Acts 15 and Unity Today
(Editorial - December 2001)
As announced in the letter below, sometime in December, God willing, every Christadelphian ecclesia in North America, both in the Central and Unamended communities, will receive a packet containing enough copies of the North American Statement of Understanding for each member to have a copy. This statement is the product of years of earnest discussion on the part of brethren in both communities in Ontario and the Mid-west states. They have organized their discussions around four key topics and have arrived at a mutually satisfactory position which is contained in the NASU. Brethren from ecclesias in the Mid-Atlantic area are also involved in this process and have completed discussion of the first three NASU topics. They have held discussions of the fourth topic, with plans for a final joint discussion in the near future, God willing. We urge your careful, prayerful and positive consideration of the NASU. We do so in the light of the scriptural guidance given us in Acts 15.
The setting then and now
The first missionary journey had resulted in a great wave of Gentile believers and the
establishment of many new ecclesias consisting mainly of converts from paganism. These
converts did not have the same dietary scruples as their Jewish brethren; they ate meat
with the blood and never thought a thing of it. Whether they respected one day above
another depended on the particular pagan sect from which they came, but they certainly did
not have the great labyrinth of Sabbath law that was ingrained in every Jewish household.
And as these Gentile believers became fully aware of Jewish scruples, they could look down
on their Jewish brethren as weak in the faith, not having fully accepted the liberty from
such rituals which was part of the gospel of Christ.
On the other hand, most Jewish believers had been raised to avoid social contact with Gentiles. Their eating habits alone rendered Gentiles perpetually unclean so no practicing Jew would eat in a Gentile house or of food prepared by Gentiles. Thus to attain full fellowship in the brotherhood between Jew and Gentile would require a change in the ingrained practices of Jewish believers. Some Jewish believers might make the change, but others almost certainly would not.
Perhaps the best solution was to set up two separate Christian communities – one all Jewish, the other all Gentile. Both could live lives devoted to Christ but within their own cultural framework. The idea would be: We’ll go our separate ways now, but be with each other in the kingdom.
In North America, the Central (Amended) and Unamended communities have lived apart for more than 100 years. The two communities have developed their own personalities, methods of ecclesial interaction, Bible schools, gatherings, youth camps and specialized vocabularies. There are, in effect, some cultural differences between Amended and Unamended Christadelphians. Neither community has fallen into disarray and both seem to be serving the spiritual needs of its members. Perhaps the best solution is to leave the status quo. If changes are made, inevitably some in both communities may not go along with them. Let’s go our separate ways now and be together in the kingdom, if Christ so wills.
There is one body in Christ
In the first century, having separate Jewish and Gentile communities was not an option
to the apostles. They never considered it and fought against division throughout the first
century. Christ had died that "he should gather together in one the children of
God that were scattered abroad." Remember, the Master himself had said, "I
lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them
also I bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one
shepherd" (John 11:52; 10:15-16). The apostles fully realized there must be only "one
body" as there was "one faith" shared by both Gentile and Jewish
believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were both in Christ; they must live together
in Christ. They must solve the problem before them.
In our situation, brethren have come to the conviction through extensive personal interchange that Amended and Unamended are all brethren in Christ. The two communities share a conviction in the great principles of truth that define us as Christadelphians. Over the years, different forms of expression have grown up, but when brethren have listened to each other, they have become convinced that we are all within the parameters of the one faith. Once brethren reach this conclusion, they should also realize that maintaining separate and exclusive communities is not an acceptable option before our Lord. It would be, in fact, a deliberate defiance of his clear desire for there to be one fold under one shepherd.
In the first century, they realized the problem must be solved; there must be one body. The same level of determined conviction led many brethren to pursue the process resulting in the North American Statement of Understanding.
Bible exposition the key factor
Central to the solution in the first century was Bible
exposition. The prophecies of Amos 9 and Jeremiah 12 were examined and shown to refer to
the very circumstances of Jewry immediately following the resurrection of the great Son of
David. At that very time in history, scripture declared a remnant of the Gentiles were to
have full standing before God. Thus scripture confirmed what the Holy Spirit had
demonstrated in the conversion of Cornelius and the miracles among the Gentiles (Acts
15:7-12).
Following this pattern, our brethren involved in today’s unity process have examined the scriptures together. Considering one major issue at a time, as outlined in the NASU, they have confirmed that, when scripture is carefully and prayerfully considered, true believers come to common conclusions. The copious references following each section are an integral part of the document and well worth looking up and reading in the sequence provided. Read them prayerfully, letting them settle into your mind and you will see that the NASU summary of teaching on each point rings true to scripture. The wording may not be exactly as you would put it, but the ideas are clear enough.
Mutual submission
Considering that Paul was completely right in his argument and that James was guided
by the Holy Spirit, the first-century solution is somewhat surprising. James proposed, and
the conference accepted, a solution that gave neither side all it wanted: "I judge
that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that
we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from
things strangled, and from blood" (Acts 15:19-20 NKJV).
The primary desire of the Jews was that Gentile converts should be circumcised. They must drop that issue and any demands for holy days and Sabbath observance. But the Gentiles must agree to some restrictions. Prohibition of "sexual immorality" we can understand, but why the other things? We know "that there is nothing unclean of itself" and "whatsoever is sold in the shambles" could be eaten without contaminating a believer (Rom. 14:14: I Cor.10:25). Why should Gentiles submit to Jewish scruples on these matters?
Interestingly, this was a transitional arrangement. In time, Paul’s understanding would prove to be the right one as we fully realize today. Yet for that day in that circumstance it was right to show some respect for the Jewish scruples without capitulating the critical point that the law was fulfilled in the sacrifice of Christ.
A critical guideline to unifying the body of Christ is evident from the council at Jerusalem: recognition and mutual submission to the deeply held feelings of others should be considered, especially when addressing potentially divisive issue. Acting in such a manner means walking humbly: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3-5 NKJV).
May our considerations of this present effort be done with a humble commitment to the will of our Lord to gather together in one all those who believe in him.
Don Styles