Today's readings are Joshua 8.1-28 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Josh.+8.1-28 ) and Acts 11.1-18 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+11.1-18 )
We have all heard the slogans like "doctrine divides" and "deeds, not creeds." In today's Christian culture it seems that doctrinal purity is no longer seen as the foundation for our practice, but that practice is what leads to unity, and unity in attitudes and practices lead to the doctrines we consider important. How does this compare with what we see in the early Church?
When Peter brought the news that Gentiles had been given the Holy Spirit, that they had been granted repentance and faith, some of the Jewish Christians didn't believe him. They were ready to reject this salvation of God because it didn't coincide with their categories, that salvation was mediated through and intended for Jews, not for Gentiles. Their understanding that the biological descendants of Abraham were the chosen people and that the entry of others into this covenant of God's grace would be very rare was driving their program. They wouldn't deny that Gentiles could believe. There was a long history of Gentiles converting to Judaism, so it would be natural to expect that within the Church as well. But it was unheard of that people who believed on Jesus would skip what seemed the natural and logical intermediate step of becoming a Jew.
Peter's explanation, thankfully, cleared up the dissension within his initial audience. They understood that he had proclaimed the same gospel to the Gentiles that he had proclaimed to Jews and that the Gentiles had believed. They had been regenerated just the same way the Jewish believers had, despite not converting to Judaism first. But Peter's clear explanation of what happened helped draw the doctrinal lines of soteriology in such a way that the Jewish believers understood that Peter was not proclaiming a different Gospel but that God was redeeming people who had not converted to Judaism.
This is a real-life example of doctrine unifying, not dividing. And Scripture is replete with similar examples. Doctrine is, after all, that teaching which (if we interpret it rightly) the Lord has given to his apostles who have given it on to others, including through the written Word of God. It is God's doctrine. This is what we need to see the Lord more clearly.
Lord, open our eyes to understand what you are saying, to cherish your words, to love your laws, to persevere in your doctrine that you have given us. Draw us together through genuinely biblical beliefs.
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