Not just about menus, a Reflection on Acts 11:13-18

Peter had a vision--the Lord told him no longer was there a distinction in food between clean and unclean. We could argue why religious people could not eat shellfish (I myself am very grateful that I was permitted to eat crawfish etouffe).

At the moment he heard the voice from heaven tell him that "What God has made clean, you must not call profane," three men from Caesarea appeared. With the help of the Spirit, Peter then translated the revelation about menus to extend to men.

He could not only now eat shellfish, he could eat them with the uncircumcised.

On direction from the Spirit, Peter traveled to the home of Cornelius, a Gentile. There, Peter witnessed the Holy Spirit falling on those in Cornelius' household. Peter saw that the Holy Spirit that had inspired his own people was including these others that Peter had been taught to avoid.

Peter's response to this revelation is one that we might consider, "If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed i the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?"

Christian churches still ponder the question of what minimum entrance requirements the church should make.