He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. [12] In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. [13] Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” [14] “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean. ” [15] But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” [16] The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

Acts 10:11-16 NLT

The New Testament church was faced with a cultural change. When Gentiles became Christians, it was first met with resistance from the more religious Jewish Christians. They wanted to make them conform to their culture, like eating certain kinds of foods, instead of accepting and embracing their differences. But God taught Peter that he is about so much more than culture. He wants to reach hearts, not conform behaviors.

Our churches today are faced with the same dilemma. We too must question our traditions and be willing to change. This doesn't mean compromising spiritual and biblical convictions, but welcoming and embracing people who are different. Join Russ and friends as they continue to discuss how to get churches more comfortable with change.