[For the sake of God’s mission and because of the unexpected ALL-INCLUSIVE gospel of the kingdom,]the church has always been – and always should be - an “all are welcome” institution. Will we be that kind of church? Will you be that kind of follower of Jesus?
Have you everassumed something,only to be surprisedby the reality?
Have you everjudged anyone?
What I mean is - like me - you looked at a person, maybe you encountered them in some way, and just based on the outside persona, you made your assumptions and then a decision about who they were – OR who they could be – OR what they could be part of.
OR beentempted to judgesomeone?
I have. (And that judgment came to a head for me…)
Too often, especially in my past. In high school, I was sadly known by some – to use a phrase kind of from the 80’s – to be asnob. I’ve since learned that in my personality, there is a significant part of me that can either intentionally or unintentionally communicate judgment just by the way I communicatenon-verbally. YUCK! Jesus save me from myself! J But myjudgment came to a headfor me…
And that judgment came to a head for me in theearly months of my freshmen year at Taylor.
- Communion by the lake one Sunday night
- A guy named Russ had led worship in chapel earlier that week.
o Powerful, passionate worship time
o The problem for me? Russ had long hair and an ear-ring.
- God’s conviction came: I had been judging.
- Went to Russ – “You don’t know me…(yikes right?), but would you, on behalf of all guys with long hair and an earring that I have judged, please forgive me. I thought you might be able to be a Christian (emphasis on might) with long hair and an earring, but you couldn’t be an ‘on-fire’ Christian. I was wrong.”
- His response indicated he didn’t quite know what to do with my comment, but he did forgive me.
That encounterwith Russwasn’t about him needing my confession; it was aboutme being forgiven. It wasabout God showing methat my idea ofwho can know God,how they can know God, andhow God can know themwas NOT my business to determine.
That encounter was Godbreaking my assumptions– seeking toshatter my judgments.
What had happened in that experience was that God had shown up powerfully in the life of oneI would NOT have expected. The encounter wasthe beginning of God reforming my vision– my eyes to see ALL people no longer through my perspective, but through the eyes of Jesus.
Anunexpected encounterwith anunexpected person(showing meunexpectedgospeltruth). But if I had stayed with my assumptions and judgmentsI would have missedGod at work.
That’sthe problem with assumptions that lead to judgmentslike these – they areRISKY.
When we makeassumptions about a situation,we riskmissing the truth– we assume we know and so we don’t find out and we then make our clear-cut judgment.
When you makeassumptions about other people,you riskhurting them. You set them aside into your tidy category that they fit and engage them (or don’t engage them) according to that judgment.
But then there arethe assumptionsandsubsequent judgmentsfollowers of Jesus makeabout God. When you makeassumptions about Godand the good news of God’s gospel of the kingdom – assumptions and judgments aboutGod’s mission in the world – (and the way we think God MUST work in the world based on our opinion),you risk-at best-missing outon God’s mission being fulfilled;at worst–you riskmessing upGod’s mission being fulfilled in this world / in the life of another person.
That last risk is what was at stakefor two of the church’s primary leaders at the dawn of her beginning. They had unexpected encounters with unexpected people that revealed to them the unexpected nature of God’s gospel of the kingdom. BUTif they had stayed with their initial assumptions and judgments, theywouldn’t have just missedbeing part of God’s mission – they would have messed it up.
And this isstill true todayfor you and me –for the church todayin this age. If we don’t learn from these two leaders and their story, we won’t just miss being part of God’s mission.We will run the GREAT risk of messing it up.
So will yougo with me to learntheir stories?
Today’s message continues us in thisfinal chapter of our Legacy seriesthat we have titled: “Dawn of the Church.”
Thefirst week of the series, Tim noted that the disciples were told by Jesus that theHoly Spirit would come to them to empowerthem to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth – “places” that really speak aboutthe church’s witness within people groups, not locations.
Our stories todaytake usthrough Samariato theends of the earth.
Turn with me toActs 8:26in the house Bibles.
As youcome to the second half of Acts 8, let me summarize what has just happened. On the day of the stoning of Stephen, the Scriptures tell us “…agreat persecution broke outagainst the church in Jerusalem, andall except the apostles were scatteredthroughout Judea and Samaria.”
