Who is the Church For?

Excerpt from Acts 11:1-18 (NRSV)

“What God has made clean, you must not call profane.”  (vs. 9)

Over the past several weeks we have been reading and hearing about the formation of the early church in Acts.  As the church was figuring its way, one of the major questions it needed to ask itself was “Who is the church for?” Because up to this point it seemed to be meant only for Jews.  However, Peter was given a different idea by God, and it came to him in a very powerful dream.  Peter was shown animals that he thought were off limits for Jews, and God says, “they all good. Go, kill, and eat.”  What unfolds becomes a table that is big enough for all-Gentile or Jew.

Every generation of the church has had to wrestle with this question as well “Who is the church for?”  So the vision for Peter becomes our vision in our place and time and in our own unique way. We are to reach out with God’s love to all and be part of church and have the courage to include all people.

And like life the answering of this question for the church is a work in progress—God is not done with us yet!  We will take some comfort in knowing that it even took Peter three times before he got it as well. 

Sunday, we look to Peter, an early leader in the formation of the church.  What he thought was off limits becomes instead part of God’s plan for salvation for us all.  And the question on my mind is this: When have you been criticized for how you choose to live out your faith?  

Grace and peace, 

​Rev. Brian