The Church of Antioch

1. Pioneers

The church of Antioch was pioneers. We all know the history of the pioneers who opened the American West. Christian history tells us about the missionary pioneers who opened up new mission fields where there were no believers and no churches. As they faced new situations and challenges, these pioneers had to innovate and invent new strategies and methods. The playbooks and policy manuals from back home did not work. They had to step out of the box and be creative to survive and be effective in their mission.

But soon churches were planted, policy manuals were written, and traditions were established. Everyone and everything became settled and comfortable. The pioneering spirit changed into an attitude of, “This is the way. This is our way. Don’t change.” Pioneers, entrepreneurs, mavericks, and change-agents make people nervous because they challenge our easy answers and our comfortable ways. However, change is at the core of the Christian life and Christ’s kingdom mission. The Holy Spirit transformed us into new creations and changes us daily into Christlikeness. Daily, we change our practices and ways of thinking as we surrender more and more areas of our lives to the Lord. In our kingdom mission, the church must change its practices, strategies, and methods to become increasingly like the kingdom to proclaim effectively the gospel. The life-changing gospel of Christ is unchanging. However, the methods in which it is delivered have changed and must change with the times and from context to context. We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Therefore, the church and we are change-agents.

We see the same problem in the early church. The first evangelists proclaimed the gospel to the Jews only. This was the best-known way. It was the expected norm. Even Peter himself needed a vision and a visit from an angel to realize that God is breaking down the great barrier between Jews and Gentiles, and that He is pioneering a cross-cultural mission to all peoples. We read about this in Acts 10:9-11:18 — When a voice told him to kill and eat the animals in his vision, he said, “Surely not, Lord! …I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” … At Cornelius’ house, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. … Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” … While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.

Then in Antioch, we encounter some pioneers, avant-garde evangelists who are not content with the status quo. Acts 11:19-21 — “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” God blessed these trailblazers, barrier-breaking radicals, and the church of Antioch was born.

Of course, this drew attention and must be checked out. So, an investigation was launched. First, Peter had to defend himself. Acts 11:2-3 — So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” “News of what happened in Antioch reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord” (Acts 11:22-24). I can imagine the church leaders in Jerusalem criticizing and questioning what was happening. I can see them waving policy manuals in the air and saying, “Why are you breaking the rules? You should uphold our honored and established traditions.” [ILLUSTRATION — PHILIPPINES]

For the sake of Christ, in new contexts, in changing situations, and in changing times, different and new innovative approaches must be taken. A church that romanticizes and lives in the past becomes stagnant and eventually dies. “For the Gospel to go to the next people and for the church to advance to its next phase of ministry, often an entrepreneurial spirit must arise to take us beyond our current limitation.” (Stumbo, 31).

2. Way-Maker

Fortunately for the Antioch Church, the Jerusalem leaders sent Barnabas to investigate the situation. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith (Acts 11:24). We can call him a Way-Maker. After he assessed what was happening, he blessed the ministry and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord. However, when finished with his assignment he did not go home. He was looking for someone. “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (Acts 11:25-26).

Maverick, risk-taking leaders see potential in someone who has been ignored, discounted, or driven away. They use their initiative to advance another leader. They look for someone who may be gifted and called to a new and different approach in ministry or mission. This is Barnabas, a way-maker, who looks for a man others overlooked or didn’t trust. We know Paul as the famous missionary and Holy Spirit-inspired Bible author. The early church did not. For them, he was what we would call a “terrorist.” We first encounter Paul in Acts as a religious zealot who condoned the killing of Christians and actively participated in their persecution. Acts 9:1-2 — “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.” We know the story of his conversion on the road to Damascus. But the early church had a hard time accepting this new convert as a brother in Christ. It was difficult for them to accept their former oppressor as a spiritual sibling, to believe his “I’m on your side now” story. Self-protection seemed to be the path of wisdom. Fear won the day. Acts 9:26-27 — “When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.”

