Acts 15:19-29 

¹⁹ “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. ²¹ For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” ²² Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. ²³ With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. ²⁴ We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. ²⁵ So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul—²⁶ men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. ²⁸ It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: ²⁹ You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

Thermometer

What instrument is used for measuring temperature? Thermometer!

This generation is very privileged; modern technologies were invented and utilized to inform us about weather, climate, or temperature.

Different measuring scales are necessary standard instruments to determine weight, height, length, or any physical dimension of anything. Practically, when we measure something, we use universal measuring standards. Spiritually, when we make decisions, we should measure it by God’s standard.

When we decide spiritual matters on our individual Christian life or thing pertaining to church matters, should we decide based on sentimental significance? Should we do something else because it’s the popular Christian thing to do? Is it God’s will for us to argue and present our defense or take majority decision? Should we not base or weigh our decision according to the Scripture? Are we not supposed to seek the leading of the Holy Spirit?

Church conflict has been a historical experience among church leaders. The Jerusalem Council has given us a necessary example how we should settle thing beyond our comprehension on spiritual matters or things that are practically happening in our life as individual Christian and as a church.

1.  Scripture

¹⁹ “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. ²¹ For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

James served as Jerusalem Council chairman or moderator; he declared to the elders and apostles what they have decided as a group. It was not clear who gave the motion or proposal but it is understandable that they concluded their decision based on the Scriptures. They came to a conclusion that circumcision is not a requirement for anyone to be saved but to live as God’s children they should abide by the Scripture.

The elders and apostles came together to decide about circumcision.

Some people belonging to the party of Pharisees have demanded the Gentile Christians in Antioch to be circumcised. Paul and Barnabas strongly disagreed with them and they decided to seek the decision of the Jerusalem Council. Peter, Paul, and Barnabas spoke among the elders and apostles not because they are good speakers but they based their reason on Scriptures. Signs and miracles the Holy Spirit did in their lives confirmed their conviction.

Normally, in every group discussion even among Christian organizations, the more eloquent and more popular persons are given much consideration when they speak. If you have attended pastors meeting, leaders meeting, or teachers meeting, to the word of God would settle or bring to closure any dispute or argument.

Filipino Pastors Fellowship

I attended a number Filipino Pastors Fellowship during our first year here. I decided not to join the group when I came to know that most pastors in the group come from different denominational affiliation. They have a good objective, for sure, but with different interpretation of the Bible, there is a sure compromising about decisions.

If you cannot agree that a woman should preach in a regular worship service, you would be dismayed if a lady-pastor preaches in one of the combined Filipino churches Easter Worship Services. If I attended a meeting and I would object to suggestion that a lady-pastor should not be the speaker, what would the lady-pastor or those who proposed think about my spirituality?

The Scripture is the standard, the measuring scale that we should use when we are not sure if our decisions or actions are acceptable to God or not. The Holy Spirit confirms it to us if our decision is acceptable to God or not.

Most heated arguments are provoked by emotion or fear of not being heard. Previous experiences or popular trends are exhibits or bases of viewpoint in an argument but are they scriptural, biblical thing to do?

The Jerusalem Council made it sure that the church in Antioch would understand that their decision were based on the Scripture and approved by the Holy Spirit including some requirements they wrote to the church.

 2.  Spirit

 ²⁸ It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: ²⁹ You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

The Jerusalem Council sent back Paul and Barnabas together with some leaders among believers in Jerusalem church to confirm by word of mouth about the decision of the elders and apostles pertaining to circumcision demanded by those unauthorized people who went to disturb the church in Antioch.

We can identify and understand the dilemma of the church in Antioch because there were also pastors and teachers who came here and tried to imposed their personal idea, convictions, or Bible interpretation. In anything that we believe and practice, as a church and as individual Christians, we have the Scriptures as our weighing scale before we are to approve.

Census

In 1 Chronicle 21:1-2, 8, 13-14, ¹ Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. ² So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”

⁸ Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”

¹³ David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

¹⁴ So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead.

Why did David say that he sinned and did a foolish thing when he ordered taking a census or a national survey on Israel’s army? Is it a foolish thing to take a survey on the reason of people coming to this church? Will we commit sin?

In everything we do, if we are not sure if it is aligned with the word of God, the Holy Sprit will enable us to come to realization if we are doing things acceptable to God or not. There are seemingly foolish things to others we decide or do but if we are filled with the Holy Spirit, He will give us peace whatever decision we make.

In Ephesians 5:17-18 it says, ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit…

Drunkards do many foolish things when they are controlled by the effect of wine; likewise, when a believer is controlled by the Holy Spirit, he/she will do things seemingly foolishness because they are not normally done or not popular among people with no Holy Spirit in their life.

It’s more foolish to ignore God’s will because many blessings are ignored.

><((‘> … ><(((‘> tmec\2021 <‘)))>< … <‘))><