April 3, 2025
We’ve mentioned before that in the mid-50s AD, when Paul was writing his letter to the Romans, Rome itself was rife with antisemitism. It is logical, then, that there would be tensions between the Jewish converts to Christianity and the Gentile converts to Christianity.
Of course, what happens in the capital also happens in the provinces. Paul is writing to the church in Rome, but their issues were by no means unique. Sadly, antisemitism was widespread.
Paul devotes chapters 9-11 to resolving this Jewish Christian/Gentile Christian conflict. He covers a lot of ground, and some of his arguments may seem specious, but his basic conclusion is that each must accept the other as both equal to themselves and equal in the sight of God. After all, they are no longer either Jew or Gentile but are all one in the eyes of God (see Galatians 3:28-29).
Accepting each other, learning to live together well, could not have been easy. Each had to adapt to the other. Each had to give up something and each had to accept something. This compromise is most famously expressed in the famous Jerusalem Council of Acts 15:22-29. The Jewish Christians had to stop demanding that Gentile Christians be circumcised and follow the Mosaic dietary and other laws. In turn, the Gentile Christians had to abstain from eating food sacrificed to idols, consuming blood (either in the animal or in other products) and sexual immorality.
(Excursus: The Greek word commonly translated Adultery or Fornication is better translated as Sexual Immorality. That is, any kind of inappropriate sexual relations. We must remember that Gentile sexual mores were very different from Jewish sexual mores. Polygamy was not widely practiced, but Gentile men would generally be accepting of prostitution, sex with slaves or minors.)
Antisemitism, though still alive, does not appear to be rampant in Indianapolis. Nevertheless, our scripture lesson today offers some useful advice on bringing outsiders into a church community.
When churches grow, there is invariably tension between those who have been there the longest and the most recent arrivals. This is normal and to be expected. Both parties come from their own background and both have their own preferences and strongly held beliefs. Arguments over accommodating each other – often over such issues as technology and music – are frequent. This is perfectly normal and nothing to be alarmed by. In each instance, the parties must work out what matters most to them and what they can most reasonably do without.
This is never an easy task, but it helps to remember the conclusion Paul reaches in Romans 11:1-12. God cares for us both. God wants us both to thrive together. God wants us to be part of the same tree, regardless of whether we spring up from the roots or were grafted on.
Finding the write solution to this problem may be difficult, but we can do it if we remember that God wants us all to thrive together, both the Jewish and Gentile converts, both the longtime members and the newest.
May we resolve our conflicts in such a way that brings all parties together and allows to live together as equals, united by God’s peace. Amen.
Pastor Ken.