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Week Nineteen, Day One

Acts 21: 17-26

After his many adventures in Greece, Paul returns to Jerusalem. He has been gone for at least three years, but word of his work had spread—true words and false words.

His first act is to meet with Steven and the elders to give a complete report. They were excited about all the good things that had been happening, but they were also concerned. Rumors had spread that Paul had been going around teaching the Jews that they no longer needed to obey the law. While it was true that Paul taught the new Gentile Christians that their salvation did not come though obedience to the law, he had not tried to persuade Jewish believers to abandon their traditions.

The elders, leadership and original leaders, and even Paul himself, all were Jewish. A natural tension was beginning to arise because the overwhelming majority of the new converts were not.

Several times in my ministry, I have been the pastor of a church that grew. The new members eventually outnumbered the old guard. For several years, though, the longtime members held all the power, made all the decisions, and set the agenda. The longtime members welcomed the newcomers because they gave the church new life and hope for a future. Still, they generally found it difficult to change how things had always been done. The new folks arrived with great enthusiasm and excitement, but little regard for tradition. It is a challenging dynamic to navigate. The issues are much more subtle and complex than I have just described, and, as a result, there are misunderstandings because of the complexity.

So, too, when Paul arrived back in Jerusalem, the elders are very happy to hear about what Paul is doing, but it is easy to see how the fine line he was walking led to misunderstandings and rumors. As a result, the elders sought a compromise, and Paul agreed. He and four other believers would submit to the rite of purification. In doing this publically, everyone would see that he hadn't abandoned his heritage and traditions and he still obeyed the Jewish law.

The trouble was the issue was complicated and didn't lend itself to simplistic symbolic acts. This compromise ended badly, as we will see tomorrow. For today, our lesson might be to remember that:

•  We shouldn't be surprised when our good deeds get misconstrued or distorted;
•  Rumors can only be dealt with directly and with the truth; and
•  Life is more complex than sound bites or bumper stickers. Conflicts must be resolved in community with direct communication. Even then, change is tough.

Blessings,

Michael Piazza
President, Hope for Peace & Justice

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