The Cornelius Initiative
What are we as followers of Jesus to do as we consider the horrific global rise in antisemitism? May part of the answer be found in a Roman centurion named Cornelius?
For those whose hearts long for the Jewish people to come to an understanding of who Jesus truly is – the promised Messiah the prophets spoke of – the verses penned by the Apostle Paul through the Holy Spirit provide fuel for what is seen as “fact” and a God-intended mandate:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16 [NASB]).
I propose that this verse not only makes clear a priority – that the gospel was, and is, especially for the Jewish people – but also reminds those of us who are not Jewish (i.e., Gentiles) how grateful we can be that Scripture also says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).
The whole world is offered this gift of eternal life. In God’s wonderful plan, we saw this Good News (the gospel) go out first to Jerusalem, then Judea, and then to the nations. God mightily used Peter, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, to confirm God’s inclusion of the Gentiles for this glorious salvation.
Right after God used Peter to raise a woman named Tabitha from the dead in Acts chapter 9, the Lord gives both Peter and a Gentile Roman centurion named Cornelius visions. Through these visions the Lord divinely arranges an appointed meeting at Cornelius’s home in Caesarea, where Cornelius, his family, and friends would hear the gospel message from Peter – and where it becomes clear that Gentiles, too, would receive the Holy Spirit through believing the message.
We know little about Cornelius’s background except his position of importance as a Roman Centurion of the Italian battalion (Acts 10:1). We also know from the following verses that Cornelius was a God-fearing man who worshipped the God of Israel, prayed to Him, and was known by the Jewish community as a devout man who was charitable in giving to their community (Acts 10:2, 22). Cornelius, though not Jewish, was what today’s Jewish community would refer to as “a real mensch.”[1]
Cornelius was a person after God’s heart for God’s people, which brings me to my point: the people of God – especially Gentile believers – should be employing what I’ll call “The Cornelius Initiative”: a response to counter the dark cloud of antisemitism spreading across the globe and even darkening the doors of many churches.
What might it look like for us as believers to follow Cornelius’s example today? Here are some ways we can battle this global wave of antisemitism using Cornelius as our example:
We, too, can live a life devout in our faith recognized by others.
We, too, should live our lives with a reverent fear of God.
We, too, can be intentional in praying to God continually.
We, too, should show God’s love for the Jewish people in tangible ways.[2]
We, too, should listen to God and obey what He asks us to do.[3]
Like the early-Church Gentile believers of Cornelius’s time, we, too, can provide hospitality to our Jewish brothers and sisters.[4]
As we fall on our knees before God on behalf of the Jewish people and seek to share His heart with them, we can trust He will use us to make a difference – even as hostility and violence against Israel and Jewish communities around the world continue to rise. We, like Cornelius, can take part in God’s plans and purposes by not only showing His love, but by sharing the life-giving gospel of Jesus the Messiah with the ”lost sheep of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).
Perhaps the question for each of us is this: will we as believers put “The Cornelius Initiative” into practice? In other words, will we choose to pray for, give to, serve, welcome, and faithfully make the Messiah known to the Jewish people?
May “The Cornelius Initiative” become more than an idea, but a way of life as we seek to reflect God’s heart for the Jewish people in both word and deed.
Written by Jeff, Life in Messiah Staff Member
Which aspect of Cornelius’s example – prayer, generosity, obedience, hospitality, or reverence for God – most challenges you personally?
What would it look like for “The Cornelius Initiative” to become part of your everyday life rather than simply an idea you agree with?
For several resources from Life in Messiah on antisemitism and how to fight against it, click HERE.
Endnotes:
[1] A Yiddish word indicating a person of integrity and honor.
[2] This includes charity (such as mentioned in Acts 10:2), but includes praying for, serving, and giving to the Jewish community so the gospel can be made known to them.
[3] Read an example of how Cornelius listened and obeyed in Acts 10:30-33.
[4] An example of early Church Gentile believers doing so can be found in Acts 10:48.