Thescattered disciples preachedwherever they went. Philip in particular took the message of Jesus and His kingdom to a city in Samaria where the Scriptures say, “When they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”
And with it happening in Samaria,all that was left to fulfill Jesus’ wordswas that thisgospel of His kingdomwould reach the“ends of the earth,”which takes us to the focus of our stories today.
Let’s LISTEN together:READERS – Acts 8 – Philip
Now look with me starting in vs. 26: some background will help us see why this story is in the narrative and how it is SO SIGNIFICANT:
- Philip is sent by an angel
- Where? Road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza
o less-traveled road (though it led to Egypt) - desert road with a deserted town
o may have seemed absurd to Philip that he was being sent to this road to continue the ministry started in Samaria.
o BUT hedoesn’t assume OR judge with his own thoughts. He obeys.
- Encounters eunuch in chariot on the road –what do we know about him?
o Riding in chariot indicated wealthy
o Was an official in the court of the queen of Ethiopia
o eunuchs = castrated males
oSignificance is Dt. 23:1– eunuchs were NOT allowed to worship in the assembly of Israel
o Pursuing God – devout worshipper – text says had gone to Jerusalem to worship EVEN THOUGH as both a Gentile AND a eunuch, he would not have been allowed “in” to worship
- Spirit tells Philip to go up to the chariot where he then engages the man
[You have to wonder what Philip is thinking. I don’t think Philip would have known the man was a eunuch, but just by sight of the color of the man’s skin, he would have known the man was Gentile. And at this point, there had been ZERO Gentile converts. Yes there had been people like Stephen who were Hellinistic Jews: Greek by culture and assimilation while Jewish. Philip himself was a Hellinistic Jew.]
So they talk. Philip answers questions, gives explanation, and theeunuch declares his faith and commitment to follow Jesuswhen he has the chariot stop so that he can be baptized.
His question is great – look at vs. 36: “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”
Well… a lot actually had Philipa)not obeyed the SpiritAND b)had Philip held on to his assumptions in light of Jewish law. He’s a Gentile. More than that, he’s a eunuch. He’s the outcast of outcasts for the day – marginal for those whoregard people from aworldly point of view.
But not to God!
All of this was unexpected – an unexpected encounter with an unexpected person, placing squarely in front of Philip – and the eunuch – thereality of the unexpected, ALL-INCLUSIVE good news of the gospel of the kingdom of God.
Yet, had Philip held to his assumptions – passed his judgments on this man, he would have missed God’s mission of love in the life of this eunuch. More than that, he would have messed up God’s mission to Ethiopia –messed up the spreadof the good news of the gospel of the God’s kingdom to – at that time – the literal “the ends of the earth”.
Philip wasn’t the only one to have such an unexpected encounter. Very soon after inActs 10(turn there with me), WE HEAR the story of Peter and a man named Cornelius.
READERS– Peter and Cornelius
Once again understanding background is key to understanding the story.
- Cornelius – Roman leader – prominent and wealthy
o Gentile
o God-fearer – worshipping the God of Israel, but NOT a convert to Judaism (i.e. didn’t go through circumcision)
- Peter’s vision – the animals
o The command to kill and eat would make NO SENSE to Peter – it would be both adisgusting and impious requestbecause eating these animals violated Jewish law according to the dietary laws of Leviticus, particularlyLeviticus 11.
- Jesus’ command and response to Peter’s objection - setting Peter up for hisunexpected encounter with unexpected people
Look at vs.10:15
The voice spoke to him a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’
In thisseminal moment, God’s imagery to Peter thatthe dietary lawshave come down was to indicate thatthe ceremonial laws of the Mosaic covenantwere no longer to stand as a barrier to Gentile inclusion in the kingdom of God!
Hear the end of the encounter again starting in 10:34:
Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts those from every nation(alternate word for “gentile”)who fear him and do what is right. […](jump down to vs. 44 and 47)44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. …47Then Peter said, ‘Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’
And no one did stand in the way. The Peter-Cornelius story ends with Peter recounting all of the events to the church leaders in Jerusalem who concluded that indeed –CONTRARY to their previous assumptions and judgments concerning God’s ways– the unexpected gospel of God’s kingdom had come to an unexpected people:
Acts 11:18
“When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Like for Philip, an unexpected encounter with an unexpected person,placedsquarely in front of Peter– and Cornelius and family – thereality of the unexpected, ALL-INCLUSIVE good news of the gospel of the kingdom of God.
