Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
The above words are coming from the lips of the Apostle James. He was the leader, apparently, of the Jerusalem church in specific and the Church in general. There was a challenge in the early church centered around salvation regarding Jewish traditions, specifically circumcision. Those Jewish Christian were making the case that if you came to Christ as a Gentile you needed, as well, to become circumcised. Paul, Barnabas and Peter all spoke to this argument. They rightly all agreed that coming to Christ was by faith alone. James pronounces this decision in the above passage. They were concerned that the Jews were adding requirements to the Gentiles. They wanted to prevent that. But, an interesting aspects of James’ decision was that he also addresses another challenge. Not only did they want to prevent the Jewish Christian from hindering the Gentiles, they also wanted to make sure the Gentiles did not hinder the Jewish Christian. James gives them requirements as to how to live in front of their Jewish Christians. Just as Jewish Christians can’t put a stumbling block in front of Gentiles coming to Christ, so, too, Gentiles are not to put a stumbling block in front of Jews as they live for Christ. This decision was to cover both the challenges they faced. Great decision making is about finding solutions that meet the needs of the decision.
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