Kelly -Acts 11

First a small note - I began by reading the NRSV study Bible, which I still am, mostly. But I'm finding myself blogging away from my usual spots lately - and when that happens I rely on the NIV text printed at biblegateway.com

The church is growing and expanding - and becoming more institionalized. As the Spirit is moving people to respond to the needs in Antioch and the number of the faithful are growning, the church in Jerusalem is striving to keep control of the situation. Even as I type this I'm thinking that this is a pretty cynical viewpoint to take, but it's the way the scriptures seem to read to me.

There is no evidence that the believers in Antioch asked for guidance, in fact they seemed to be growing quite well as is...but when the church in Jerusalem heard about events in Antioch, they sent Barnabas (v. 22). On the one hand, it speaks volumes about a church institution willing to support and stretch into new areas. On the other, it speaks about the need to be involved in or in control of the growth.

While I'm cautious about my own tendency towards the more cynical viewpoint, I honestly think that going too far towards lauding the efforts of the Jerusalem church is overly naive. I need to find a balance and recognize that in this early church, as in all churches today, many actions are filled with complex motivations - for good and for ill. We strive to serve God's interests, and we are conditioned to serve our own.