Acts 21

Read: Acts 21

In chapter 21, we see Paul do something peculiar.  Paul’s fellow Jews in Jerusalem tell him that people in the city are claiming that he is teaching the Jews who are among the Gentiles to completely abandon the law of Moses.  They then tell him to go into the temple and purify himself along with four other men according to the Jewish ceremonial rituals to prove them wrong. To our surprise, Paul complies.  This is peculiar because Paul has been preaching that Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and that the law does not profit anyone or make anyone righteous with God. He also taught Gentiles that they did not need to follow the ceremonial laws of purification and circumcision.  

I think what we see here is Paul demonstrating what he says in 1 Corinthians 9:22; “I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.”  Paul knows that Jesus is the fulfillment of the law.  The rituals of the law do not make a person clean, only the sacrifice of Jesus makes a person clean.  Paul also knows that the Jews will not listen to him if he does not meet them where they are, thus he compromises.  It is not a sin to follow the law. The law is a good thing that God gave; it just didn’t make a person righteous or bring salvation because no one could keep it perfectly except for Jesus.  Paul did what he needed to do in order to be heard by the Jews so they could accept the message of Jesus. Unfortunately for Paul, they still didn’t want to listen…

Often times in the church, we expect people to meet us where we are.  We invite people to our church events or Bible studies, but don’t really think about the fact that the church isn’t simply a place or an event.  WE are the church! We are called to bring the church to the world. Sometimes that requires going to a baseball game with a friend even if you don’t really like baseball.  Sometimes it may mean sacrificing your church music preferences so more people feel welcome. Sometimes it may mean serving the poor or loving people in your workplace even when it’s not easy for you.  Meeting people where they are at does not mean you compromise on the gospel. It also doesn’t mean you compromise on sin. But if it doesn’t compromise on either of those things and it helps remove barriers that may block a person from believing in Christ… by all means, we should be willing to step out and do whatever it takes to point people to Jesus.