Settling a Dispute

Introduction

A. How do you resolve a disagreement?

1. Some folks argue. Voices get loud; faces get flushed; veins stick out in places that are rarely seen. This sort of resolution rarely gets both sides on the same page. Most of the time the one who shouts louder temporarily wins. It doesn’t last because no one wants to be bullied.

2. Others withdraw. They don’t discuss at all. They engage in the silent treatment. They use silence to get what they want. They temporarily get what they want but rarely does it last. No one likes to be manipulated.

3. Still others use sarcastic humor. They attempt to win their point by using words which knocks the opponent off center. Their words create a smile but sting as they cut to the core of a person. This process allows for a temporary win but it doesn’t last. No one likes to be talked down to.

4. Then there are those who try to be rational. They try to secure a common basis for the discussion. They work hard to keep things from emotionally escalating while recognizing that any disagreement has an emotional side. Pair this person with one of the three above and it is an uphill struggle to come to a compromise.

B. Which are you? Ask your spouse or a close friend if they aren’t afraid of being bullied, manipulated, or talked down to. We find disagreements in the Bible. The way these are handled give us some clue about what works and what doesn’t. In our text today, we find a disagreement. But more than a difference of opinion there are significant spiritual consequences to the outcome. Things are changing in this movement centered around Jesus. What began as a Jewish movement has now included non-Jews. These Gentiles have different customs and a different influence from their culture. The question arises ‘what really matters?’ What does God want for these Gentile believers. We will look today at this important meeting that Luke writes about emphasizing how disagreements are to be resolved.

The Dispute

A. By the time we get to Acts 15, almost 20 years have passed since Jesus’ resurrection. Things are changing in Jerusalem and in Rome. What has long been seen as a completely Jewish movement is expanding rapidly to include non-Jewish folks. These Gentiles are coming in large enough numbers that the movement is no longer just Jewish. In Rome, Claudius is going to expel the Jews because this movement about Jesus is becoming disruptive. Claudius sees it as a Jewish movement; he allows the Gentile Christians to remain in Rome. But this is precisely the point of contention for Jewish leaders. Jesus was Jewish; he followed the Jewish law; shouldn’t all who come to Jesus follow Jewish law as well?

B. 15:24 tells us that some left Jerusalem and traveled to Antioch to make this very point. These Jewish teachers were not sent out by the church in Jerusalem. We rightly assume then that they follow Jesus but they are rigid about Jewish culture, customs, and laws. They come to Antioch teaching that new believers in Jesus must become Jewish as well meaning that they must keep particularly the sign of the Judaism — circumcision. This led to a major dispute. Luke uses a word that can mean “insurrection.” This is not a small disagreement.

C. A council is formed in Jerusalem. The point is made “Circumcision is a requirement for all.” The question is discussed. Undoubtedly, Luke summarizes for us in this chapter. The summation is given to us rather than the full transcript. There are four requirements for these Gentiles believers:

1.  Not to eat food offered in sacrifice to idols

2.  Not to engage in sexual immorality. This would have included temple prostitution as well as engaging in sex with a person who was not your spouse.

3.  Not to eat food that still had blood left in it. The Gentile and Jewish methods of processing meat was different.

4.  Not to have anything to do with blood. This is probably a reference again to pagan worship which in some places included drinking blood as a symbol of being "one" with the false god.

D. In other words, all the requirements center around pagan worship practices. These Gentile believers are required to cut all ties with pagan worship which would have also been part of the social center of life. These would not have been easy to follow. We see the difficulty discussed by Paul in 1 Corinthians as some Gentiles continued to go to the temple to buy meat to eat and engaged in temple prostitution.

Application

A. So what are we to draw from this event? I think there are two significant points. First, both sides appeal to scripture. Jewish teachers appeal to scripture based upon the law. The other appeals to scripture based upon the activity of God. The appeal to the law was correct but it did not take into account the new activity of God as seen through Cornelius and the confirmation of the ministry of Paul and Barnabas through miracles. These events demonstrated that God was wanting his people to look beyond the law. Why is this point so important? Because there is no appeal to personal preference. The appeal on both sides is made based on objective evidence. This is a far cry from the way many handle disputes. So many discussions today are based on personal preference rather than objective evidence.

1.  Our culture looks at objective evidence only when it fits the argument. In most cases the basis for discussion is personal preference.

2.  When we no longer appeal to scripture but to personal preference then we will end up with a gospel that emphasizes feeling good rather than the objective evidence. We are sinners in need of a Savior.

3.  God is no longer an authority; his role is now to meet our opinions and feelings. God wants me to be happy has become the slogan of our generation. God is a wimp and he is there to meet our preferences. Where is the holiness of God? Where is the falling on our face in the presence of the God who is wholly other? Personal preference wins over objective truth.

B. The second point is that grace is not compromised. Verse 11 is strong in its emphasis. “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that we are saved, just as they are.” Grace does not eliminate principled and disciplined living. The requirements for the Gentiles brought about a significant change in their lives. Grace is required for all to be saved. No one can be saved by works. This is the point that Peter makes in verse 10. The burden of the law is too great for anyone. The proof of God’s grace was seen in the confirming miracles through Paul and Barnabas on their mission trip. Understanding grace means that we recognize God is at work. We are amazed at God’s work for us as sinners. We do not take that grace lightly nor presume upon it so that we can do as we wish. Our response to grace is praise, thanksgiving, and living so that God is seen through us. Invitation.

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