The first Reformation!
by Pastor Stephen Abraham
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Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right’ (Acts 10:34,35).
When I was a young man at university, one of my very secular music history professors asked the class, ‘What is the single greatest historical event in the past 2000 years?’
The answer: the Reformation! So, I trust you had a happy Reformation Day yesterday! Today we read about another Reformation-like event, the first that the fledgling followers of Jesus faced.
In a few short chapters in Acts, there is a paradigm shift. A massive movement in thinking for this fledgling Jewish off-shoot that brought into question so much of their identity, heritage and worldview: that non-Jews can be saved!
So the setup: a non-Jewish ‘God-fearer’ (a Roman centurion of all people!) has a vision and is commanded to meet up with Peter. At the same time, Peter has a vision about God commanding him three times to break the Old Testament laws on eating unclean animals. This is shocking; from birth, Peter had been taught from Scripture never to eat what is profane or unclean, but the voice from heaven clearly said, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane’ (Acts 10:15).
As Peter ponders this strange vision, an entourage sent by Cornelius arrives, asks for Peter, and tells him about Cornelius’ vision. Peter goes with them to Caesarea, where Cornelius has gathered his family and friends to hear what Peter has to say. As Peter listens to Cornelius tell his story, the significance of his own vision becomes crystal clear. Peter believes God has shown him that he should not consider anyone unclean; uncircumcised Gentiles can become followers of Jesus!
What Peter says is profound. It is one of the earliest creedal statements summarising the core beliefs of the Christian faith. And those first words from verse 34: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality …’.
I know historically that this took time and lots of effort for the early church to finally fully resolve and accept. But I often ponder what would have happened to Christianity if Acts 10 did not occur. Without it, Christianity may have stayed as a small Jewish sect, and most of us Gentiles wouldn’t know Jesus and be his followers. No church, a much smaller New Testament (if at all!), no missions, no Reformation, no Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand!
So, thank you, Peter and Cornelius, for listening and heeding the Spirit’s prompting and Luke for recording it for us!
Almighty God, thank you for this first challenge that the church overcame. May it fill us with hope in the challenges we face. Hold us together and lead us forward, Holy Spirit, so we can fulfil our mission to make disciples, baptise and teach. Amen.
Stephen Abraham is a retired Lutheran pastor and musician who served as a school pastor and church planter in Mawson Lakes, South Australia. Stephen retired early due to a spinal injury, leaving him largely housebound with chronic pain (documented by Lutheran Media on its Messages of Hope YouTube channel in 2014). When Stephen can, he still preaches, takes school chapels and serves his local church. He also writes and records personal songs, worship songs and Christian meditations, which he shares on his YouTube channel (youtube.com/StephenAbrahamMusic).
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