Is God the Author?
So, who was this Gamaliel person? Gamaliel the Elder, or Rabbi Gamaliel I, was the grandson of the great Jewish teacher, Hillel the Elder. The school of rabbis that Hillel established was one of two great schools of rabbis in Jerusalem. It survived for many years and many rabbis from this school served as leaders in the Sanhedrin, the council of elders or presbuteros. Hillel’s grandson, Gamaliel… our hero on this day… was just the first of seven Nasi, or leaders of the Sanhedrin, that came from this school. But it was not just that Gamaliel was the grandson of Hillel… a Nasi of the Sanhedrin… or a leading authority in the Sanhedrin in the middle of the first century… he was a great statesman and a great scholar with a deep faith in God.
Gamaliel is mentioned twice in the Bible, both times by name… which is unusual for someone who was not a follower of Jesus. In our passage today, he intercedes on behalf… or so it seems… of the apostles. Later, in chapter 22 of the Book of Acts, the Apostle Paul claims Gamaliel as his teacher of the law… to emphasize how strong his standing was in the Jewish community before he became a Christian. Well known in rabbinic literature, Gamaliel I was reputed to be one of the greatest teachers in the annals of Judaism. The Mishnah says of him, "Since Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died there has been no more reverence for the law, and purity and abstinence died out at the same time." While believing the law to be wholly inspired by God, Gamaliel ruled that the Sabbath laws should be less rigorous and more realistic. It was also Gamaliel who argued that the law should protect women during divorce and urged Jews to be kind towards Gentiles. He died in 63 CE, just a few years before the destruction of Jerusalem and the beginning of the great dispersion of the Jews. His son Simeon, who followed in his footsteps… even becoming Nasi of the Sanhedrin… fought against the Romans in the rebellion that led to the destruction of the Temple.
“So in the present case, I tell you,” Gamaliel told his colleagues in the Sanhedrin, “Keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is of God… if God is the author… you will not be able to overthrow them. In that case you may even be found fighting against God!" Gamaliel’s wisdom spoke to their hearts. They were convinced by him… and they let the apostles go with just a flogging. And those apostles went right back to what they had been doing… teaching in the Temple and in people’s homes about Jesus as the Messiah sent from God.
There is a book written by John McArthur entitled, “Twelve Ordinary Men.” It is book that examines the lives of the twelve apostles. They were ordinary men… like you and like me. But they believed they were called by Jesus himself to something greater… something more important than the work they did in their everyday lives… something for God. They were called to share the good news of the gospel… not just among themselves… but in people’s homes… in the Temple… in the marketplace… and everywhere that they went. They healed people… they cast out demons… and they shared the love of God with others in the name of Christ. They had a vision… a vision of the kingdom of God that Jesus had shared with them. In fulfilling this vision, they ate with tax collectors and sinners… they reached out to the untouchables of society… the lame… the sick… those possessed by demons… and from those … again… ordinary people… they built the kingdom of God and the church of Jesus Christ. And they did it despite the threat of poverty… of violence against them… the loss of friends and family… clinging to this vision of a different future.
My question for you today is “What is the vision that God has given… or is giving… to our church?” What is it that lifts us from the everyday into a journey that is a passionate commitment to Christ? What so inspires us that it causes us to lose sleep… forget family… ignore society… to serve him… and witness to his mighty acts and gracious love… with every cell of our being? What incredible vision would drive us to turn off our television sets…put aside our recreational activities…and commit ourselves to its achievement?
Let me name a few and ask you where you hear the voice of God speaking:
· Is our vision a ministry that reaches hundreds of youth each Wednesday night… filling their lives with love… with food… with fun… and with a witness to the Word of God? Oh, yes, we reach many youth already on Wednesday night, but what if God’s vision is greater? What if God sees us reaching into the lives of hundreds of youth, providing a safe… structured environment that gives them a solid Biblical foundation… introduces them to new friends… and through them, reaches the lives of brothers… sisters… fathers… mothers… and others? What would we do differently if we truly saw this as our mission… as a call of God on this church… to reach not just a few, but many youth in the name of Jesus? Would it change decisions we make about the buildings we build… the staff we hire… the training we provide… the support services we need? Is this our call?
· Is our vision a ministry that supports single mothers who are struggling to survive… who have been left with a child to care for, but have no family support system? What if God is calling us to open our doors during the daytime, as well as at night, to teach job skills… to provide counseling services… to teach parenting skills… and to help young women build a network of friends and community resources… while learning about the love of God for them and their children? What would we do differently if we truly believed that God was calling us to do this in our community?
