Deal Breaker!

Acts 15:4-5

When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them. But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”

There was a problem in the early church, and it was an uncomfortable situation!

All Jewish boys were circumcised when they were 8 days old. It was part of their heritage and way of life. Gentile boys didn’t have to be circumcised. Clear enough?

The problem came when the Jewish believers decided that circumcision was an important part of following Christ, and mandated that all Gentile believers had to be circumcised. What a burden to place on new believers!

Can you imagine the altar call at your church next Sunday? “We’re so glad you gave your heart to Jesus! Now, if you will just go over to that room there, Brother Billy Bob is going to take care of some minor surgery you need in order to follow Jesus.” Um, nope. That’s a deal breaker!

I have seen sweet little old ladies tell young people, literally at the altar after being saved, “You know, your life has to change now. You have to give up smoking, drinking, and that little harlot of a girlfriend you have…” Hey, how about letting the guy catch his breath before you start trying to do the Holy Spirit’s job, huh?

See, unless I have missed a memo, it is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict of sin, and guide us to become more like Jesus. Our job as Christians is to nurture new believers, not judge them back into their old lives. Is there a time to confront sin in another person’s life? Absolutely, and you will know when to do it because the words that come out of your mouth will pass through tears, not a scowl.

So, let’s lay off the deal breakers and focus on loving people to Jesus instead of dangling them like a hot dog over the fires of hell.

Today’s Readings: Job 11,12; Acts 15,16