Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
The New Testament letter of James is easily considered strongly Jewish in its tone and audience. Scholars will even draw comparisons between the theology of James and Paul, suggesting some sort of a power struggle, based on Paul's desire to care for Gentiles and James' care for Jews.
However, the discussion we have recorded in Acts 15:12-22 gives us a very different picture. Here, James, who is recognized as the lead elder, or bishop, of Jerusalem, has heard Peter's description of the Gospel coming to the Gentile household of Cornelius. The Holy Spirit fell upon the people even before Peter was finished speaking of God's grace in Christ.
James recognized the Scriptural pattern and drew from Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel to explain that God's desire is to redeem Jews and Gentiles together. This hardly sounds like someone who wants to prove that Jews are better than Gentiles. James is also the one who makes the recommendation which is accepted by the apostles and elders. Gentiles should be called to God and not be constrained from most of their cultural habits. However, (v. 21), since Moses has been preached all over the world, they should abstain from four things which are particularly offensive to Jews. They should avoid idolatry, sexual immorality, and eating things strangled or blood.
The first two are part and parcel of the godly life anyway. The last two, which very clearly point forward to the Christian view that the only blood we consume is that of Christ, are also culturally offensive to Jews.
In the end, James is saying that God welcomes Gentiles and wishes them to look to Christ, trusting Him in word and deed, trying to avoid giving offense to their Jewish neighbors. A good word for us as well.
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