Does Acts 15 Provide a Good Model for Handling Theological Differences?
Ever wonder how the arguments might have sounded when the Council of Jerusalem took up the issue of circumcision and whether those uncircumcised (namely Gentiles) could be part of the new church?
“It has always been taught this way since God covenanted with our father Abraham. How can we reject such a central tenet of our faith? Did not God command circumcision for every Jew and every foreigner in our house? And did he not call it an ‘everlasting’ covenant (Gen 17:13)? How can we just drop something like this?”While such debates are not surprising, I find the council’s response to be quite so. James states, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” In what only can be described as a shocking departure from the law and Jewish tradition, James is saying circumcision should not be required. But, he continues, in deference to the Jews among them, the Gentile converts should abstain from food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, and from eating meat with the blood still in it. In essence, he is saying neither Gentile nor Jew should make it too difficult to live in community with each other.The council agrees. But, notice the basis for their judgment!The council did not base their decision on Scripture. Rather, in their letter to the Antioch church, the council says: “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” not to set impossible standards or hurdles for either side in the dispute. Pause here for a minute. Do you wonder how the Holy Spirit and the council made this decision? Did someone point out that Jeremiah talked of heart circumcision? Were they just captured by the powerful stories of Gentile conversion?Should we use the same techniques to resolve doctrinal disputes?Does this decision-making process offer instruction to the modern church?How about this…“Let’s not make it too hard for those who sanction believer baptism and paedobaptists to be in community together. Be kind to each other, don’t lord your position over each other.”Or,Let’s not make it too hard for those who are pre and post millenial to be in community.I could go on. How about Calvinists and Arminians? Those who sanction Saturday night vs. Sunday morning worship? etc.Or was there something unique about the Council of Jerusalem?I imagine we might find Acts 15 informative for lesser church culture differences (e.g., styles of worship, bible translations, and denominational priorities). But notice that the Acts 15 conflict was not a peripheral dispute. What was at stake was a long held direct command from the Lord.Might we use a similar method today to resolve more central differences such as that of ordaining women for ministry? Might we follow this pattern to answer the question about same sex marriage?What would be your argument for or against this model?Argument for: Clearly, God’s people must listen to the Spirit and the Spirit is found in the people of God. But, God throws some surprising curves at his people. If Old Testament teachings can be set aside (relaxed) by New Testament ones, can even some of the New Testament teachings be superseded because they are steeped in culture of the day. Just as David is allowed to eat the bread of presence and just as Paul further relaxes the restrictions on food sacrificed to idols, so God’s people may find the Spirit guides them to alter some long held rules.Argument against: During the Jerusalem Council, the canon was still being formed. The Apostles were tasked by God to shape post-resurrection life for followers of Jesus. Once the Apostles completed their work (as depicted in the New Testament canonical books, we must stick only to the received text. The Spirit is in the text.How would you respond? Does the decision making process of the Council of Jerusalem teach us how to approach hard decisions?Philip G. Monroe, PsyD is Professor of Counseling & Psychology at Biblical Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania - http://www.biblical.edu/ - and he directs the Global Trauma Recovery Institute - http://globaltraumarecovery.org/ . He will be a plenary speaker at the WRF Conference on Human Trafficking and Sexual Abuse in Potschefstroom, South Africa, from October 16 through October 19, 2013. Dr. Monroe may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .