Acts 4:32-37 They Had Everything in Common

Community requires unity. The Ancient Church was of "one heart and soul." Today, Christianity suffers greatly of disunity and strife. Even a quick perusal of a Denominational Handbook will tell the inexperienced with Christianity that it has many divides. Some divisions are caused by Theology: Calvinist or Armenian? Covenantal or Dispensationalist? Premillennial, Post-millennial, or Amillennial? Pre-trib, Mid-trib, Post-trib? Pentecostal, Charismatic or Non-charismatic? Others are caused by practices: Infant baptism or Anabaptism? Eucharist - transubstantiation or remembrance? Yet others are as shallow as style: Traditional or Contemporary? Drums or no drums? Raising hands or not? Applaud or not? Etc., etc., etc...

Unfortunately, the list is not complete without the issues that a local congregation struggles with due to the division and strife among its members. Power plays, family feuds, miscommunication, misunderstandings, complaints, sour relationships, etc. are just a few on the list of reasons for a church not to be of one heart and soul. Paul, writing to the Ephesians says that we ought to be "eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph.4:3). This statement teaches me that unity is a gift of God. It is not something I manufacture, but something I have been given by grace. It also teaches me that my responsibility with the gift of unity is to keep it. God grants me unity but he expects me to keep it with eagerness. In other words, I must do everything possible to maintain this unity God has given me. God grants unity, but he expects community.

How does community take place? The sharing of common attitudes, interests, and goals (unity) brings me in fellowship with other brothers and sisters. Fellowship is not the sharing of a meal, but the meeting together with the purpose of pursuing our common goals. This the reason for the warning "not neglecting to meet together" (Heb.10:25). If I stop meeting with my brothers and sisters, encouragement for personal growth cannot take place and worse, the planning, coordination, and execution to extend God's kingdom upon the earth comes to a halt! Community is the living together in fellowship. Unity brings fellowship and fellowship breeds community. The sharing of my life as I work to achieve my (really our) God-given goals is what community is all about.

Sharing all of life together includes not only the moments of victory and success, but also the moments of difficulty and challenge. Those who had need were covered by those who had abundance. This is not an example of Communism since everything was voluntary. As an example, Joseph or Barnabas, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the proceeds to the Apostles for distribution among those who are needy. He was not obligated to do so, he desired to do so. Unity breeds fellowship and begets community for the good times and the bad times, for all of life.

If I want community to take place, I must start protecting the unity God has given with eagerness. I should not allow petty issues to stand in the way and divide. I should not take offense too easily and allow strife to set in. The next thing I can do is to come together to meet with my brothers and sisters and work to achieve the common goals we have. If nothing else, I must think of the Great Commission to make disciples wherever I go. This will bring me into fellowship. Then, I must open my life to others as we work together as to share who I am and what I have, especially with those who are in need.

Father, thanks for the unity you have given to your people. Teach me to keep it with eagerness. Move me to come into fellowship with my brothers and sisters in obedience to the Great Commission and never neglect the meeting together. Open my heart to share my life with them as we work together in your kingdom.