Here we see Barnabas, the Way-Maker. He took a risk. He did not allow fear to dominate him. He took Paul into his trust, defended him, and gave him credibility. After tensions and conflicts arose in Jerusalem, the brothers sent Paul to Tarsus (Acts 9:30). He remained there until Barnabas went to find him and brought him to Antioch. Barnabas gave an under-known, under-utilized leader a chance to find his place and flourish in ministry. We know that this was the work of the Holy Spirit and the rest is history. Lesson for us — For the Gospel to advance and the church to grow, current leaders must find pathways to make ways for future leaders. We must help others advance in ministry leadership. We must follow Barnabas’ example and give the overlooked both the opportunity and credibility. We must open doors for others. Aging generations must encourage and advocate for emerging generations. Who are going to be the next leaders in our church?

3. Lessons & Probing Questions

The risk-taking leadership of the Antioch Church teaches us some lessons and leaves us with some important questions. The first outcome of the innovative leadership in Antioch was identity. Something new and unusual was happening. “A message that has never been preached before (the Gospel) is being taken to a people who have never received it before (Gentiles) to start something that has never been built before (the church)” (Stumbo, 35). Great numbers were added to the church — “and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord … and a great number of people were brought to the Lord … taught great numbers of people” (Acts 11:21, 24, 26). What was happening? Who are these people? The new movement was hard to categorize. It included Jews and Gentiles, followers of the Law of Moses, citizens of Antioch, and other people. Soon they were labeled and called Christians — “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). This was the identity of the Antioch Church. First and foremost, they were known for their association with Jesus the Christ. They were followers of Christ. This was the foundation of their identity. Not politics, not church policies, not nationalities, not programs, not personalities, not theologies, but Jesus who is the Messiah, the Christ. And today, we still carry that name. We are connected to the Christ. The believers in Antioch were a Jesus-crowd, a Jesus-people, and so are we. Jesus Christ provided their identity, and He provides our identity today. We are Christ-ians.

The second outcome was that the Antioch church became a missional church doing mission. When their fellow Christians in Judea suffered because of a severe famine they provided help — “The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:27-30). After they completed that mission, the church sent Barnabas and Saul on their first mission into Asia — “the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:2-3). The church obeyed. They gave financially and sent missionaries. “The Gospel they had received is not to be kept to themselves. The quality leaders and powerful preachers benefiting the church are not to be hoarded” (Stumbo, 40). They shared their resources to advance the gospel.

And then, barrier-breaking, way-making, identity-shaping, mission-accomplishing leaders tend to stir things up. Conflict happened in the early church and throughout church history. Conflict happens in the church today. The church is a community of people in relationships with one another, and it is messy. However, healthy conflict is an opportunity for good and growth. When we handle conflict well and engage in the issues in a godly manner, we understand each other better. We understand the issue better. We reach better conclusions, form better plans, develop better strategies, and dream better dreams. We are humbled, seeing that we are not quite as right as we thought we were, and others have a point that we were missing. Our relationships deepen and true unity is forged. Love and forgiveness are expressed. The church becomes stronger and God is glorified. For these blessings to arise, we must bring the fruit of the Spirit to the table — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Spirit-filled leaders and godly people will disagree, but their godliness will frame and shape how they conduct their disagreement. Conflict plus Christlikeness produces a church with deep character.

So, in light of these lessons here are some probing questions we as a church should pray about and answer. Who are we as the body of Christ? What has God raised us up to do? How do we disagree agreeably? As I said earlier, the life-changing Gospel of Christ is unchanging. However, the methods in which it is delivered have changed and must change. Have we become comfortable and stuck in our ways? We may feel good and righteous about ourselves and the church, but are we truly effective? Are we willing to take a fresh look at ourselves and prayerfully consider what we might need to change to better reach our community? The next generation? The new arrival? Are we willing to navigate the necessary changes in a unity-building, humility-experiencing manner? Are we identifying and investing in the new, emerging leaders among us? The future will not and cannot look like the past.

Allow me a few, final questions: Since our church came into existence, is the need for the Gospel any less in our community? Since our church was birthed, is the Gospel any less powerful for the saving and changing of lives? Is our world in such a fabulous state that humanity no longer needs our message of Christ’s love? Does every person living in our region have a loving community that provides friendship, hope, and support? No! Our community, our region, county, state, nation, and the world still need the Gospel and our churches, perhaps now more than ever before. May the Holy Spirit revive in all of us a persistent passion for Christ and his Gospel. May the Holy Spirit cultivate in us a deep compassion for the world. May the Holy Spirit enable our church to have an eternal kingdom impact in our community, our regions, our Samarias, and to the ends of the earth. For this, Jesus is building his church.