 |
| THE DANGER IN BEING A CHRISTIAN |
| page 2 |
| Breaking the Jewish Mold As Luke tells it, the transition to other ethnic groups required some adjustments. Jewish disciples balked at letting go of their centuries-old traditions and allowing the church to be flooded with non-Jews. Peter, one of the most loyal Jews, explained his dilemma this way, "Who was I to think that I could oppose God?" (11:17). A direct, unmistakable vision from God (10:9-23) overcame Peter's resistance to accepting non-Jews, and later a decisive church council settled on a policy toward them (15:1-21). As the pages of Acts turn, whole provinces and cultures open up to the gospel. The faith that had been guarded by a small knot of intimates, all Jews who knew Jesus personally, broke out into a rough world of soldiers, sorcerers, merchants, and antagonists from other religions. This process was not without its bloody and frightening moments. Life Questions: If severe persecution came to the church in your region today, what would happen to your faith? |