When Saul came back to Jerusalem, he had a hard time joining the disciples there because of his reputation as a persecutor and murderer of Christians. The disciples were afraid of him. They did not believe he was a believer and treated him with suspicion. Assimilation into the church body depends completely on my attitude towards new people in the church. Many newcomers find it difficult to join because my attitude towards them is suspicious or cold even critical. Some apprehension is understandable if a famous murderer shows at the door, but it is unacceptable to alienate that person for it. Didn't Christ die for him also? Worse, many people are alienated, not because they are murderers, but because they are not like me; they don't belong to my clique; they don't have a share in my history.
Thank God for Barnabas! He took time to get to know Saul and he introduced Saul to the apostles explaining his conversion experience and his ministry experience in Damascus. If it weren't for Barnabas, Saul probably would have given up on the church in Jerusalem and moved somewhere else! I want to be a Barnabas, a person who is interested in the newcomers of the church willing to listen to their personal stories and willing to introduce them to the leaders in the church. We need many Barnabas types in the church today. I have to realize that I am an ambassador of Christ to the newcomers and their assimilation into church life depends on my attitude and actions towards them.
After getting to know Saul, the Jerusalem church allowed him to minister among and along side them. The church gained a worker for the kingdom! Unfortunately, the Hellenist Jews wanted to kill him. When the church learned of the plot to kill Saul, they worked together to protect him taking him to Caesarea (on foot) and sending him to Tarsus (a boat ride). The church went from suspicion to protection; from mistrust to love; from coldness to kindness. I should be kind to newcomers because I never know who is going to be the next devoted worker to the kingdom - the next apostle Paul! I should be kind to newcomers because ultimately, they are part of the family of God - or potential candidates. I must treat newcomers as prospects and not suspects. And once they are a part of the family, I should do everything possible to protect them from harm.
The church multiplied! How? They had peace. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding and comes through prayer. They were being built up through the preaching and teaching of the Word. They were walking in the fear of the Lord. Not a fear of judgment, but a reverent awe and devotion to God with great care to please him in all their ways. They were also walking in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. There was still persecution going on and suffering was part of the daily lives of the believers there, but they were not alone. They walked seeking the Holy Spirit's power to sustain them in the midst of their trials and tribulations. If I want to see the church multiply today, I must also seek God's peace through prayer; I must look into the Word to be built up; I must walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Spirit.
Father, help me see the importance of newcomers in the church. May I open my heart to them to get to know them and help connect them with the church body. I want to see your church multiply! Fill me with your peace, build me up with your Word, and teach me to walk in your fear and the comfort of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Showing posts with label bond of peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bond of peace. Show all posts
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
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.
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.
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