Where Do We Go from Here?
Acts 10:1-18
Dreams in scripture are always a sign that the story is going to be stirred with controversy ensuing. Peter’s dream comes in the midst of another controversy. The question is who can be a part of the church and how do people become a part of the church. Some are saying you have to follow the practices of Judaism first; or you have to first become Jewish in order to be Christians. Peter’s dream redefines this entire discussion by eliminating the boundaries that separate who can be in and who is outside the boundaries.
Change is always difficult; at the same time, change is always occurring. I think what makes change most difficult is related to our grief about loss that comes with change. The losses that come with change might be about our position in the status quo and that status quo is comfortable. Sometimes, one change leads to many other changes and it begins to feel overwhelming. (I think we find ourselves in such a spot right now.) The next steps, or even further steps, are unclear and uncertain so fear gets introduced into the system of our lives and relationships. With Peter’s dream, God redefines the direction of the church in its early days. It may seem like an overly simple question to us, but in the early years of the church it was a question that was central to the church shaping its identity.
With this change, the church expands its missionary scope. Through Paul and others, the Gospel message is carried to Asia Minor and then Europe. This shift is significant for the growth of the church and opening the possibilities for growth. But the issue is never fully left behind. Paul wrestles with this issue in congregations to which he writes. Across the centuries it has continued to be a challenge for the church as we have tried to say here is the boundary or there is the boundary for entry. We still contend with this issue in the church today as questions about skin color, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and age are sometimes barriers. Regardless of these barriers, Peter’s vision confronts us with a question. “What are the boundaries of God’s love?”
Reflection Questions:
How is God challenging us to grow right now? What are we withholding that God invites us to extend?
How has the Holy Spirit brought you a surprising lesson? What was the lesson?
Peter’s vision opens the path to welcoming Gentiles fully into the community gathered around Jesus. Who are the gentiles of today and to whom we are called to go and witness to the Goodness of God?