Sermon - God’s Grace Collides With Culture
Scripture: Acts 10:1-23 “In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said. Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.” As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa. The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.” But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven. Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there. Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.” So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?” They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.”
Introduction: After hearing a message about correcting injustice, a church member approached the pastor weeping, asking forgiveness and confessing that he hadn’t voted in favor of the black minister to be pastor of their church because of his own prejudice. “I really need you to forgive me. I don’t want the junk of prejudice and racism spilling over into my kid’s lives. I didn’t vote for you and I was wrong.” His tears of confession were met with the tears of forgiveness of the minister. A week later, the entire church rejoiced upon hearing the man’s testimony of how God had worked in his heart. Even Peter, a disciples of Jesus, and a chief leader in the early church, had to be corrected because of his ill-conceived notions about non-Jewish people.
In his autobiography the political and spiritual leader of India Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days, he read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus, He could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. So one Sunday he decided to attend services at a nearby church; and afterwards talk to the minister about becoming a Christian. When he entered the sanctuary, however, the usher refused to give him a seat & suggested that he go worship with his own people. Gandhi left the church and never returned.
He wrote: "If Christians have caste differences also, "I might as well remain a Hindu." That usher's prejudice not only betrayed Jesus; it robbed the Church of a great influential voice and even sadder than that, it turned away a person away from trusting Jesus Christ as Savior.
Sadly, prejudice is found all over the world, In South Africa it’s black & white; In Sri Lanka it is Tamil & Singhalese; In Northern Ireland it is Catholic & Protestant; In North India it is Muslim and Hindu; In Europe it often seems to be Britain verses the rest. Even in Britain they boast of four nationalities; English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish. Then there is local prejudice you find in places like Cornwall or Yorkshire. Quote: "An unprejudiced mind is the rarest thing in the world" Unless you happen to be like the man who said: "I am not prejudiced, I hate everyone!" All of us if we are honest are prejudiced. And your prejudice may not be mine, And my prejudice may not be yours. But if we are honest, even as Christians we can at times still be very prejudiced.
Webster's dictionary simply defines prejudice as: "Preconceived judgment." Do you see in yourself a tendency to be prejudice against others? Don't give me an answer, just think about it! To help you, I want to do a quick prejudice test - What images comes to mind when you think of:
Africans, Asians, Europeans? What if a family of them moved in next door or in your new neighbors?
How about the poor? Or those who are wealthy? Do you write off people by their age? Too old or too young!
Do you categorize people by the length or the shortness of their hair? By the cosmetics they wear or don't wear?
Do you categorize people politically? What about Socialists? Or Conservatives or Liberals?
Do you categorize people by their traditions and prejudices that caused the Jews to see the Gentiles as inferior.
As a Christian, how do you feel about people who have failed? People who are divorced? People who have had mental breakdowns? People who have been in psychiatric hospitals?
What about your religious prejudices? How do you view those who attend a different denominational church? Who worship differently than you do? Those Charismatics or other Reformers? Do these questions make you feel uncomfortable? When prejudice is in operation, it will always collide with God's grace.
Albert Edelstein, says during the life and times of Jesus the Messiah, “Every gentile child, as soon as born, was to be regarded as unclean…the Mishnah goes so far as to forbid aid to a (Gentile) mother in the hour of her need, or nourishment to her babe, in order not to bring up a child in idolatry! It was not safe to leave cattle in their charge, to allow their women to nurse infants, or their physicians to attend the sick, nor to walk in their company. They and theirs were defiled; their house unclean, as containing idols or things dedicated to them; their feasts, their joyous occasions, their very contact was polluted by idolatry; and there was no security, if a heathen were left alone in a room, he might defile the wine or meat on the table, or the oil and wheat in the store. Milk drawn by heathens, if a Jew were not present to watch it, bread and oil prepared by them was unlawful. Their wine was wholly polluted, the mere touch of a heathen polluted a whole container, even to put one’s nose to heathen wine was strictly prohibited!” This was Peter's Jewish background.
