Outcast No Longer
Photo by Melody Margrave
Outcast No Longer
(Acts 10:6 ) “Simon the tanner who lives by the sea” comes to mind when I think of the Come With Open Arms ministry, not because Simon did anything spectacular but because he assisted a grand ministry in a small way. This regular guy had a tough job scraping hides and treating them, a profession that smelled so badly he had to live and work outside of town next to the Mediterranean Sea – the salt water was helpful in his craft. Since touching dead animals made a Jew unclean, as a tanner he would be continually unclean.
Despite the ritual and literal uncleanness of his job, Simon hosts Peter, who is soon called to share the grace and glory of Jesus with the centurion Cornelius. Peter did not count Simon as outcast, just as God told him not to treat Gentiles differently.
Indeed Peter realized “God does not show favoritism,” not to clean Jews over Simon or anyone else. Salvation came to Cornelius and his friends and family when the Holy Spirit came upon them. “The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. … Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’ ” (Acts 10:45-47 NIV)
Did Simon know he was part of this effort to bring Jesus to the entire world? Maybe he did not know what part he played. Maybe he just wanted the company. Maybe Peter helped him haul some of the hides to the water and back. As far as I know, no angel visited Simon with great tidings. That honor went to Cornelius earlier in this chapter. Simon was just a hard-working guy, a good disciple.
Still it’s more likely he knew he could help Peter help the world by being a good host for several days. Simon the tanner did help. He was not rich, but he was not poor either. He had a stone house with a wall and a gate, where the visitors sent by the centurion knocked to ask for Peter. Simon gave of his resources at the point in time where he was called to help, whether he knew it or not.
When we are called, how can we help? How can our little bit really help? Come With Open Arms is the opposite of a grand ministry. It is a small ministry just getting started. Folks who don’t have a house, much less a house by the sea, will get a helping hand. They are not outcasts either. A little bit here could do more than you think, just as Simon’s duties as a host helped Peter.
Richard Margrave lives in Virginia with his wife Melody and son. He is Brenda Hale’s brother.
Photo by Melody Margrave
