If It Ain't Broke
Originally scheduled for June 30
Acts 11:19-30
Stories about our troubles tend to take a
lot of words; stories of success are much more simple. This is a
success story.
Let’s review the history. A persecution had broken
out in Jerusalem against the church, and many Christians left the
city. A goodly number migrated to Antioch, the third-largest city in
the Roman Empire. (A parallel in our time might be persecution in
New York City, with the migration to Chicago.) Some of those who
migrated preached the gospel to the Greek citizens of Antioch. This
perturbed the church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to
investigate.
Barnabas’ reaction to the situation shows his
good sense.
· He saw the grace of
God in action. People were being saved; in the process people were
being given the forgiveness of God.
·
He therefore counseled the church at Antioch to continue to do what
they had been doing; to stay faithful.
·
To further their effort, he (and Saul) stayed for a year, assisting
in the teaching of the church.
·
This resulted ultimately in a gift to the church in Jerusalem to
help alleviate the famine that was coming.
In other words, “if it
ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
If by some act of God Barnabas
were to appear in our church this morning, it would be most pleasing
if he were to have the same reaction. It would be most obvious at
this time of our service in communion. He should see the grace of
God in action — Christians repenting as they examine themselves,
seeking and finding God’s forgiveness.
This would be a result of
the faithful teaching of the church, proclaiming that Jesus saves.
“We preach Christ, and him crucified.” Christ our atoning sacrifice
is the consistent message of the church.
Communion is the visual
lesson we see each time we take it. In the bread we see the body of
Christ; in the cup, his blood, shed for our sins. In obedience to
his command we do this in remembrance of him. The church has done
this for thousands of years. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