Peter had these same prejudicial sentiments lingering like a foul odor in his mind. Only a fresh breath of God's grace, could clear the air, and open up the door to a world of Gentiles who were waiting to follow Christ. That refreshing breeze came unexpectedly when God brought Cornelius and Peter face to face, in a supernatural way. Prejudice is so strong that sometimes it’s barrier can only be broken by God's Intervention.
Cornelius, the gentile was the first to experience the divine nudge that brought the two men together. The Gentile, Cornelius was a military leader at Caesarea, a centurion in the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing who generously gave to those in need and prayed to God regularly. As a centurion, Cornelius would have commanded a 80 men who were based at the port of Caesarea. Caesarea was the Roman capitol of Judea. It needed a Roman troop to protect the harbor area, the city’s administrative buildings, and to protect the vital water supply brought by aqueduct into the city.
Cornelius was neither a Jew nor a Jewish convert, neither was he a Christian. Yet he was a seeker of the true God who got God’s attention. Unlike most Romans who were polytheistic, worshipping many Gods. Cornelius was monotheistic, worshipping only one God. He worshipped God in word and deeds. His search for God gave him a concern for men. He gave money to the Jewish people. God rewarded him with a divine vision. God knows how to reward every seeker. Our search for God should give us a concern for men. Before Cornelius finds his answers, God’s Grace goes on a collision course to break down barriers that limited his access to God. When prejudice is in operation, it will always collide with God's grace.
1. God’s Grace On a Collision Course to Break Down Barriers
Peter was forced to come to terms with his own pride, which is the bottom-line reason for his struggle. Through Peter's example we can learn just how entrenched our prejudices really are and how difficult it is to pry ourselves lose from them.
These events in Acts 10, probably took place about six years after the crucifixion. In Acts chapters 1-7 the church was born and established in Jerusalem admid growing opposition to the message of Jesus Christ. Stephen was killed (the first Christian martyr) in Acts chapter 8. Then a wave of persecution scattered the believers into Judea and Samaria and as they went, they preached the gospel everywhere. As a result of their witness, the church grew even more. Up to now there has always been a Jewish connection with the Gospel: Jews with a Hebrew or Greek background, then half-Jews of Samaria believed, then an African Jewish convert (he had been worshipping in Jerusalem). But now the time has come for the gospel to go, even wider - to the Gentiles.
2. God’s Grace is On a Mission to Build Bridges of Hope. Some barriers must be broken down so new bridges can be built. Geographically, two cities mentioned are Joppa and Caesarea. Joppa was a seaside town, Northwest of Jerusalem, Peter was staying there in the house of Simon the tanner. 30 miles up the coast from Joppa was Caesarea. Caesarea was where Cornelius lived. The two towns were about a day’s journey apart.
God selected Abraham to begin a Hebrew nation through whom He would send the Messiah. This special people through whom he could work would began a new era in the world. The Jewish people were to introduce a loving God to the world; what God was doing with the Jews, He could do with any nation that trusted and walked with him. The Jews were His chosen people, not because they were special. Yet being chosen by God made them special and unique. But as time went on they began to see themselves as superior to other nations, believing that they were chosen because they were special.
After a divine messenger told Cornelius, “your prayers and alms have been received by God.” He was told to send some men to Joppa to find Peter, He will tell you what to do. Cornelius immediately obeys, He wasted no time and followed God’s instructions. He sends three men two servants and his personal attendant on the errand. God’s grace was on a mission to build a bridge that who extend to the Gentile world.
Meanwhile, knowing nothing of Cornelius or his vision, God gave Peter a vision of his own. Peter, a Jewish apostle, one of the 12 disciples had problems of his own. Even though he was a pillar in the church, he had within him deep-seated prejudice. The Apostle was on the house-top praying when he fell into a trance. Peter was famished, and God gives to him a vision of food! God uses his hunger to teach Peter a life-changing lesson. In his vision, he saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners, containing all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."”
