I realize this is overdue, and I apologize to you who have come and seen the same post for nearly two months. I have some other things to post, but I want to finish this series on conflict first.
Acts 15:3-6
The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them:
I’m big on diversity. I consider it one of the marks of church health. But the blessing of diverse perspectives is also a curse from time to time. This is important to understand, because that means that conflict is not necessarily a sign of sickness. It is a sign of diversity.
In these few verses you have the views of the Phoenician and Samarian Christians represented: they were glad. This is to be expected since they were in a very similar situation as the Gentiles. You also have the views of the Pharisee Christians*. They demand circumcision and submission to the Law. This is also expected as they would represent the most Jewish portion of the church. Seemingly everyone who would want input gets it. All sides get their say. The apostles and elders then discuss the arguments.
So, it was diversity that allowed for such conflict. You bring Samaritans and Pharisees and conflict will arise. But these followers learned that this is not something to be feared. After all, he brought together a Zealot and a tax collector to be among his twelve.
Instead of fearing it, they seemed to embrace it. The decision happened among the leadership, but not without hearing the various arguments first. Everyone got a voice.
The humility to listen is necessary for leading diverse people through conflict.
1 comment:
I left an "*" behind the term Pharisee Christian. I meant to leave footnote but forgot. So, I'm leaving a comment instead.
I used to hold a somewhat one-dimmmensional view of Pharisees. I've thought of them as the bad guy. They were Jesus-hating, legalistic hypocrites. But here they have a home in the church. And even though they are once again on the wrong side of the debate, they have a voice among God's people and are heard.
Maybe we have sold them short.
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