The story of Ananias and Sapphira is evidence that the early disciples were not living under a communist-like arrangement, but they were required to live in community. Remember, unity is God-given defining purpose. A common purpose brings people together to work towards a common goal, fellowship. And community takes place when people share their life and possessions while they fellowship. Genuine community happens in an environment filled with honesty and free from pretensions.
When community begins to take place, the enemy will not waste time to try to spoil it. The enemy filled Ananias heart to lie about the sale of his property. He sold it for a certain amount from which he kept back some for himself. The sin is not that he kept back some money from the price because as Peter points out, it was his property to begin with and he had the right to do whatever he wanted with it. Even the selling of the property was a voluntary act. But he lied about the full price of the property to make it seem that both him and his wife were offering the full price of the property to the community. It seems that a certain Christian status was achieved if one gave "everything." And Ananias and Sapphira desired that status to the point of lying for it.
Unfortunately, both husband and wife plotted together to pretend that they were giving the full amount of the sale to the community. They both paid with their lives. It was important for the early Christian community to realize that distrust brings disunity. Community cannot survive it. It is for this reason that God acts with discipline against his displeasure. He makes this couple an example of how important it is to live in obedience to him and honestly with one another, without pretensions, without tainted motives. Community requires integrity from its members and God is displeased beyond measure when it is jeopardized.
I want to live the fullness of the Christian life. This fullness is only possible in community. God grants me a unity that gives me purpose. I come together with my brothers and sisters and fellowship as I work towards the common goal of worldwide evangelization. And community is developed as I share my life and my possessions with others openly and honestly without deceptions or pretensions. Christian Community is that important to my God that he was willing to execute his judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira to make them examples of the consequences of messing with its integrity. I must realize that anything that stands in the way of true community is ultimately, the work of the enemy among God's people.
Father, teach me to live in community. Help me become more transparent and honest. Help me grow in my giving and caring. May I learn to share openly who I am and what I have for your honor and glory. Amen.
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Friday, September 4, 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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