But What Does it Mean? Cults and Authority

 

‘But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers. ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the customs of Moses, you cannot be saved.’’ (Acts 15:1)

In Acts 15 we see people who follow Paul around, questioning his message of grace, pressing the case for rules that they alone, of course, would teach and apply. These were likely the Pharisees of verse 5.

Setting themselves up as authority figures, they insisted Gentiles needed to become Jews in order to become Christians. You may throw at them as many grace verses as you like, their answer will always be the same familiar, ‘I know what it says, but this is what it means. Believe me, I am an authority on these things. I have been to the top of the mountain and have the anointing’

Former cultists will find this so familiar, indeed I remember saying this myself. The message of the gospel of grace - saved by grace, through faith in Christ, works following - is so clear in the Bible. Yet there will always be those who step up and insist on an interpretation that ultimately contradicts the simple truth of Scripture.

This was no small thing they were doing. It wasn’t a secondary issue and Paul took it so seriously he wrote to the Galatian churches who faced the same challenge:

'I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.’ (Gal.1:6-9)

This is a salvation issue. Paul describes the message brought by Judaizers as ‘a different gospel,’ and declares ‘accursed’ anyone bringing it. No small matter. The cults, and indeed some in the church today bring the same problem with their claims to authority, to speak for God.

The Mormon Church insists it alone is the official channel between God and his people. The Watchtower Society insists they alone have authority to interpret God’s truth. False apostles and prophets abound inside the Christian Church today, with their cries of, ‘he is in the desert, he is in the secret place.’

Claiming to have visited heaven as often as you and I might visit the park, or the grocery store, they bring prophecy after prophecy only to see them fail; then come the excuses. The situation for us today is as serious as it was back then. What are we to do?

The Apostle’s Teaching

The circumstances in Acts 15 were so serious it was brought before the apostles. They, in turn, sent trusted men with a letter to allay the fears of those troubled by the Judaizers. Note carefully the three things affirmed in the letter that went out from the Jerusalem council to Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.

‘Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions.’ v.24 Some messengers have come to the region claiming to speak for the apostles in Jerusalem. They do not represent the apostles or their teaching.

‘it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.’ v.v25-27 The men we now send do represent us. They are trustworthy and do bring sound, Spirit-led teaching.

‘For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.’ vv.28-29 The message is very specific regarding the Mosaic Law and the issue at hand, circumcisions. They do not need to burden Gentile believers.

A question was raised concerning a salvation issue. The apostles were consulted. They sent trustworthy men with a message designed to bring clarity and assurance. How does this help us think today about claims to authority?

The early church ‘devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.’ (Acts 2:42) Everything else, the prayers, breaking of bread, fellowship, and the common life described at the end of Acts 2, came from, and was shaped by that teaching. In the same way, today we need to be devoted to the apostles’ teaching.

From that sound foundation (Eph.2:20) we are equipped to judge all and every claim to authority. Further, God’s messengers to the church, pastors, preachers, teachers, evangelists, just like those sent out from Jerusalem, are to bring the same apostles’ teaching.

Are we reading our Bibles, regularly, substantially? In our fellowships, are we sitting under the preaching and teaching of the whole counsel of God from the whole Word of God? Paul wrote to Galatia:

‘...even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.’

We are not to be impressed by titles, status, or apparent power. Instead, we are to know God’s Word and business so intimately we can judge all and every claim to authority. Let’s familiarise ourselves with the affairs of the kingdom so when we are sent we prove trustworthy and carry with us the unadulterated message and encouragement of the apostles.