How do you see?

What preferences or beliefs keep you disconnected from others?

Please take a moment and think about it.

This was the question posed to our youth last week during youth group. The question was posed as a primer for the scripture passage we were studying that evening.

That passage was Acts 11:1-18.

It begins with the Apostle Peter returning home to Jerusalem after spending time with a man named Cornelius. Upon returning, he encountered a group of Jewish Christians who were upset with him because he had stayed in Cornelius' home.

Now, most of us reading this would say who cares or, what's the big deal?!

The big deal was, First Century Jews did not associate, eat or spend time with Gentiles (non-Jews). They considered them to be unclean or "less than." In short, they were arrogant and believed they were better.

And we are no different.

How many people have we thought less of, looked down on, or intentionally avoided because of the way they dress, their politics, chosen profession, vocabulary, background, heritage, education, etc.?

Peter's response to those who were upset was powerful. He didn't argue with them. He didn't try to convince them. He didn't insult or shame them. But we can all learn from what he did:

1. He told his story.

Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance, I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds. Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.'

2. He shared what God did.

"I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'

"The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.'

This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

"Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.'

"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

3. He reflected on and learned from what God did.

So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God's way?"

What would happen if we did the same thing?

Amid all the division, cancellations, arrogance, fear, and everything else our culture has come to embrace in the past couple of years, how different would things be if we stopped attaching our and other's value or worth to our opinions, biases, and preferences?

What would happen if we saw others as God sees them? As God's image Bearers, as masterpieces created to do great things. It's hard for us because we struggle with separating what we do from who we are. But Peter showed us how.

Instead of attacking or avoiding others we dislike, don't agree with, or "rub us the wrong way," we start by seeing them as God sees them.

Then we share our story, and we share what God is doing and what we are learning through God's work.

I know it's not as simple or as clean as I am making it sound. I also know that whenever God's people spend their time focused on what God is up to and live into it, instead of focusing on and reacting to others, amazing things can happen, which is exactly what happened with Peter and those who were upset with him. Here is how the story ended:

When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life."

What biases, arrogance, and preferences do we need to let go of?

Who needs to hear our story and what God is doing in and through us?

Who needs to be welcomed to the table, not because of what they do or don't do, but because of who they are, a loved image-bearer of God?

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Justin Porter