It was a big shift in his way of thinking – no doubt about it.
It was such a radical shift in his way of thinking that it caused a fuss among some when he returned to Jerusalem.
The episode of Peter with a Roman centurion – a Gentile, if you will – was no small issue. It was a departure from the norm that had a set up from God to explain when it happened so it wouldn’t come from nowhere. The integrity and track record of Peter gave him the opportunity to explain himself.
It was a contentious point before he spoke. As he explained himself, though, so it became clear to all who listened that this was indeed God in action. It was God in action because there were witnesses to the Holy Spirit being experienced by these Gentiles just as the Jews had experienced. Peter’s account of events ended with those gathered acknowledging this and giving glory to God.
Surely that would be the end of the story …
Some time later, though, another incident caused a gathering of the apostles and the elders. Paul and Barnabas had approached this council in Jerusalem to highlight an issue raised in their experiences of Gentiles being told that unless they were circumcised they could not be saved. Paul and Barnabas opposed this move and it threatened the unity of the church again. It was one thing for Gentiles to hear and accept the good news of Jesus Christ and receive the Holy Spirit, but did that require them to follow the law of Moses as carefully as the Jews?
In the middle of the debate that took place in Jerusalem, Peter could have sat it out and let others argue their points. Yet the perspective shift in Peter had not departed from him. There was something about the experience that he had, that urged him to speak up on this matter.
Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will. (Acts 15:10-11)
The shift in perspective could not afford to be temporary and arbitrary. This was a shift for the people to be in line with God’s perspective on things. This wasn’t a personal revelation for Peter to be amused with and impact no one else.
Peter’s life acts as a good reference point for people to see the importance of shifting perspective to be aligned more with God’s view. It is something that should shift perspectives for the community, not just the individual. It is not something that takes place overnight and sticks. It is is something that needs reinforcing and sharing from generation to generation so we are sure of the commitment to seeing things as God sees them.
In case you think that the shift in Peter was permanent itself, Paul would later report of an incident where he would have to oppose Peter directly. That episode involved Peter somewhat backtracking on his engagement with Gentiles when some hardcore Jews rocked up. The rebuke Peter received was not to shame him, but to remind him of that commitment he made and how important his consistency and integrity in that which God revealed was.
(Photo by Paul Skorupskas on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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