Acts 15-19: Let Christ Be the Stumbling Block

"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead."  -Acts 17:30-31

"For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."  -1 Corinthians 1:22-24

This week's passage in Acts begins with the leaders of the early church agreeing together that the Gentile believers ought not be commanded to be circumcised and ordered to follow the Law of Moses.  Some of the Jewish faith who became followers of Christ believed that all who follow Christ must also follow the Law for righteousness.  Peter asked the assembly, "...why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?  But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."  In other words, why cause these believers to stumble with something unnecessary and even contrary to the gospel (the idea that works are a part of making us right with God, rather than faith in Christ alone)? 

Later, in chapter 16, we see that Paul has Timothy circumcised as they go to minister in Lystra and Iconium.  And in chapter 18, we read of either Paul or Aquila cutting his hair after being under a vow.  What are we to make of things like this?  That these men were trying to add works to their righteousness?  Certainly not!  Rather, let us be reminded of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23:

"For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.  To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews.  To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.  To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.  To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak.  I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.  I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings."

These men had determined to remove all possible stumbling blocks to the gospel.  Whether it be in the life of a believer or in ministry to unbelievers, the leaders of the church were careful to put nothing in the way of the gospel.  But there is something else they were very careful to do: proclaim the gospel and let Jesus be the stumbling block if necessary!  In these chapters, we rejoice over the fruit that the gospel bore, many being saved through faith in Jesus Christ!  But we also see that gospel preaching leads to persecution, beatings, rioting, and imprisonment.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news indeed, bringing life to those who hear with faith, but for many it sounds like death.  This message causes levels of joy inexpressible, and levels of anger and hatred that are tough to fathom. 

But we need to see that there never comes a time where the early church decides to hide the gospel, or change the gospel, or "dress up" the gospel to make it more palatable.  Paul stood before the Areopagus, fully aware that what he was going to say would sound like utter foolishness to most of those gathered.  But he still shared the gospel, because the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for salvation!  He was eager to remove all stumbling blocks except this one.  He was eager to let Jesus Christ be a stumbling block and foolishness because he knew that Jesus is also God's power and wisdom for all who are called!

We must remember this!  We must ask the Father to make us servants of all that we might be used to win more, that we might share in the blessings of the gospel with them!  But we must never think that part of our strategy is to hide or change the gospel message.  We must never think that successful gospel ministry will be free from rejection and pain.  We must never think that there will be another means by which souls will be saved.  The world needs to hear the gospel, and when we remove the offense of the gospel, we also remove the power of the gospel.  Let us endeavor by the Holy Spirit's empowering to be servants of all, whose greatest act of service is telling them the good news!