Today's Scripture Reading (March 15, 2024): Acts 15
Barnabas and
Paul had a disagreement over Mark, so Barnabas took Mark to Cypress, and the
two of them ministered there. Paul took Silas and another young man named
Timothy, and the three of them ministered in Asia. Paul and Barnabas, even
through the disagreement, remained friends. In fact, according to some of Paul's
letters, Mark eventually joined him, and he came to admire and value this young
man. And the gospel was advanced because God's grace won the argument.
I have to admit that I am afraid for the North
American Church. I am not sure that we are allowing God's grace to work in our
churches so that we have a chance to win the argument. Instead, we demonize
each other, and our circles of influence get smaller and smaller.
Many years
ago, a church hosted an "Ask Anything Day." They invited their
congregation one Sunday morning to ask anything of their Pastor. And they did.
Their Pastor took the time to talk about theology, belief systems, and the
current direction of the church, all from actual questions asked by those who
come to church for a Sunday worship service. Their Pastor didn't get all of his
answers right. In response to one question, he said the Indianapolis Colts
would win the football game that day because of Peyton Manning (as I stated,
this was many years ago). The Pastor got the outcome wrong, but the reason
right: on this day the Colts lost because of Peyton Manning.
But it was an
excellent time for a pastor to meet with his Sunday Morning Congregation and
answer the questions on the minds of his people. Not everyone was thrilled with
the opportunity. Someone chastised the church for the sin they had committed by
allowing a Pastor to step into the pulpit unprepared. But I don't think the Pastor
was unprepared, although I wouldn't advise every Pastor to step into the pulpit
and answer questions. I don't believe all of us could do it effectively. And some
people wouldn't enjoy a "question and answer" period for the morning
message. But I think saying that the service was a form of sin is more than a
little over the top.
What would
have happened had Paul told Barnabas that Barnabas's trip to Cyprus with Mark
was a sin because Paul wasn't involved with it? I think I know. I believe the
church would have died because God's grace wouldn't have had a chance to move.
Author Jeff
Shinabarger walked into his house a few months after he moved in, and
everything was a mess. Drawers were turned upside down. He noticed a broken
window and glass everywhere. Among the missing was the new Mac Notebook he had
just bought for his wife and some older computers.
Jeff fixed
the window and had coffee with one of his neighbors that night. He felt
violated. His first question to his neighbor was, "Has your house ever
been broken into." The reply he received was that his house had been
broken into four times the previous year.
Jeff sat and
stared at his new friend. He hadn't been prepared for the response or ready for
the next question. Jeff's new neighbor asked, "So, are you moving?"
Jeff shook
his head. "No. But I am going to need to get the window fixed."
His neighbor replied
with a smile, "Welcome to the neighborhood."
He was the
first one to welcome him. Is it possible that we have to go through the
intersections with people different from us for genuine faith to grow? We need
to offer grace even when grace seems inappropriate, and sometimes conflict is
unavoidable, but that grace can help us move into a future that we can share
together. Intersections are essential in life because it is there that we find
real encouragement. What are you doing with your intersections?
Oh, and by
the way, Welcome to the neighborhood.
Tomorrow's Scripture
Reading: Acts 16
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