2011 April Clothesline

Greetings to all on 10 APR 2011.

Word for the Day
Discernment - the process of making decisions based on experience, knowledge and wisdom within a normative framework such as the scriptures and common practice (catholicity).

Quote for the Day
A man can come up with some wonderful ideas when he has a business meeting with himself. (old saying from my youth in Florida)

Thought for the Day
Let’s consider the Jerusalem conference described by Luke in Acts 15. You are familiar with the story; Paul and Barnabas come to relate how they have witnessed Gentiles being blessed by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) just as were the Jews. Apparently, some Messianic Jews were teaching that Gentiles had to become Jewish proselytes (or, at least, God-fearers [ACT 10.2, 16.14 et al]) before they could be extended full fellowship.

At this time, Jerusalem was still considered the mother-church and so it was that the meeting was held there. It is worth noting that the meeting seems to have been chaired by James, though, and not Peter. [see also ACT 12.17, 21.17-18] Perhaps several people addressed the issue at hand; we only have a snippet from Paul and Peter. After hearing the various presentations, James renders the verdict that we read in v.19-20, “For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” Everyone seems satisfied and unified, even Paul and Barnabas agree to carry the message back to Antioch. .

Some of you will remember the old comedy classic, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” with Zero Mostel (1966). An isolated reading of Acts 15 leaves the impression that one has just witnessed a watershed court case. Alas, things are not always so simple. A funny thing happened on the way back to the rest of the world.

Have you ever read Galatians 2.1-10? Yes, I know you’ve read it many times, but did it ever click that something wasn’t quite right? You know, the part where Paul says he went up to Jerusalem where “those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.” [2.6]

Apparently, Paul’s “take-away” from this meeting was not exactly what was intended. His words are that they were “to remember the poor.” [2.10] Some preachers will argue that Paul is referring to an earlier meeting, but that seems like a stretch to me, based on my study. Paul did meet with Peter and James about three years after his conversion. [GAL 1.18] The Jerusalem conference occurred between 48 - 50 C.E., more likely the earlier date. Galatians was written circa 50 C.E., which would place the meeting fresh on Paul’s mind.

I have one more piece of evidence to enter. In 1Corinthians 8, Paul addresses the issue of eating meat offered to idols. If the Jerusalem decision was a rule for all places (and time), then wouldn’t Paul have applied it to Corinth? Not only does he not mention it, but says it’s all right to eat the meat if you can do so in good conscience without offending your brother. Paul’s usual approach to discernment favors individual liberty and choices. Only in rare cases like 1 Corinthians 5.1-5 does he give an edict like, “Hand this man over to Satan...” [v.5] By the way, I Corinthians is usually dated at 54 C.E., several years after the Jerusalem conference.

So what is the point of all this? I suggest to you that Luke includes the Jerusalem council episode as a narrative story about the practice of discernment. Nowhere else in the NT do we find such a detailed account of decision making. Luke’s point was not the exact decision, but rather the process which we can still use today.

Despite any denial that we practice discernment today, our traditions belie that claim. In the early years of the Restoration Movement we decided that slavery was acceptable and that women and men should sit on separate sides of the auditorium. In more recent years, most of us recanted our traditional views regarding divorced people. Even now, many churches are discerning equality between men and women.

We have the Ruach HaKodesh (HS) within us, just as the first Christians, to empower and enable us to lead the church through changing times and cultures. The Jerusalem model is communal, so that differing views can be considered and allow arrival at a consensus. It is based on listening to how the Ruach HaKodesh is at work in the lives of people. It is grounded in the text and bounded by catholicity. Finally, it is not a one-size-fits-all rule forever. Each generation must reexamine anew the traditions handed down to them.

May God Bless
Mike Toole
Lori Moores, ed.

Note: Although I avoided footnotes, credit goes to Luke Timothy Johnson’s book Scripture & Discernment: Decision Making In The Church. Abingdon Press, Nashville TN, 1983.