Miss Nan

When Barnabas and Paul were preaching salvation by grace through faith at the mission church in Antioch, a group came from the mother church and declared that Gentiles could only be saved if they were circumcised. A fierce debate took place between them and Barnabas and Paul. No one gave in, so a group went to Jerusalem to appear before the apostles and elders and the church to settle this matter.Barnabas and Paul told their story. Silence! Then the apostles and elders came together. There was much discussion. Then Peter rose up and said, WE BELIEVE THAT THROUGH THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WE SHALL BE SAVED EVEN AS THEY (Acts 15:11). More silence!Then Barnabas and Paul spoke and told WHAT MIRACLES AND WONDERS GOD HAD WROGHT AMONG THE GENTILES BY THEM (15:12). Even more silence!Then Pastor James stood up and said, MY SENTENCE IS THAT WE TROUBLE THEM NOT, WHICH FROM AMONG THE GENTILES ARE TURNED TO GOD (15:19). He went on to say in essence, “Let’s write them a letter concerning some social issues while approving their salvation by grace.Notice what happened when the pastor spoke. 15:22: THEN PLEASED IT THE APOSTLES AND ELDERS, WITH THE WHOLE CHURCH….15:25: IT SEEMED GOOD UNTO US, BEING ASSEMBLED WITH ONE ACCORD….After all disputings and discussions, the pastor spoke. When he did, the whole church came together in one accord and followed the advice of the pastor.It is all right to discuss, but when the leadership of the church speaks about the direction the Lord is leading His church, the body should come together and follow with one accord. No murmuring!