God Honoring Compromise

God Honoring Compromise

2014-06-29

Act 21:17-24

When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, 21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.

Is this the greatest compromise or mistake of Paul’s ministry that’s recorded in scripture?

·      How do we harmonize that we are not under law with Paul’s purification being under Nazarite vows?

·      It is an example of remaining firm on Christian essentials but flexible on nonessentials.

Paul was in Jerusalem to deliver Gentile Christians a monetary gift to the poor Jerusalem Jews & gave a thorough update of his missionary trips. Acts 21:17-20a, Eph 5:20-21; Phil 2:3-4

·      Reporting to the elders shows humility & submission to coworkers in the gospel. 

o   Paul was submitting to the elders as a pattern for the Church. 

o   Humbly, Paul declared what God did among the Gentiles by his ministry.

·      The elders responded with great joy and praise.

o   It was a testimony to their love for the spread of the gospel & a submission to the way God directed it.

§  No envy, competition, or criticism.

·      At LEFC we should rejoice with other Christian church victories.

The Elders supported Paul but he’s apparently a hindrance to their belief~

·      There were false reports of Paul teaching Jewish converts to no longer obey the Law & turn from Jewish practices and traditions…i.e. to not be circumcised.  Acts 16;2-3:

o   Paul never taught Jews to forsake the Law.

·      He taught both Jews & Gentiles that salvation not dependent on keeping the law. Gal 3:23-26; 5:1; Col 2:16-17, Rom 6:14, 3:23-24 & 28, Eph 2:8-9

o   Salvation is freely given by God's gracious act & received through faith.

·      Christian Jews had true freedom: they were free from the Law & free to keep the law, not as a means to salvation, but as an expression of love & obedience.

o   It is not evil if it is a social or ethnic custom or tradition with no saving significance.

§  Like kneeling, folding hands, closing eyes when praying.

That’s the reason Paul’s actions are in harmony with his principles.  Act 21:20-24

·      Paul humbled himself & willingly submitted to the Elders’ decision to join 4 men (pay their expenses) for final stages of purification rites for the Nazirite vow.

·      The ceremony did not violate his doctrinal beliefs or convictions but only displayed what he already believed & practiced. Acts 18:18b, 16:3, 20:16

o   What he did was a form of tradition & cultural/ceremonial…not sin.

§  He did it not because had to but because wanted to keep peace/unity in Jerusalem church.

§  Churches split over disagreements about minor issues of tradition

Sometimes compromise is a very loving act.

·      Pauls’ was not observing the laws to be saved, but was keeping them to avoid offending those he wished to reach with the gospel.  Rom 13:9-10; 1 Cor 9:19-23, Jn 13:35

·      Don’t violate your convictions or sacrifice truth for cultural acceptance.

o   It is wrong to compromise truth for the sake of method or even as an end goal.

·      Like Paul, we need strong convictions, yet need to be willing to compromise on nonessential points for the sake of weaker (legalistic) Christians.

o   Remain firm on Christian essentials but flexible on nonessentials.

§  Avoid some things for unity’s sake & /or to enhance your testimony.