Yet,had Peter held to old assumptions– passed his judgments on this manbased on what he thought he knew precisely about Godand His ways, he would havemissed God’s mission of lovein the life ofCornelius.
More than that, he would havemessed up God’s missionfar beyond one man and his household –messed up the spreadof the good news of the gospel of God’s kingdom tothe figurative “ends of the earth”- the Gentiles –non-Jews- who were to Jews, the “ends of the earth” people – the marginal, outcast, fringe ones.
SUM:
Two prominent leaders being used by God who – ifthey had stayed with their assumptions leading them to pass judgment, wouldn’t have just missed being part of God’s mission – they would have messed it up -would have messed up what God was doing in the life of those individualsand ultimately what God was doing in the life of the whole church then…They would have messed up the radical nature of this unexpected good news of the gospel of the kingdom of God that ALL ARE WELCOME in the kingdom of God!
These two stories in Acts aremonumental to our faith then and today– to themission of God through the churchthen and TODAY because they cry out to usthat in Jesus ChristANYONE is welcome into God’s kingdom.
They teach us that…
The church has always been an “all are welcome” institution.
No longer– as Philip and Peter might have known it OR expected it - was it by birth OR ritual OR law. Jesus changed the rules.
Now- you want to be with me (Jesus), just come follow me. Surrender your life, entrust yourself to me. Just come. All are welcome.
That is whatthese stories(with Philip and Peter) teach in that moment THEN.
And they teach it for the “NOW” too!
Theseunexpected encounterswithunexpected peopleshow that the gospel is trulyunexpected good news– good news beyond imagination – still today as then for me and YOU!
That the good news of the gospel of God’s kingdom is for ALL!It is for everyone and anyone. All are welcome!
Theyteach us nowthat…
The church has always been – and always should be - an “all are welcome” institution.
But theburden of this messagefor me to share with you is that this is NOT how we always act in the church.This is not how we always live as followers of Jesus.Rather – too often - we let our assumptions and judgments determine who may come.
We DON’T make it clear that all are welcome. Sometimes we even seesigns out on monikers in front of churches that say, “All are welcome.”
REALLY? The church has to tell people “all are welcome.”
Frankly that’s dumb…and sad…tragic really.
If the churchhas to tell people that,what have we communicatedto this world? What we haven’t communicated is the TRUTH of the good news of the gospel of God’s kingdom.
For truly this gospel cries out, “All are welcome” – “all can come” -“Olly Olly Oxen Free”.
You know…thatchild’s game phrasethat is yelled at the end of a round ofhide and seekthat tells all the hiders: “come out without penalty – you’re not going to be caught.” Theold versionof the phrasesupposedlyis “All ye, all ye, all come free!”
That’s Jesus! That isthe inclusivity of the gospelof Jesus Christ, which calls out, “All ye, all ye, all come free!”
Ironic isn’t itthatJesus and following himis painted so often asexclusive.
Do you know what I mean?Critics of ChristianityOR more specifically of Jesus willoften rail againstbecauseJesus is too exclusive.
Can I spin that for a moment? I would say this: themost exclusivereligion is the world is thereligion of self– the religion where it isall about the individual– what theindividual wants to do,believeas isbestfor thatone person. It’s all about ONE person: YOU! NOW that’s exclusive!
The most INCLUSIVE religion – if you want to call it that for a moment – isthe “religion” of followingJesus.
Why? Because “Olly Olly Oxen Free” – “All ye, all ye, all come free”!
The gospel of Jesus is the good news FOR ALL thatGod is reconciling the whole of creation to Himself including and through humanity and “all ye, all ye, all come free.”
ANYONE and EVERYONEfreely come and receivethe reality of this good news – receive life with Jesus!
In THE dayof Philip and Peter - ANYONE and EVERYONE come - Jew, Gentile, slave, free, male, female, eunuch, Roman soldier, pig-eater.
In THIS our day too- ANYONE and EVERYONE come - regardless of race, color, nationality, knowledge, tradition, creed, religious background, orientation, gender, length of hair, number of piercings, amount of tattoos, OR clothing you wear.
ANYONE and EVERYONE welcome because Jesus is anequal opportunity Savior and King!
