which they could be saved, but as the pattern for living the Jesus life.
• It meant that letters were written to distant churches that explained the wonder of salvation by grace through faith, and not by works, and that these letters would be available for the blessing of all generations of believers.
Think of a major disagreement that has arisen in the past in your home, in a previous church, or in the Fellowship.
1. What was it about, and how did it arise?
2. Was it ever resolved, and if so how? Look at each of the points in section 2 above - were these present as attempts were made to resolve the problem?
3. Can you identify any blessings that arose particularly through the means used to resolve the problem?
Copyright © S P Townsend