Even to the Gentile

Surely Peter must have known that this is not the best time to push a divisive issue in the church. Surely Peter must have known that you can only rock the boat so far before people start jumping ship. These are difficult years for the church. Peter knew that. Budgets are tight, new members are hard to come by, and Christians of all sorts are struggling to stay alive in a culture that does not support their faith. Parishioners do not want to hear their church debate its law; they want the leadership to show them how to survive.

This is not the time to lobby for a more hospitable church. This is not the time to advocate for a Gentile special-interest group. Who cares about the rules of table fellowship when your world is on the edge?

I’m not sure that Peter thought this whole thing through when he decided to break bread with a bunch of uncircumcised men. And I wonder if he struggled with what he was going to say to his colleagues as he made his way to Jerusalem. I wonder if he questioned his own commitment to this inclusive church business. Why push the issue now? Why jeopardize the peace, unity, and purity of the church at a time when the church desperately needs to stand together?