Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.” The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, “My brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written, ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; from its ruins I will rebuild it, and I will set it up, so that all other peoples may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called. Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things known from long ago.’ Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood. For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues.” (Acts 15:1-21, NRSV)
Who is welcome to be a part of the fellowship?
Certain individuals said, that “unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” But others said the Holy Spirit was present and that the foreskin doesn’t matter.
So who is welcome in your place of worship?
At the first congregation, I was pastor at, the pastor before me had a statement which I believe he adapted from another congregation for the congregation he was serving then. I read the statement and I agreed with it. Now I still have this statement and I take it with me to every congregation I go to. Now everyone in all of my congregations do not agree with the statement I am sure, and the only one it was officially a statement of the congregation was my first call, Hosanna Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, OH.
I include it here because I believe this is the statement the early church was getting to in the acceptance by those of the covenant from old of those newly accepted by the Spirit who did not have the physical sign of circumcision.
We at Hosanna proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and the new life he brings. We welcome all to join with us in our journey of faith.
May God give us the grace to welcome and forgive one another as Christ has welcomed and forgiven us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son to die for it.” (John 3:16)
We want it to be known that “we are justified by the grace of God, which is a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 3:20)
We want it to be known that those of different nationality, ethnicity, culture and heritage are welcome here.
We want it to be known that those who suffer from addiction to drugs and alcohol (whether they are recovering or not) and their families are welcome here.
We want it to be known that women and children are welcome here and that they will not be harassed or abused.
We want it to be known that in this congregation you can bring children to worship and, even if they cry during the entire service, they are welcome here.
We want it to be known that those who are single by choice, by divorce, or through the death of a spouse are welcome here.
We want it to be known that if you are promiscuous, have had an abortion, or have fathered children and taken no responsibility for them, you are welcome here.
We want it to be known that gossips, cheats, liars, and their families are welcome here.
We want it to be known that those who are disobedient to their parents and who have family problems are welcome here.
We want it to be known that gays, lesbians, and members of their families are welcome here.
We want it to be known that we offer hope to the hurting, refreshment to the ones who are tired, encouragement to those who are overworked in busy lives and renewal to the people who are “burned out.”
We want it to be known that we take seriously the apostle Paul’s statement, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) The young and the old, the rich and the poor, all of the broken are welcome here.
We offer welcome here because we believe that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly,” (Romans 5:8) that is, us. Christ did not die for us after we showed signs of “getting it all together.” Christ loved us and still loves us while we are yet sinners. Sinners are welcome here, sinners like you and me and our neighbors. Let us not condemn the world, but let us proclaim God’s forgiveness and grace to a broken and hurting world.
We want it to be known that, since we are a sinful people, we will not always be as quick to welcome as we should. Let us be quick to admit our sin and seek forgiveness.
We want it to be known that we do not think that we have all of the answers. We are merely travelers on the journey. We invite you to join us as fellow travelers in the journey. You are welcome and are invited to join us as we seek God’s grace together.
Sincerely,
Hosanna Lutheran Church
aSacredRebel 