Peter’s diet as a Jew was exceedingly strict, excluding many foods eaten regularly by Gentiles. This sheet was filled with foods forbidden by his culture. Peter’s diet was governed by Jewish Law. All his life Peter has never eaten any of those animals that appeared in the sheet. Yet in this vision, God tells Peter to “Get up, kill and eat.” “Not so, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
All his life he has been told certain foods were unclean, now he is being told to kill and eat. Unlike Cornelius who obeyed right away, Peter objects. On the one hand he calls God "Lord" but on the other hand he says, "No way." Peter probably remembered the words of Jesus who said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do the things I say”
Peter's pride was spoiling his devotion to his Master. In fact, Peter lectures the Lord saying, "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." "Lord, this gentile eats pork Chops and spare ribs." Your book says, "Don't eat pigs and never go near people who eat them."
3. God’s Grace On a Mission to Expand Our Perception. At times our perception of God, grace, and inclusion is too narrow. Peter had justification for his actions and was not easily convinced. God repeated the vision three times, even then Peter was perplexed. His heart was right, but perception was limited by his traditions and prejudice. God must expand our personal perception that are so deeply engrained in our lives. A narrow perception makes it difficult to see the full measure of grace. Our prejudices can be so deeply engrained they hinder us from seeing the great benefits of grace and God’s plan for something more. God must break down barriers, build bridges and expand our perception. God provided such an opportunity for Peter. When three Gentile messengers came knocking on the door, God begins a Gentile and Jewish connection. The Lord's vision to Peter was no longer a theory, but a perception expansion. God gives Peter an opportunity to put into practice this new insight.
The change we see is in Peter’s Hospitality. Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. Peter was still processing the vision, as he moved out in faith. The messengers of Cornelius said, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion, He is a righteous and God fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say".
Peter was faced with a choice. How would he respond to the messengers, to his vision? Peter obeyed the vision and brought the message of salvation to Cornelius. Peter has been called the ‘patron saint of failures’ because he made lots of mistakes. But never forget Peter was also a very quick learner. After a divine vision, personal encounter, and a Gentile visit, the Peter who finishes the chapter is different to the one who started it! Peter learnt three valuable truths through this incident, principles that still apply today. The 3 things he learned.
The root of prejudice is pride. Prejudice is thinking you are superior to someone else. Your color, country of origin, social status or your good morals lifts you above others and makes you better. The Bible is very clear in showing partiality is a sin and should be recognized as such! James 2:9, "But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law-breakers". The first essential element in dealing with prejudice is the Acceptance of ALL. In Acts chapter 10 Peter had a choice to hold on to his traditions and pride as a chosen one or to apply the new truths that Jesus had shown to him in his vision. D.L. Moody once said, "The biggest argument against Christianity is Christians" and "The biggest argument for Christianity is Christians". Only when we act like Jesus, can we become available for people like Jesus, accept people like Jesus, win people like Jesus. We preach a “Whosoever will Gospel” for whosoever will people. Our prejudices are very stubborn, and they are strengthened by culture, traditions and personal preference. In the Bible, All of us are created equal! To deal with prejudice we have to be honest and humble. Honest enough to admit that we might have a problem and be humble enough to be willing to deal with it! Peter had to humble himself. He accepted these men and gave them shelter. Then he journeyed with them and entered the home of gentiles. This would cause a scandal back home, his reputation destroyed, and critics would judge him, but God celebrated him. All Peter is doing is following in the footsteps of his master! Jesus was a man who welcomed sinners and ate with them!”
Facing the wrong in prejudice is painful to all. Leo Tolstoy once said, “Everybody thinks of changing Humanity, and nobody thinks of changing Himself. Change is always difficult, but it is also liberating. Expanding the door of perception was just the beginning. Peter would deal with it many times in his ministry. Even though, he was confronted by Paul later in his ministry and challenged to stand for the truth, he rose to the occasion. For Peter, it was friends from Jerusalem that caused him to have flashbacks, for us it may be different. We must remember God’s Grace on a collision course to break down barriers that divide people; Grace on a mission to build bridges of hope between classes, races and traditions, and finally God’s Grace on a mission to expand our perception of who qualifies for his goodness, who is acceptable in His sight and who can be admitted into His kingdom. We must allow God’s Grace to help break down our limiting barriers, build bridges to others and expand our perception. Overcoming these limitations are necessary if we want to see the kind of world God desires. God loves the whole world and desires to see all men saved.
Revelation 7:9-12 “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
