Add-on Christianity

Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages:
Acts 13	Acts 14	Acts 15	Genesis 29	Genesis 30

The Jerusalem Council, an account of which is found in Acts chapter 15, is an example of man's perpetual need to put the things of God on his own terms. Terms that make sense to him. It didn't make sense to some of the Jewish Christians that a practice required of them for centuries should not still be required. When they learned of Gentiles receiving Christ and being added to the Church without the requirement of circumcision they were appalled. Peter stood up among them and said, "we believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus." That was it. Nothing more.

No doubt those who thought circumcision should be required would agree with Peter, and then they would add a "but . . . ." In so doing, they ignored that the Gentiles had not only believed as had they, but had also been given the Holy Spirit as evidence of their belief, also as had the Jewish Christians. This wasn't enough for these legalists. Requiring circumcision was not a logical expectation but an emotional one, and fortunately, wiser voices prevailed.

I fear, though, that this practice of adding requirements for salvation continues. Jesus and only Jesus just doesn't seem to be enough for some. They want to add other requirements that validates a person's salvation to them. And if this person takes on practices similar to their own, they feel the person is validated. For these Jews in Paul's day it was circumcision. It made them feel the new converts were legitimate. For us it will be other things. Maybe the way the person dresses or opinions they may hold that are unlike our own. For some, it may even be the political opinions of the person. Never mind the transformation of their hearts and minds that has taken place. We want them to look like us and think like us plus maybe a few other things.

When Peter went to the home of Cornelius and ate with him, an uncircumcised man, the Jews later challenged him on it. But Peter replied, "if God gave them the same gift (of the Holy Spirit) that He also gave to us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?" And there it is, plain and simple. God validated these Gentiles and that should be enough. We are asked to love, not to judge. God is quite up to the task of judging without our help