A sermon preached by the Reverend Canon Dr. David Anderson on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at St. Jude’s Church. Title: Embracing Unity and Truth in Christ (Text: Acts 15. 1-6).
I speak to you in the name of the risen Lord.
The daily news recently followed closely the decline of the health of Francis, the late Bishop of Rome, his death, and the naming of his successor, Pope Leo XIV. Among the delegation of Anglican bishops and other leaders who attended the inauguration of the new pope, was The Most Reverend Stephen Cotrell, The Archbishop of York and Primate of England. Archbishop Steven is a friend of our diocese and an extremely charming fellow. After the inauguration, Archbishop Steven lifted up the words of Pope Leo who called for Christian unity and love as an essential sign of the gospel for a world caught in division and violence, a world so desperately in need of the good news of a better way. Archbishop Cotrell said, “It is clear to me, that [Pope Leo XIV] longs for the unity of God's Church and sees working for that unity as one of his priorities, so that the world may believe. I look forward to continuing the work we have been doing to increase the co-operation and understanding between the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches.”
Pope Leo, indeed, began his homily saying, “I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of God’s love, for he wants us all to be united in one family (my emphasis).” “We are called to offer God’s love to everyone,” he continued, to be “a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.”
What Pope Leo said, and the Archbishop of York lifted up, contained the idea that the church in its life of unity and communion—its life of love—can be a sign God’s reign for the world. We could say, with the missiologist, Leslie Newbiggin, that the only intelligible way to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, is to see it lived out in Christian community. That is God’s plan for us in our life in Christ.
All of this was on my mind when I came to review the readings that are appointed for us today. Today’s First Reading brings us to a pivotal moment in the early church. Controversy had arisen in the community. And there was a lot at stake in this controversy. It was not just the fact that the good news of Jesus was now being received by Gentiles, but it was a matter of the integrity of the gospel itself. Their example in dealing with this controversy offers us valuable lessons on unity, truth, and the necessity of relying on God’s wisdom in difficult times.
In the opening verses of our reading, we learn something about what the issues were. We read that men from Judea had come teaching that unless Gentile believers are circumcised according to the Law of Moses, they cannot be saved.
Imagine the confusion that arose. Essentially the argument was being made that Gentiles who were coming to faith in Jesus needed to adopt the religious practices of Judaism. At stake here was the idea that God’s salvation is available to all through grace by faith in Jesus. The men who had come from Judea were arguing that these new Christians would be required to practice the Judaic religious tradition.
We might face similar challenges and temptations in our Christian community today. Things that may be no more than our personal preferences, or cultural norms, threaten to distort the good news of Jesus when they become legalisms. When we insist that there is only one way to worship God, and that it is our way, that is a legalism. When we contend that there is only one type, or genre of music, that is honouring to God, that is nothing more than an insistence upon our personal preference. Whenever we start adding requirements, beyond faith in Jesus Christ, and participation in the community living out God’s mission, we are in danger of distorting the good news.
Legalism is insidious because it dresses up as righteousness. It can sound like instruction in the way of Jesus. It can seem to its proponents to be the right and proper thing to do, but it may actually burden newcomers to the faith and distract from the work that God has already accomplished in Christ and for all. The early church recognized that such teachings weren’t merely optional opinions but posed a threat to the core of the gospel message.
Think of a ship navigating its way through treacherous waters. The crew must rely on accurate charts—trustworthy guidance—to stay on course. When distractions threaten to send us off course, we need to come back to a trustworthy compass. For us this is the gospel itself—Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom of God—the heart of the Christian faith, and the north star for the Christian church.
As we read in our passage, Paul and Barnabas strongly disagreed with these teachers from Judea, leading to a “no small dissension and dispute,” as the text says. This sounds like a danger. “Dissension and dispute” just doesn’t sound like they belong in the Christian community. But their courage was for standing firm in their commitment to truth. They knew that they couldn’t just hunker down in their opinion, comfortable that the wider community was wrong, but they were right. This led them to seek counsel from Jerusalem. They showed that disagreements within the church must be addressed openly and prayerfully, not avoided or dismissed.
When disagreements arise, it’s vital to approach the matter with humility, humility that recognizes our own limited understanding. Engaging in honest dialogue with brothers and sisters in Christ can lead to growth and clarity.
The journey to Jerusalem isn’t just about resolving a doctrinal dispute; it underscores the importance of the entire community in discerning God’s will. The apostles, elders, and the church gathered together to consider the issue. They didn’t act on impulsive opinions but took time to seek divine direction.
Just like in a court of law, where evidence and testimony are weighed, the church must weigh matters with careful discernment. In her sermon on Sunday, Reverend Sarah referenced the Anglican “Three-Legged Stool” of scripture, tradition, and reason. For Anglicans this has been an important way that we have discerned our way in seeking the unity of the church. Most of all, such discernment requires listening: listening to God and one another as we read and interpret holy scripture, as we consider the tradition (that is, the witness of those who have gone before us in the faith), and use the gift of reason that God has blessed us with as human beings. Unity isn’t superficial consensus but a shared commitment to the truth under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
In verses that follow our reading, we read Peter’s speech to the assembly that gathered in Jerusalem. Peter reminded them and us that we all rely upon God’s grace. Having listened to Peter, and to the witness of Paul and Barnabas regarding what God had been doing among the Gentiles, James, the leader of the Jerusalem community, affirms the agreement upon which the Spirit had them agree, that the church must not burden the Gentiles with unnecessary legal requirements.
Here are a few things that I take away from this reading. First, a reminder that the gospel is inclusive, breaking down barriers of race, culture, and tradition. Salvation is entirely a gift from God, free and available to all.
Second, we need always to be led by the gospel, the good news of the Kingdom of God, the good news that Jesus proclaimed. Our focus needs always to be on that good news that God has for us, for all of humanity, and for our weary world. This is the good news that God is at work for the redemption of all things, to set the world right. It is the good news that we can participate in that new reality, already inaugurated in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the good news that we can see this kingdom being lived out where love and justice prevail.
Third, is the call to engage in community discernment. When issues arise, seek counsel in the community of the faithful, prayerfully study scripture, and trust the Holy Spirit to speak to the community, and in the cries of those most vulnerable whom we serve in Christ’s name.
Fourth, is the call to promote unity. In a world divided by various opinions, and where individualism runs rampant, elevating the ability to choose from the greatest number of possible options to the status of a basic human right, the church is called to live as a beacon of unity—embracing differences while remaining rooted in truth. Living in community means agreeing to limit our options out of respect and care for the diversity of the community, considering others before ourselves. It means holding our personal preferences and opinions with a certain humility, knowing that alone we don’t always have all the truth, and knowing that we must always strive with others to grow in our understanding, knowledge, and wisdom.
Acts 15 teaches us that the early church faced challenges that threatened their unity and the purity of the gospel. They chose to seek God's guidance, to listen to the voice of the Spirit, and to prioritize truth and love over personal or cultural preferences.
As followers of Jesus today, can we be committed to the same principles—standing firm on the gospel, engaging in humble dialogue, and pursuing unity rooted in biblical truth. The world around us needs the message of grace and hope. +
