In Acts 14, we see that Paul is aware of tensions between the Jewish and Gentile believers. One issue raised was their dietary habits and laws. The Jewish believers would not eat meat or drink wine because most of the meat and wine were contaminated according to kosher laws because they were offered to idols. The Gentile believers seemed to have eaten these meats offered to idols without any regard or without guilt. In fact we find in Acts 15 that the council met to discuss this issue of what the Gentiles must do as far as following Mosaic Law. The council concluded the Gentiles should abstain from anything that has been contaminated by idols, from fornicating and they should also abstaining from anything strangled and avoid any contact with blood.
It is evident there were major problems with the relationship between Jews and Gentiles by Paul’s seeming seesawing between the two groups found in Romans. Paul’s final plea to these two groups was to not cause your brother to stumble. Paul’s reminder to them should also serve as a reminder to us today not to do anything that would cause our brother to stumble.
Observing Acts, Galatians and James, we still see the same divisiveness today, just under a different banner or title. In light of recent events, we see in the media that a certain politician and his pastor are being scrutinized over their affiliation with one another. Pastor Wright seems to be preaching this very division we see and parallel with the fist-century church. I think that the cure is going to ultimately be love. The love of Christ poured out on all of us. If we pick up the banner of love, we will no longer look at what divides us like race, culture, etc. We will become united. The first-century church was so caught up in their own rules and regulations, that they missed the true blessing that God sent his Son Jesus to unite us all under His banner of grace and atonement, to all that would be in unity and submission to Him.
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