Chapter 15 – No Distinction

Having worked in an evangelical church for almost three decades I have come to know something of the meaning of the term, “domesticating difference”. 
Difference, in multiple spheres of interest, religion and culture can be seen as a threat or a deficiency.  
As a pastor in an evangelical church I sat through very many leadership meetings in which some kind of difference or deficiency on the part of someone not present at the meeting was being considered. Meeting of various topic, but of the same general concept. 

Should we “allow” women to be elders, to be in leadership?
What about those people who believe in supernatural charismatic spiritual gifts and their expression? 
Where do we stand on the “issue” of homosexuality? 
Should we call to account (even publicly) the “sin” of this person or that? 

In Acts chapter 15 we see two major themes. The first is the continued work and guidance of the Holy Spirit in the mission of the new church. The second is the ongoing and ever present opposition to that work. Leaders assert their power by insisting that Gentile believers should be circumcised (seems crazy, I know). Peter gives another presentation/sermon that argues against this. Those who opposed Peter were trying to “domesticate difference”. Peter presents that God the Holy Spirit is with Gentiles in the same power as God the Holy Spirit is with Jewish believers. In verse 9 there is this brief, but astounding description;  

“And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them.” 

We are not better. We are no more holy. We are no more deserving. 
We are not to put fences around the grace and love of God.