ANYONE and EVERYONE welcomeregardlesseven oftheir sinBECAUSE it isn’t a person’s job to transform themselves before coming to Jesus.
Jesus isn’t asking youto becomeperfect–get rid ofall your bad habits –change your lifestylebefore you come. God is not looking for you to have it all together.
The gospel of the kingdom of God in Jesus Christ is FOR ALL without DISCRIMINATION, ASSUMPTION, or JUDGMENT by me…or you!
“Olly olly oxen free – all ye, all ye, all ye come free!”
ANYONE and EVERYONE welcome because Jesus is anequal opportunity Savior and King!
The church has always been – and always should be - an “all are welcome” institution.
The question is,what does it take to be that church?
What it takes ishaving theeyes to see as Philip and Peter did– to do as they did – toregard no one froma worldly point of view.
Paul explains it this way in Corinthians. He says, in light of God’s transforming love:
2 Corinthians 5:16
“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.”
What does it meanto no longer regard people from a worldly point of view? Well,it means not assuming…not making judgments that are not ours to make from a human perspective.
Spinning it to the positive, what does it mean to see people from God’s point of view?
FIRST, seeall people as image bearers of God. Every human being bears the image of God. The entrance of sin, evil, darkness, death, and their friends into the world did lots of bad things. But one action they did NOT accomplish was the obliteration of the image of God in every human being. EVERY HUMAN BEING is an image bearer of God.That’s a game-changer to our assumptions and our judgments– at least it should be.
SECOND,seeing people - regarding all peoplefrom God’s point of view means seeing them as eithera son/daughter of God alreadyORpotential son/daughter of God.
A potential son/daughterwith NO assumption or judgmenton our part of their ability to know God OR connect with God.
Potential sons/ daughterswho don’t have to have it all togetherin order to meet with God, be accepted by God, follow Jesus.
Potential sons/daughterswho will receive the transforming power of the gospel of the kingdom in their lives when they accept the invitation.
Potential sons/daughterswho very well may be the one you think, you assume is WAY too far out of bounds for being accepted by God –the eunuch(s) of our day.
To engageunexpected encounters with unexpected people with the unexpected of the gospel of God’s inclusive love – it takesseeing all people as God sees them.To not mess upGod’s mission of the whole world knowing and experiencing this gospel,it takes a church a seeing and welcoming with the eyes of Jesus!
The church has always been – and always should be - an “all are welcome” institution.
I know such a churchis possible. I’ve seen it. I’ve participated in its worship. It’s a church where truly people seek above all to see every person who comes as image bearers of God – as ones who God loves and seeks to love as sons and daughters.It’s calledSanctuaryand it’s in Toronto pastored by a man – Greg Paul - who has spoken in the past from this very stage.
It is a church where amiddle class college studentwillsit next toatransgender businessperson.
Anupper class executivewillshare a song bookwith ahomeless addict.
An“all my life” church-goerwillstand bythe side of an agnostic.
Auniversity professorwilldialoguewith awoman withmultiple personalities.
It’s a churchwheretruly all are welcomeand there is NO NEED for a moniker saying the like.
It’s a churchwhere people areno longer regardedfrom a worldly point of view and wherethe unexpected encounterwithunexpected peopleare welcomed by theunexpected gospel.
It’s a churchthat fights against assumptions and judgments that might cause someone to missGod’s mission of lovefor their lives OR worse,run the risk of messing upwhat God wants to do in the life of another through the power of the gospel of God’s kingdom in Jesus Christ.
The church has always been – and always should be - an “all are welcome” institution.
Are we willing to bethat church?
The stories from the dawn of the churchteach us today is thatwe must bebecause that is who the church hasbeen called to befrom the beginning.
Are we willing to bethat kind of church?
Are we willing toset aside our assumptions and judgmentsabout the people we know – the people you pass by each day – the people we encounter EXPECTEDLY and unexpectedly and see them NO LONGER from a worldly point of view, but with the eyes of God?
Will we be a church thatnever needs a monikerin the front saying “All are welcome” becauseour hospitality makes all truly feel welcomed.
A church where everyone is seen and treated as an image bearer of God – ones God is seeking to haveas sons and daughters- because we know,every life matters to God.
The church has always been – and always should be - an “all are welcome” institution.
WILL WE BE THAT CHURCH?