So Then

"So if God gave them the same gift as He gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." Acts 11:17

The choice of language has an interesting way of conveying deep sentiment. Peter is sharing that it is now revealed that God's will is that Gentiles are included in the family of God through faith in Jesus. This is a huge change. Not only does this make sense, but it also is a heart correction that needed to be made for some time. For centuries there had grown a superior and "holier than thou" feeling, that the Jews had over Gentiles (non-Jews). This is easy to have happen. We experience it in the church today. People who have been 'believers' for a long time can begin to exclude others easily and begin to feel exclusive about who can belong in the church family.

So what about this language subtlety that is used? I love the words "So then", because they convey a surrender to a new truth. For example a few weeks after the worship time at Grace Harbor Church changed from 10:45 to 10:00 on Sundays, someone said to me... "So then, we worship at 10:30 now?" I said, "Yes, we do." Acquiescence is a beautiful thing. We need to roll with the truth, even if it means accepting change. Let me give you some more examples.

"So then, we have drums now?"
"So then, we don't have pews now?"
"So then, we have many ethnicities now?"
"So then, we still have hymns from time to time?"
"So then, there are lots of new people?"
"So then, etc. etc. etc."

The words infer an adjustment to a new paradigm, a new and deeper understanding of the truth and the reality. Hopefully there is no one other than 'people of the devil' who are unwelcome in your fellowship. I understand that there is rare church discipline and a place for it, but other than that, everybody is welcome to be part of Grace Harbor. As Luke reports to us in Acts..."even the Gentiles have been granted repentance unto life." Even the Gentiles. Even people with tattoos. Even people who are homeless. Even people who don't know how to act in church. Even people who don't know how we do things around here. Even sinners other than me. Even the lonely, the prideful, the obnoxious and the clingy. Even the specific group I prefer least. Oh my, now we have gotten personal. The early church was changing. We are still changing. In some ways we need to change back a little bit. All of that is a matter of prayer and of applying the principles of His Word to our practices and traditions. Hope this has opened your heart just a little more. Let everyone in His Kingdom. Salvation for everyone.

With Grace,
Pastor Fred

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