FPSP: The Messenger - May 19, 2011 - The Gamaliel Principle

Now that Mother's Day has passed, it's time to look "around the corner" into the Summer months, including 3 important patriotic days: Memorial Day (May 29), Flag Day (June 14), and Independence Day (July 4). Almost all Americans have good reason to celebrate these days, but those who share a strong religious faith have even more reason than most. That's because this nation was one of the first across the globe to incorporate "the free exercise of religion" into its constitution. In this country (unlike many in the world), Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews are given a very wide latitude to practice their own faith. There have been times in human history when leaders from each these religions tried to constrain the religious freedom of others. But there have also been great times of tolerance.

One of the earliest expressions of religious tolerance actually comes to us from Scripture. It's found in Acts, chapter 5, where a Jewish leader named Gamaliel persuades the Jewish Sanhedrin (or ruling council) to let Saint Peter and his companions go free. Peter had been preaching a very great "heresy"-- that Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead--and Peter wasn't afraid to blame his country's leaders for that death. This kind of teaching enraged those Jewish leaders, and some argued that Peter should be executed as well. But Gamaliel persuaded the Sanhedrin to steer away from this course, arguing that false teachings and false leaders would eventually self-destruct. Perhaps even more amazing, Gamaliel dared to suggest that the teaching of these apostles might have come to them from God.

This is a bold argument both in his day and our own, because it forces us to consider the possibility that God isn't "trapped" in our tradition. God can speak to us through Muslims, God can speak to us through Buddhists, and God can speak to us through Jews. We Christians believe that the only perfect spokesman for God was Jesus Christ, God's only son, but even a cursory view of human history reveals that God has often chosen someone outside our faith tradition to bring some very great blessing to the world. This list includes scientists, political leaders, religious reformers, and Nobel laureates. Thus, we don't have to be afraid of non-believers who challenge us some new "truth." We simply have to evaluate that truth through the love and grace of God revealed to us in Christ.

In the mean time, have a blessed weekend! And don't forget the "luminaria" for cancer survivors and victims at 8 p.m. this Saturday night. If you cannot make it down to the track at San Pedro High, simply say a prayer that the vicious scourge of cancer will be thoroughly defeated in the years ahead.

HOT DOGS!
Come and get your HOT DOGS! Sunday-June 12, right after church

The Family Camp Committee is having a HOT DOG sale! Come on down to the MacCormick Room and join us! A HOT DOG Lunch is $6.00 and includes a HOT DOG with all the toppings you’d like, fruit, chips and a drink (soda or coffee). Extra HOT DOGS are $2.00 each.

This coming month is choir tour for SonLight Singers. Over Memorial Day weekend we will be taking our upcoming musical, “Yes, I Believe” on the road! Please see the schedule of our tour below. We are asking for people to become prayer partners for one of the choir members. Would you consider volunteering? If so, just e-mail Emily and she will assign a specific member of the tour and give you a short bio and prayer requests from that person. Tour has changed lives in the past and we want that to happen again this year! The full schedule is on the website.

JUNE 5- SUNDAY- 5:00 P.M. “YES, I BELIEVE” HERE AT OUR OWN CHURCH! PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND!!

Sat, May 21
9:00 am - Relay for Life
4:00 pm - Volleyball
6:00 pm - Outrigger Cruise

Sun, May 22
Relay for Life continues
8:30 am - Adult Sunday School
9:30 am - Worship - Gospel Gang and King's Chorus sing
11:00 am - Worship & Music Commission meets

Wed, May 25
7:00 am - Bible Study at Carrow's
4:00 pm - Parent Hangout
4:00 pm - Angel Choir
4:00 pm - Angel and Cherubs Storytime
4:00 pm - GG Devotional/Homework Hangout
4:30 pm - Cherub Choir
5:00 pm - Gospel Gang Choir
5:45 pm - Dinner for King's Chorus and SonLight Singers
6:00 pm - SonLight Singers Choir
6:15 pm - High School Fellowship
7:00 pm - Prayer Group
7:15 pm - Junior High Fellowship

Erik Larson is the interim editor of the Messenger.
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