“We tell you the good news: what God has promised our fathers He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.” Acts 13:32
In a Barna Research survey, the question was posed: what positively influences faith in America? There were many good answers; but in a staggering result, church attendance did not appear in the most popular responses. The following research results may prove why? Our nation seems to be completely divided on the importance of church in one’s life. Survey results show that 49% say church is somewhat, or very importance; 51% say that church is “not too” or “not at all important.”
The last several decades of church life in America seem to have been poised to correct this negatively developing trend. The Christian community has made genuine efforts to reconnect with an unchurched culture through reinventing ministry approaches (programs, worship expressions, etc.). Nonetheless, in some instances the church has unwittingly held age-old traditions in contention with new ideas for church life. And sometimes this creates confusion about the true story of the church. So, what is the real story of the church, and does our thinking of church need to change to better embrace the true story?
Walk with Paul into a Jewish synagogue full of people studying Isaiah’s Scrolls (Acts 13). God’s word was in their hands (so to speak), and they seemed religiously postured, and perhaps comfortable in what they thought was their whole story. But then Paul stepped in to tell them the fullness of their story. With carefully chosen words, Paul walked his audience through details of their heritage as a people of God (as the synagogue audience knew this history well). Paul personally knew the custom and the tradition and looked for an opportunity to speak to the crowd concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As per the custom, the synagogue leaders acknowledged the visitors (in this case, Paul), and invited them to speak in response to the Scriptural readings assigned for that day. In a synagogue where the Jewish believers based their culture upon the Hebrew Scriptures, Paul made an indelible impact as he proclaimed to the audience the remainder of the story: Jesus Christ. The entirety of this sermon can be read in Acts 13:16-41, but the summary proclaims,
“We tell you to good news: what God has promised our fathers (the historic lineage of the Jewish people) He has fulfilled by raising up Jesus.” (Acts 13:32)
Today, the same good news summarizes, concludes and becomes lifted up over our own histories. The problem evidenced in the Jewish synagogue crowd demonstrated a grasp so tight on their respective history that they could not see that God’s story continued in Jesus Christ. Today, Paul’s speech in the Antioch Synagogue reminds us that regardless of how valued our histories are, they become pointless if not centered in the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, the application is simple and singular: remember the whole story. His name is Jesus.
So today, let’s live out the fullness of our story. Let’s refocus on the true story line of the church – the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we do this, people may begin seeing church as church was intended.
Blessings,
Ken
