May the mumbling commence!
The church of Jesus Christ expands barriers that were once thought rigid and set. Jesus calls us to return to the concept of the blessing of Abram – that all the peoples will be blessed through him. If we are followers in faith of Jesus, we are at the least spiritual children of Abraham – the father of many nations. The church in Antioch spread aggressively from Jewish people to Gentile people. Read about it from the end of Acts chapter eleven:
Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Verses 19-26)
The church at Jerusalem was only coming to terms with the acceptance of Cornelius and his household as Gentile followers of the Way of Jesus. Now, the Word of God was being brought to far flung countries in Greece. The people who had scattered from the persecution following Stephen’s death brought the Word of God to the Jews in these cities of the Diaspora. They were bringing the Good News of Jesus, the Messiah.
Then the grace of God moved beyond what the witnesses from Jerusalem intended. Some of the native men decided that they were called to extend the message of Good News in Jesus to their neighbors. The Lord’s hand was upon them, and many people turned to the Lord.
The church of Jerusalem found out about this sharing of the Way with Greeks, so they sent Barnabas to investigate. And Barnabas saw the grace of God evident in the Greek converts, so he encouraged them to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus. It was Barnabas’ personality to encourage –his name means “Son of Encouragement”.
Barnabas quickly found himself in over his head in Antioch, so he went in search of help. He brought Saul to Antioch. Together, they stayed and taught the growing numbers of the church in Antioch for an entire year.
By encouraging God’s grace to grow, Barnabas and Saul did more than grow a church numerically. They also grew the church spiritually. Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. The term Christian was at first a derogatory term created by those who would oppose the Good News. It meant “little Christs”.
Oh, to be known as little Christs! Let us discard those human barriers that we have constructed around ourselves – to keep others out and to keep us “safe”. These barriers are nothing to the powerful and living Lord of all. Let us follow the flow of the Holy Spirit wherever it might lead – it is the flow of the grace of God. Let us get in over our heads in ministry to the Lord. And let us call on others for help.
Together and with the grace of God, we might be worthy of the name Christian.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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