Walls Crumble, and Bridges are Made (Acts 11:1-18)

We welcome Rev. Austin Britton to our pulpit this morning. We hear his message exhorting us not to be Pharisees who cling uncritically to tradition, but to draw the boundaries where our Lord draws the boundaries. We are encouraged to discern what is pleasing to the Lord as we conduct ourselves.

Rev. Britton recalls that the fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of a significant boundary, much like the vision Peter received in Acts 11. This vision, where God commanded Peter to eat unclean animals, challenged the longstanding Jewish distinction between Jews and Gentiles. Despite God’s command, Peter hesitated, clinging to familiar boundary lines, which illustrates the difficulty of overcoming ingrained traditions and embracing a new understanding of God’s people.

The vision of the blanket in Acts 11 challenges Peter and the early church to embrace a diverse and inclusive community, welcoming sinners of all backgrounds. This vision has implications for the church today, urging us to recognize God’s work in unexpected places and to avoid turning preferences into principles. We are called to discern God’s leading, even when it challenges our comfort zones and established ways of doing church.

The text emphasizes the need for unity within the church, challenging needless divisions between denominations. It highlights the unifying power of the gospel, which erases barriers and brings people together in Christ. Rev. Britton encourages believers to examine their own biases and seek God’s guidance in embracing unity, as exemplified by the early church’s response to Peter’s vision.

He will provide insight and, through the Spirit, bring renewal.