Reading: Acts 11:1-18
Dreams are strange things.
I’ve had my share of deja vu moments, and I can usually remember my dreams in some detail.
But when I saw the readings for this Sunday, I have to admit that I wasn’t thrilled with the thought of preaching on this dream of Peter’s in Acts 11.
It’s not that I don’t like this text. I like it very much. I think it’s a wonderful story, and it has been one of the most liberating and formative stories for the church as we return to this text again and again to remind ourselves that people are not “unclean” or profane.
A pretty powerful message for today as parts of the population are still deemed “illegal.” A pretty powerful message for those wondering what to do next for marriage equality. Indeed, for my gay and lesbian colleagues, and for all of us straight allies, this text is foundational to the movement of full inclusion in parts of the church.
But, and this is what I don’t like, I think a lot of that is lost on the people in the pews.
Why?
Because we’re largely Biblically illiterate these days. We don’t get that this text allowed Gentiles and Jews to both be considered Christian in the first church. We don’t see how this text indicates a paradigm shift in the early church.
And this Biblical illiteracy is no fault of the people in the pews, mind you. It’s the fault of pastors who just assume people know stories, allusions, and where a text falls in the Biblical narrative. It’s the fault of a Christianity that behaves as if it is top dog in people’s consciousness, when in reality it is just one of many voices vying for attention.
I hesitate to read this lesson from Acts on Sunday because I’m pretty sure its context and importance are unknown by so many.
And, sure, I could go on long explanations about how foundational this text is. I could locate it in the ministry of the disciples after Jesus’ ascension. I could talk a bit about Gentiles and Jews in the early church and the early schisms there.
But after that 30 minute introduction I’d have to get on to communion…if anyone remained awake.
Boring sermons are another reason why Biblical illiteracy is so wide-spread. Why should I bother listening to the reading if I’m going to tune out for the explanation?
Peter’s dream is important because it is the dream that harkens back to Jacob’s dream at Bethel and his son Joseph’s dream interpretations in jail. It harkens back to Joseph the Guardian of Jesus’ dream in Matthew and the Magi’s dream to go a different route and not to expose Jesus to Herod’s terrible wrath. It’s a dream that echoes the vision that Saul had when he converted and became known as Paul, changing his life and his purpose forever.
It’s a dream that speaks to Julian of Norwich’s visions and St. John of the Cross’ mystical writings.
It’s a dream that informed Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of a different world.
And, if we dare, it might be a dream that challenges us to re-think our own prejudices and pay attention to our own dreams for God’s world.
I just hope that perhaps we who want readings like Acts 11 to have impact, because they are deep in their history and wide in their powerful reach, care for and communicate them mindfully. I pray we don’t act without knowing.
I pray that these hearers in the pews this Sunday don’t hear Acts 11 without knowing.
Knowing its importance. Knowing how it has changed lives.
I don’t think that’s asking too much, dreaming too much.
