Distant Echoes (ePub)

Clearly, Paul was violating the long-established guidelines for receiving Gentiles into fellowship. The circumcision party had enough clout within the growing community of believers to necessitate a formal hearing with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. They insisted that the writings of Moses were binding upon anyone who wished to have a relationship with one true God. The debate was lengthy, detailed, and heated. We can imagine what much of the discussion was since the disagreement spilled out beyond the confines of that momentous meeting. We are motivated to note those disagreements in much of Paul's writings. Distant Echoes invites the reader to observe as the apostles and elders grappled with the issues. Even after an arduous effort, the decision letter published by the leaders was not universally accepted. The echoes of their debate continue to ripple through the Christian community today. The questions continue to be considered, and answers contested. In the final analysis, what does God require of us for sustaining our relationship with him? What standard do we use to come to a conclusion? If we are to include the Old and New Testaments as a guide for our Christian lifestyle, which parts do we accept as binding? What principle do we use to determine which portions to include or exclude? Are we willing to use the letter published in Jerusalem as our primary guide for acceptance of ourselves and others?