· Is our vision a ministry to the homeless and disenfranchised of Stephenville? Yes, we don’t really talk about them… and most of the time we don’t really see them… but what if God is calling us to provide food… a hot meal or cold sandwiches once or twice a week… for those who have no other place to go? What decisions would we make if we believed that God was calling us to offer clean clothes… a hot shower… and a bag of personal hygiene items to those who have no way to obtain these things? No, it is not sexy. It is not pretty. It is not even comfortable for most of us. But did Jesus flinch when the man came out from behind the tombs to ask for his help? No. He not only healed him… but then he spent time teaching him so that he could share the good news with others. Did Jesus turn away the lepers… the lonely… the lost? Do we truly believe that God is calling us to this ministry now… as scary as that may be for us?
· Or is God’s vision for us a ministry to the Hispanic population of Stephenville… to those who are new to our country who still struggle with the language… or access to resources? Is God calling us to reach out to provide ESL classes… or opportunities for Christian fellowship for Hispanic men or women… perhaps providing a chance for them to relax where their children can play in a supervised area while they learn about Jesus and share their struggles? Is it sexy? No. Is it comfortable for us to do? No. Is it popular? No. But is it something that God is calling us to do in this place?
· Is our vision in a ministry to the elderly in our community… perhaps specifically to those who suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia… who are still living at home… and those who care for them? Do we know the struggles of the these caregivers… and the stresses of that disease on the entire family system? Are we willing to learn… to open our doors to those who need to “get away” for a time… caring for their loved ones… providing a time apart for the caregivers… making the changes that are needed in our church building… in our sanctuary… to accommodate those who struggle with health issues… both physical and mental… as they age? Do we hear God’s call to reach out to the silent pain in our community… and invite these special people into our midst… not just on the weekends… on Sunday… but other days as well? What would we do differently if we truly believed that God had placed this call on us… and no other church in this community?
What is the vision that would bring us to our feet… to make a commitment to our Lord… that we will take on the challenge that lies before us… and not rest until the task is complete? I do not know. But there are two things that I do know. The first is this: I know that God has called each of us into ministry in this church… and that the ministry he calls us to is not to us! When we follow Jesus and the disciples through the Bible, we do not find places where Jesus focused his ministry on the needs of his disciples. He taught them… yes. But what he taught them was how to serve others… those outside the circle… those who were not disciples… those who did not know the story of God’s love and God’s mighty acts. Jesus’ ministry was not a club that people joined to receive services for themselves… it was a service club… providing services to others who were not members of the club. Where is the emphasis of our ministry today? Do we believe that God has another plan?
Research shows that one in three American adults does not belong to a church… never attends church… and many of these do not even have an idea that they should… or that they need to attend church. I have put copies of a recent study done by the Barna Group on the foyer table for those of you that are interested in reading more. Research also shows that we, as Christians, tend to hang around with other Christians… so much so that we often believe that everyone thinks the way we do. But what about those who are enjoying a late breakfast at Peacocks right about now? I would guess that they never even asked themselves which church they were going to today… I would guess that church didn’t even cross their minds. Peter and the disciples were sharing the stories of Jesus… not with other disciples, as we do on Sunday… but with all those who had never heard the stories… in people’s homes… in the Temple… and all over Galilee.
The second thing that I know is that the work of God is messy. The people who lives truly cry out for God rarely fit into a nice, neat little package that is easily defined. Their lives are messy… their health is messy… their homes are messy… their family situations are messy…and those who reach out to them find that their own lives get messy as a result. It is not comfortable to work with those whom God puts in our path. It pokes us and prods us out of our comfort zone. Jesus didn’t hang around with the popular people. Jesus didn’t have dinner at the best restaurants in first century Palestine. Jesus did not eat with people who would advance his career… grease the skids of his ministry… pay big dollars to support his work. He ate with tax collectors and sinners… with the poor… with lepers… with blind people… with fishermen and shepherds… with the outcasts of society. I don’t believe that it is possible for us to truly minister to those who need Jesus… and keep our distance from what is ugly… messy… difficult… uncomfortable… and challenging. But, if we believe that God is truly calling us to do these things, then God will teach us… as he taught his own disciples… how to do it.
If, in these moments of thought, God has poked or prodded you in some way, will you share that with your elder? Can we, as a church committed to the work of Jesus Christ in this city, work together to understand the vision that God has already planned for us? Can we together build a ministry that touches lives and transforms people? Will you be a part of that effort? As our small groups meet… as our elders get to know all of us better… as our Session works to identify the components of our vision… share your thoughts… your dreams… the voice of God in your life with others… that together we might move into a future that moves mountains in the name of Jesus Christ. For… as Gamaliel shared with his colleagues… if it is of God… if God is the author… no one will be able to stop us… and those who try may even be found fighting against God himself! Come… share the journey. Amen.
Acts 5:25-42