Acts 8:26-40

The odd is always much more fun than the typical like last week's. With so many references, it might be good to do some sorting out first. Ethiopia is far away. Beyond it is not much referred to elsewhere in the Bible. Acts is about spreading the word, so getting the message out that far is a sign the mission is being fulfilled. Phillip is directed to head out into the wilderness by God. His part is to do that without questioning it. Note he does not stop at the outfitters or to get a compass setting, he just goes. Nor does he hesitate when the Spirit moves him to breach any cultural divide between him and the Ethiopian.

Interpreting scripture was understood as a gift, a skill, so the Ethiopian is glad a spiritual guide has suddenly appeared. We are spared a long description of salvation brought by Jesus here and only need to get that Phillip explained something about how the lamb in Isaiah foretold of the Messiah. At the time Luke was written, we can't be sure just how well that connection had been made or how well it had been accepted. The story here simply inspires us that it was true and miracles were happening because of it, so we should get baptized, race, origin or age should not matter.

1 John 4:7-21

The Johannine Epistles tell us more about the disagreements that were occurring between various factions of Christians. Eventually one of those factions won out, so we receive the story as the righteous ones telling us to avoid the antichrist (1 John 2:22). The "elder" who is the author of this letter, also makes sure we believe Jesus was a real person. You would be hard pressed to find clear statements of that in all of Paul, but here, you can't miss it.

What you could miss is chapter 2. The Lectionary skips over it, as do most preachers and anyone who argues that "God is Love". Chapter 2 gives instructions on who belongs to the community. In this chapter, we are told that if you say you love God, but then hate your brothers and sisters, you're a liar. That's kind of obvious isn't it? Why even say it? If "brothers and sisters" is used in a more modern sense, to refer to all of humanity, it makes almost no sense at all. But it is more likely used here to mean only those in your tribe. The tribe is clearly identified as those who believe Jesus was a real flesh and blood person who died for your salvation.

This passage is a great example of how you have to work to tease out a decent philosophy of life from these ancient writings. Take verse 18; "There is no fear in love", that's kinda nice, a concise description of the very large concept of love; "but perfect love casts out fear;", okay, I can feel that; "for fear has to do with punishment,", sure, love if forgiving, fear implies some retribution is needed, "and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love." Now wait a minute. Where is this perfect love? Weren't you just telling me to not listen to those who aren't right with Jesus? What kind of love is that? Are you saying I should never ever fear again? Am I not allowed to have human feelings?

You can pick a few nice sounding phrases out of this epistle, but if you read the whole thing, it's a call to arms. The theme is that there is a "them" and they are not "us". The meaning of "neighbor" in the Bible is sometimes debated. Here, it's pretty obvious it's a limited group.

John 15:1-8

Vines and vineyards are a common theme. Burning in hell is not quite so clear, but you can see where it comes from in passages like this. I think I covered the theme pretty well in this week's epistle.