Hindrances

Acts 11:16-18 “And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God? When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”

The Revised Common Lectionary recommends a number of different scripture passages every week. I can’t pick every passage every week, and in fact there are some weeks where I’m glad I don’t have to use every suggestion. One passage from this week is Acts 11:1-18. We won’t be reading it in worship on Sunday, but I don’t want to skip over it entirely.

This passage is about drawing lines. It’s about the lines that we draw in order to maintain our own privileged position. It is about the borders we draw between whatever constructed version of “us” and some perceived “them.”

Why was Peter hanging out with the gentiles?

That’s what people wanted to know. He was travelling around and spending time with people who may have believed in Jesus, but weren’t part of the group that Jesus came for. Sure, maybe they were nice folks, but if Peter was trying to grow the movement, then why would he pass his time with folks who didn’t belong in the movement?

This passage is about erasing lines. It’s about erasing the lines that exist in order to maintain status, define difference, erode community. It is about realizing that the distinctions we draw between one another are not the same distinctions that God draws between us. It is about Peter, observant and pious, realizing that by making this piety an idol he is hindering what God is doing.

If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?

What are we doing hindering God?

We draw these absurd little lines between ourselves and other people. We then point across these lines and insist that God doesn’t actually love these people because they’re on the wrong side of the line we drew.

Why was Peter hanging out with gentiles?

Because it shouldn’t matter. Peter was hanging out with gentiles because God loves the gentiles. Because we forget that God doesn’t draw these silly little distinctions, and in fact, God never wants us to draw those distinctions in the first place.

How are we hindering God?

We do this by telling ourselves that exclusion is actually righteous. We tell ourselves that by excluding and denigrating people that we are protecting those closest to us. We tell ourselves that our communities can only be safe when the lines we invent are drawn in blood. We hinder God whenever we make “them” the cause of our problems. If God gives them the same gifts as we have been given, then why would we be so arrogant as to presume that we’re more precious and valuable.

Remember this.

When we deny people’s dignity and rights based on some human-made distinction, we hinder God’s work in our world.

Peace,

Jeff

---

Twelve Corners Presbyterian Church is located at 1200 S. Winton Road, in the heart of Brighton, NY. If you're in the Rochester, NY area and would like to learn more about us, we invite you to call our office at 585-244-8585, send us an email, or visit us in person! Or, if you'd like to see all of our latest updates, visit our Facebook page! Whichever option you choose, we look forward to connecting with you!