In today’s first reading from Acts the early church confronts its first big crisis: who can belong to the church and what is required to become a member. Luke begins this chapter by laying out the issue:
“Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.’ Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters about this question.” (Acts 15:1-2).
The question posed is not only about membership in the church but also about salvation: “Unless you are circumcised…you cannot be saved.” Luke, with his typical understatement, states that this results in “no little dissension and debate,” in the church in Antioch. Today’s reading picks up this debate in Jerusalem where Paul and Barnabas are discussing this question with the apostles and presbyters.
Luke tells us that “after much debate had taken place,” Peter stood up and reminded the community:
“God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them [Gentiles] the Holy Spirit just as he did us. He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.”
Peter’s point is that there is no need for debate since God has already decided the question. Circumcision is not required since God has already “purified their hearts.” Peter moreover warns them:
“Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.”
Peter argues that they are wrong who claim “Unless you are circumcised…you cannot be saved” since salvation comes through the grace of God: “we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.”
Over the centuries and right up to our own day some Christians have wanted to exclude people not only from membership in the church but also from salvation. We always need to remember that God is the one who decides this question since God alone know what is in the hearts of people: “Remember also those who have died in the peace of your Christ and all the dead, whose faith you alone have known.” (Eucharistic Prayer IV).
Image: First Council of Nicaea | Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, 381 | Médiathèque chrétienne | PD-US.