16 Jul Missing the Point

CWM Sunday

MISSING THE POINT

Now the apostles and the brothers and sisters who were in Judea heard that the gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” (Acts 11:1-3)

Criticism! That word that makes you cringe with discomfort and frustration. That word that gives you sleepless nights or even depression. That word that Peter was experiencing criticism of his actions. Criticism is part of the human experience, and you will face it in various seasons of your life.

The sad thing is that Peter was being criticized, not by strangers or the opposition. He was being criticized by his own! Fellow Jews. Fellow believers. Fellow circumcised brothers. Fellow colleagues. And when criticism comes from your own, it is especially painful. You will feel ‘on your own’ while you are ‘among your own.’

So, what had happened to cause the criticism? Peter had obeyed God’s instruction to go to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile, to be hosted there and to preach to them, following which the Gentile crowd had converted and received the Holy Spirit. Back in Jerusalem, Peter was welcomed with criticism over this.

The truth about the criticism is that the fellow circumcised believers totally missed the point! Here was an amazing act of God where “the Holy Spirit was poured on the Gentiles” (v.45), and they were “speaking in tongues and praising God” (v.46). This was no human-made occurrence; this was God in action because only God had the power to pour out God’s Spirit upon people. They missed the point that this was an act of God, not an act of Peter!

We must beware that when we are criticized, we, too, begin to miss the point. We must remember the saying, “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” The main thing here was God’s action, but the circumcised believers focused on the minor thing—on Peter the human, and their cultural laws.

There is a need to look at the truth behind any criticism. In this case, the believers criticized because what God had done through Peter was unfamiliar territory for

them. It destabilized their superior position over Gentiles. It challenged their longheld traditions and laws. It meant no more privilege in the faith. No more oneupmanship. No more high ground. No more putting the gospel in their pocket like a personal possession.

All because the Gentiles “also” had received the word of God (v.1). That word “also” is problematic to those who live with privilege. “Also” means inclusivity, opening the doors, letting go of gate-keeping, allowing others in, and sharing privilege. Whenever you are criticized for doing any of these things for the sake of Christ, hang in there, God will fight for you. And remember the earlier words of Peter: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:9). Peter did not cower because of the criticism against him. He confidently explained what God had done, and the result was amazing: “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God” (v.18). From bitter criticism to praising God for the same thing!

prayer

Lord, teach us to stand strong in the face of criticism against your outcomes. Give us the courage to explain your actions to those around us like Peter did to the fellow believers. Amen!

for further thought

Remember and list out the experiences where you have faced criticism for the good things you have done for God-sake.

Lydia C. Neshangwe

Moderator, Council for World Mission