What Should We Do?

The next day Paul went with us to meet with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present. After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry. After hearing this, they praised God. And then they said, “You know, dear brother, how many thousands of Jews have also believed, and they all follow the law of Moses very seriously. But the Jewish believers here in Jerusalem have been told that you are teaching all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn their backs on the laws of Moses. They’ve heard that you teach them not to circumcise their children or follow other Jewish customs. What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come. [Acts 21.18-22]

The 'elephant in the room' was the Law of Moses. And, while it seems Jesus had raised some questions about it, Peter's experience brought attention to a change in the way God wished His people to observe it (the Law). It really looked like it was all working out at first...

When Paul arrived back in Jerusalem however, James and the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem realized they had a problem.

"What should we do?" was certainly the right question to ask. However, their solution may or may not have been the best response.

“Here’s what we want you to do. We have four men here who have completed their vow. Go with them to the Temple and join them in the purification ceremony, paying for them to have their heads ritually shaved. Then everyone will know that the rumors are all false and that you yourself observe the Jewish laws. [Acts 21.23-24]

While the purification ceremony was not, in and of itself, necessarily a bad thing, the fact that it was done for a reason other than purification was. In fact, it could have been seen as a ruse - intended to manipulate the Jewish believers' thinking.

It seems the transition from the Law to Grace was not so easy. Had the Church in Jerusalem, being predominantly Jewish, gravitated back toward their comfort level of observance of the Law?

Times were indeed changing. Paul best described the Law as a "school master" whose time had come and gone. However, the lasting hold of the Law would not let go so easily.

Let's put this train of thought on hold however and get back to the question, "What should we do?"

What indeed should the Church leaders have done? I personally believe the Church missed the perfect opportunity to call believers far and wide to prayer. It had certainly worked out well for the earlier believers in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost to be in one accord in prayer! How might circumstances have been different if everything was "paused" long enough to have a miraculous intervention of the Holy Spirit.

The mistake should have been immediately recognized as a plan hatched by man, "Here's what we want you to do..." 

Question: what does it matter what "we" want anyone to do? 

I propose the Church leaders should have instead said, "Let's time-out on this matter until we have conclusive and confirmed direction from the Holy Spirit!"

But, just like only God can do, He turned what was obviously ill-gotten direction of the Church leaders into prison time for Paul which yielded some powerful letters most of us now know as Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

The point of this writing is this: we should never be in too big a rush to pause as long as it takes to get direction from the Holy Spirit in prayer. That said, even if we bumble through a missed opportunity for prayer, God, being God, is fully capable to accomplish good from our mistakes.

Father, so much of my life has been filled with rash decisions based on human reason, popular opinion, or who knows what other than the absolute leading of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to stop and pray...