LETTING GO AND REACHING OUT

 

      We have a tendency to read the first few chapters of the book of Acts with the feeling that the early church had smooth sailing in matters of unity and relationships with each other. But as we continue reading, we see that differences in opinion and struggles with who would be included within the new church soon became apparent. Many of the apostolic leaders, including Peter, insisted that those outside the Jewish tradition must first convert to Judaism with all of its laws and dietary restrictions before “joining” the Christian church.

      God changed Peter’s thinking and the direction of the church with an intriguing vision given to Peter in Acts, the first eighteen verses of the eleventh chapter. I encourage you to read past the symbolism of the animals in the story in order to realize what God is telling each of us.

      Earlier this evening, I sat in a community forum made up of concerned citizens, law enforcement agencies, court officials, and health care providers. We listened to the shocking statistics of how prescription drug abuse has become an epidemic in our county and in our part of North Carolina. As I tried to grasp the enormity of the problem, my mind kept coming back to the story of Peter’s vision. So, I asked myself, “What is the connection between this early church vision and the social problems like drug abuse that we face today? And where is today’s church in this story? Where am I?”

      Peter had placed a wall between the gospel and those who needed to hear. So God sent to Peter a vision. It took away boundaries that had prevented him from being completely surrendered to God’s work of spreading the gospel to all people. Peter began to preach to any and all who would listen regardless of race, customs, economic or social status. And when Peter told the church back in Jerusalem about the vision and how it had changed his thinking, the mission of the church was completely re-thought.

      It becomes clear that Peter’s vision is not actually about different animals, clean or unclean. It is about people, about gathering people into Jesus’ presence, and about not making a difference. I think this story is a kind of parable for each of us, as well as, for God’s church. Whenever boundaries are broken, walls torn down, whenever “the other person” is embraced by believers within the church, then that is a “God thing.” Someone has obeyed the vision.

      Back at the drug awareness forum, I became acutely conscious of the need for Jesus’ church to be found in the center of this story. This kind of abuse is not just a problem for law enforcement, health providers, school official, and parents, but this is a “church” problem. Maybe it is time for us to let go of the comfortable places we have made in our churches, and reach out across our county and the region asking the question, “What can I do?”

      The exciting thing about all this is that we as God’s church, as the body of Christ have a mission. And that mission is revealed to us by a vision; a vision to become witnesses of Jesus in order to make disciples whoever they are and wherever they can be found. God tells us the same thing he told Peter, “Whoever I have cleaned up and accepted, no one has the right to call dirty and unacceptable.”

      Despite all the negative circumstances and problems in our world and even in our lives today, it is a great time to be a disciple of Jesus. There are so many people who are waiting for us to talk to them, to share with them, and to love them. Relationships come when the barriers and boundaries are taken down, then we watch God work miracles in our lives and in our churches. Let’s let go and reach out.

 

Rev Tim McConnell Long’s Chapel UMC April 21, 2013