Peter, Paradigm Shifting, and Inclusiveness

In chapter 10 of the Book of Acts, we see Cornelius, a Gentile and Roman officer; experience a visitation from God by way of a vision. In the vision, he is encouraged to call upon the Apostle Peter to come to his house and teach him and his family all that Peter has learned from Jesus (vv. 1-8, 33). Meanwhile, Peter is having a different kind of vision from the Lord. His vision includes a large sheet and many different types of animals typically thought of as unclean to practicing Jews. However, the Lord tells Peter that what He, God, has cleansed, is not to be considered unclean.

As this drama unfolds, Peter is standing front and center in the home of Cornelius and his family teaching them about salvation in Jesus Christ. To Peter’s astonishment, they all accept the free gift of salvation by believing on the name of Jesus Christ. The reason Peter knew this was because “the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word” (v. 44, ESV). God then and there confirmed to Peter that He was, is, and always will be the God all, not just the God of Israel.

However, as we read in Chapter 11, the leadership of the young and emerging churched birthed in Christ were not convinced; and when Peter appeared to them, they grilled him on how could such a thing as Gentiles being baptized be ordained of God. Peter gave an eloquent defense, concluding with the following:

“If therefore God gave them  the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

When they heard these things they became silent; and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” (Peter to the apostles and brethren in Jerusalem and their response, Acts 11:17-18, NKJV).

Silence and the work of the Spirit

I picture significant soul-searching and prayer going on in the phrase, “they became silent.” What Peter spoke to these men was a seismic paradigm shift; even though they had already witnessed Jesus reaching out to the Gentiles while in His earthly ministry, they still held to their old notions of exclusivity. These men had significant leadership responsibility in the emerging church and they wanted to do their best; but upon hearing Peter’s account they had to stop and deeply consider the serious implications of his words.

I imagine they were thinking something like this, “Could it really be true that those we’ve called ‘dogs’ are now part of the family?”  To agree with Peter meant inviting…them…into the very heart of life with God. But in that gap of silence it appears that the Lord filled these men with many words of confirmation, so much so, this record closes with cheerful expression of glorifying God (11:18).

My View vs. God's View
This record leads me to ask, “How does this apply to my Twenty First Century life?” It reminds me of the many times I have said to myself and to others, “Boy, if he’d just believe he’d be a great Christian.” Such a phrase has usually been applied to someone who is, frankly, like me; talk about exclusivity! Thankfully I have recognized this trait and have made strides of change. Besides, who am I to judge what a “great Christian” is or is not; no one except the Lord foresaw Paul and his conversion and subsequent impact for the Kingdom. Clearly this record shows that holding to notions of heritage or similarity as determiners of who will or won’t be in God’s family is absurd and ungodly. The early leaders of the church quickly recognized this and, as this record indicates, glorified God for His grace and mercy being extended beyond their original expectations. They had courage to respond positively to God, so we must as well.

God and Cultural Diversity

I’ve been away from blogging for awhile because I have again enrolled in Seminary, now I am at Corban University, School of Ministry. I just finished my first semester, and it appears I fared okay. Anyway, one of the assignments in my Ministering Cross-Culturally class was to speak about our impressions of a passage in Revelation 5.

⁹ And they sang a new song:

“You are worthy to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

because you were slain,

and with your blood you purchased men for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation.

¹⁰ You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

and they will reign on the earth.” ^(NIV)

All From Everywhere

While I don’t want to be trite I can’t help but invoke the tune “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe. The gathering described in this section is beyond imagination and instills in me a deep sense of awe and worship. As I think that one day I will be able to worship the Lamb is staggering; what’s more, is thinking about how I will be worshipping with my fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord—astounding! Perhaps this is the core message of the genuine value of cultural diversity, that not only are we all made in the image of God, but that He wills that we are all saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). While not all will be saved, the picture is that God desires that they all be saved, and by “they” I mean all from everywhere, no respecter of persons, no hand-picking, no discrimination, no socioeconomic assessment and on and on….

An inclusive God is patiently waiting to have His family gathered at His throne, what are we (what am I) doing to facilitate that awesome and glorious gathering? And right now, even today, I may very well be the conduit of the Lord that draws another into the family to be at that great and glorious gathering. What, if anything, is standing in the way of me being that conduit? If there is anything standing in the way, eradicate it so one more soul can sing alongside me, “Worthy is the Lamb!”