The Art of Compromise (Acts 15)

This morning we’re asking, "Now What?” when we disagree. Acts 15 paints a picture of how we discern amidst disagreement and maybe even discern through disagreement—about what it looks like to learn, and live, the ways of God when we come to the table with different opinions.

In our current moment, compromise is often viewed as a dirty word, a sign of weakness.  But in this passage, that’s exactly what’s happening.  Both sides are coming to the table, listening to each other’s needs and concerns, and then choosing in a spirit of love and unity, to compromise so they can be together. 

We see a radical commitment to the Gospel of grace lived out in humility with self-sacrificial concern for others.  There was lots of space to hear each other, to make concessions, to give up rights for the sake of unity.  The Jews were still Jewish, and the Gentiles still weren’t.  They still had different practices, different cultures.  But they did it in fellowship with one another, in unity, because they submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit and to each other.  They chose to make room at the table for those who did not agree with them on everything.

And what was the result?  Joy.