Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God. But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him. “You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them!” they said. Then Peter told them exactly what had happened.

When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”
Acts 11:1-4, 18

Dear God, it would be so much easier if I could just know when I am right and when I am wrong. I mean, really, how much am I wrong about right now in my opinions, theologies, or whatever that I am just sure I’m right?

It’s too bad these verses in Acts 11 get separated from the story in Acts 10 because taken as one narrative, it totally flips the intent of the story. If we just read chapter 10, we might think Cornelius is the protagonist of this story, but in reading the whole thing as one, we realize that Peter is really the protagonist. It is his journey we are tracking. We show his evolution on the issue of Gentiles (right after chapter 9 when we get the conversion of the biggest Gentile advocate of all, Paul), and then the influence he has on the believers back in Jerusalem.

I was talking with a local pastor the other day about the LGTBQ+ controversy in his church. It’s hit a divisive level to where there is a new church starting because of it and some of his members are leaving. And I know both sides are just sure they are right about this. They are just sure they know you Jesus or any of the apostles would respond if they were here to make the same decisions. It could be that if it had been anyone less than Peter himself explaining the acceptance of Gentiles into your kingdom, this would have been the cause of the first recorded split in the Christian church.

I attend Catholic Church with my wife. There is a lot of the theology I agree with. There is a little of the theology I don’t agree with. Am I right or wrong? I don’t know. But I know the Catholics I worship with appear to really love you. And I really love you. So as long as we are truly pursuing you and your Holy Spirit, I will count our disagreements as meaningless.

Father, I am sorry for when I have been wrong. Well, let me put it this way: I am sorry for the times I’ve been wrong and then judged others through my ignorance. I don’t pretend to know your heart on all of these issues. I can only look at my life, evaluate the level to which I am striving to keep myself in right relationship with you, and then encourage others to do the same. And then to love my neighbors as myself as I go. So thank you. Thank you also for getting me through last night. Thank you for answering my prayers. Thank you for touching lives both in that room and then through the work we will do with the patients because of the resources people shared with us. You are amazing, God.

I pray to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen