God's Grace in the
Midst of Conflict
Isaiah 45:11-13, 18-19
Psalm 33:1-8, 18-22
Acts 11:19-30
John 15:9-17
Tim
Christoffersen
St. Anselm’s
May 28, 2000
"Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place
over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke
the word to no one except the Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus
and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks also, proclaiming
the lord Jesus. The hand of the lord was with them, and a great number became
believers and turned to the lord."
Those who were scattered were the Greek speaking Jews and they are shocked
that God’s grace is available to the Gentiles. Behind this surprising
gift of grace to the Gentiles in Antioch there is a deep conflict within the
community of Jews who have professed their faith in Jesus as Lord.
On the one side of the conflict were the Greek speaking Jews or Hellenists.
These Jews were descendents of those who had been scattered in the Diaspora
that happened after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple
four centuries earlier under Nebuchadnezzar. They lived throughout the Middle
East where Greek became the dominant language as a result of the empire of
Alexander the Great and his provincial successors. These Jews did not have
a physical place of worship and they had no allegiance to Jerusalem.
When Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin, just before he was condemned
and stoned to death, he said, "The Most High does not live in houses
made by man." The Hellenists understood their faith in Jesus as Lord
outside of the synagogue and the temple sacrifices.
The Aramaic speaking Jews included Peter and the other apostles as well as
James and the elders in the Jerusalem church. They were descendents of those
Jews who stayed in Jerusalem or the Palestine area after the destruction of
the Temple and the fall of Jerusalem. The Temple was rebuilt under Ezra and
Nehemiah and Temple sacrifices were important in the time of Jesus and the
Aramaic Jews understood their faith in Jesus as Lord in the context of the
synagogue and the Temple sacrifices.
The Aramaic Jews hatred the Romans who occupied Jerusalem and Palestine and
the hatred reached the boiling point within several decades after today’s
reading when the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in A.D. 70
One sign of the conflict between the two camps was the appointment of the
Seven in Acts 6. The Seven were all Hellenists and included Stephen and Philipp.
The occasion of their appointment by the apostles and disciples was the Hellenists
belief that their widows were not receiving fair treatment.
After the death of Stephen, Luke tells us that a great persecution broke out
and the Hellenists were scattered. But Luke also tells us that the apostles
remained in Jerusalem. Most scholars believe the persecution was directed
against the Hellenist Jews. These Greek speaking followers of Jesus began
carrying out a powerful missionary activity by the time of the surprising
conversion of the Gentiles in today’s reading.
To complete the picture of conflict and the turmoil caused by God’s grace
being granted to the Gentiles, we need to recall the story of Peter and the
household of Cornelius, a Gentile, told in Acts 10, the chapter prior to today’s
reading. Cornelius is a Roman centurion who lives in Caesarea. Peter, we remember
is an Aramaic Jew and they hate the Romans especially the occupying soldiers.
Cornelius was a God fearing man who prayed regularly and gave generously to
those in need. Cornelius had a vision in which an angel of God told him to
send for Peter who was staying in the house of Simon the tanner near the Mediterranean
sea outside Joppa.
At the same time that the servants of Cornelius and a soldier were on their
way to Peter, Peter had a vision in which he saw a white sheet coming down
from heaven. On it he saw many unclean animals and reptiles. He heard a voice
telling him "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." Peter replied,
"surely not, I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
The voice spoke to Peter a second time and said, "Do not call anything
impure that God has made."
The next day as Peter is testifying to them, the Holy Spirit comes upon Cornelius
and his entire household. The circumcised Jews who are with Peter are astonished
that the Holy Spirit is poured out on them as they speak in tongues praising
God. Peter says, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized
with the water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have".
So Peter baptized them all in the name of Jesus Christ.
Peter then returns to Jerusalem and has to defend his actions. The circumcised
believers say to Peter "You went into the house of uncircumcised men
and ate with them?" Peter tells his story and when he has finished
they say, "So then, God has even granted the Gentiles repentance unto
life."
The grace of God usually catches us by surprise. Change happens when we least
expect it. We believe we will receive the Holy Spirit when we are baptized.
In the story of Cornelius, God’s grace surprises both Peter and us. The
Holy Spirit comes upon Cornelius and his household first and then Peter
feels he has no alternative but to baptize them.
And out of this simmering conflict between the Greek speaking believers and
the Aramaic-speaking believers, God’s grace is given to the Gentiles
and they profess Jesus as Lord.
We can certainly look around the world today at the body of Christ and see
plenty of conflict. We see conflict within our own Anglican tradition. Even
within the Episcopal Church in our own country we have plenty of conflict!
On a more personal level, we all face conflicts. It may be conflict with a
neighbor or a coworker. Some may be experiencing conflict over the claims
of the family versus the demands of our employer.
An unanticipated change happened to Susan and I about two years ago that we
believe was the result of God’s grace. I worked in Silicon Valley and
the commute over the Sunol grade had reached an hour and a half on many days.
I was talking about retiring because I did not want to face that commute.
Susan wanted to keep me working and suggested I get a little apartment and
stay in San Jose most nights during the week. I did. But I did not get a phone
or a TV. I spend quiet evenings reading the Bible, praying and listening to
gospel music on a boom box. The outcome was I slowly realized God was calling
me to pursue ordination. So in an unexpected way, I did retire. Susan was
certainly surprised and quite frankly so was I.
I believe the words of Jesus in today’s gospel reading unambiguously
tell you and I how to respond to conflicts and the changes that happen and
will continue to happen.
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved
you. You are my friends if you do what I command you"
Jesus does not say "I would really appreciate it if you would love
one another as I have loved you."
We are called to be open and responsive to God’s grace in the midst of
conflict and change and to love one another as Christ loved us.
AMEN.
