Arguing for Christ: Paul

  During their year’s mission in Antioch, Barnabas and Paul had great success receiving many Gentiles into the Christian faith. However, their success gave rise to conflict in the community when members of the Jerusalem community argued that all converts first had to be circumcised and obey the detailed Law of Moses. Paul vigorously opposed this group, arguing that obedience to the Law does not bring anyone salvation: that is achieved through faith in Jesus Christ. However, those who argued that all Gentiles must obey the Law had an influential lobby, and Paul tells us in his letter to the Galatians that they even influence Peter: When Cephas came to Antioch…… I opposed him to his face, since he was manifestly in the wrong… When I saw they were not respecting the true meaning of the Good News, I said to Cephas in front of everyone, ‘’In spite of being a Jew, you live like the pagans…. So, you have no right to make the pagans copy Jewish ways.’’ (Galatians 2:11-14)

  You can hear the conflict in Paul’s account of what happened. When Luke tells the story of the Council of Jerusalem which was called to settle the question, he tidies up the conflict and all we get is the resolution! Paul, on the other hand, is clearly not embarrassed by having to argue his case openly and oppose very powerful and respected members of the Church. Paul puts his faith to work and argues for Christ, and it is largely through the Spirit working in him that the Church spread so rapidly among the Gentiles. Paul took Christ from within the precincts of the Jewish faith and introduced him to the pagan world.

  We should take heart from the conflict of the early Church because we know from experience that there will always be some confusion and disagreement in our complex community. Not everything is heavenly clear, and that is because we are here on earth! And that is why we need the Spirit. In the lives of all of us we have to work through confusion and aim for peace. The Church we belong to continues to grow and has to face new questions honestly in the light of the Spirit.