The fellowship of believers in Acts and today
You should never start with an apology, but I’m sorry! I was preparing for a sermon on becoming a
missional community and the words that got stuck in my mind were ‘enjoying the
favour of all people’.[1] So I went to that wonderful passage in Acts 2
that describes the early believer’s community to see why they were held in such
favour… and I saw that passage for the first time through different eyes. The reason I begin with an apology is that I
did not preach that sermon as I felt it wasn’t uplifting or encouraging enough! But here are some thoughts… First let’s look
at Acts 2 and then let’s rewrite it for an average Christian community today…
Acts 2:42-47
42 They devoted themselves
to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to
prayer. 43 Everyone
was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
44 All the believers
were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to
anyone who had need. 46 Every
day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in
their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying
the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those
who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47 (Today)
They devoted themselves to the worship
leader and their favourite pastors preaching.
They prayed together and remembered the Lords supper once a month. Some were filled with awe as they heard about
wonders and signs performed in Africa and India, others received the news with cynicism. All the believers were divided and had very
little in common other than the need to be in church on a Sunday morning and
maybe a midweek group. They sold their
property to get better property. When
unable to sell their property, they gave it to a charity shop to distribute
amongst the poor. They met together
weekly in a church building. They broke
bread at the church picnic and odd social and once in a blue moon in their own
homes. The people did not look at them
favourably but as those who do not think woman are equal and are anti-gay and
responsible for many of the world’s problems (especially war). And the church grew with dissatisfied
worshippers from other churches and very (very) rarely the lord added to their
number those who were being saved.
I did apologise at the beginning!!!
I have preached many times on this passage
whilst in church pastorate. Always with
the desire to become more like those early Christians. I came with fresh eyes this time as I no
longer lead a church. I can begin with a
blank page. But how do we and our
communities (those in churches and those pioneering) become more like the early
Christians? I do not have the answers but here are a few thoughts and questions…
1). How
do we move away from an institutional form of church? I have been to three churches recently who
all consider themselves welcoming. We
had a welcome at the door, invited to church quiz, picnic, welcome lunch…
lovely! But all we have been invited too
is more church activity. How do we get
to the point where we are inviting people to our houses and into our
lives?
2).
How do really become family? It
is often said that we are the church family, but does it look like family? I would do anything for my kids. If I have not seen them for a day or two I
miss them. If they have a big thing
going on I support it. I would love to
be in a community where others felt that way about my family and I would love
to view others that way.
3).
How do we begin to expect the miraculous? Yes, I have heard the stories and been at the
big events. But how do we get to the
point where the miracles we are talking about are the ones we have been
involved in recently?
4).
How do we become radical with our (God’s) money? How do we counter the culture of more and
better to become those who want less and give to those in need? How do we move
away from the tithe to seeing everything as God’s?
5).
How do we concentrate less on acts of mission and more on becoming the
people God called us to be? Because God
calls us to be faithful. The only thing
that had nothing to do with the early believers is the very last line of Acts
2, ‘God added to their number daily those who were being saved’. We strategize and strategize how to get bums
on seats when that is down to God, our role is to be faithful and to live out our
part in a radical community.
6).
How do we get the people around us to see us with favour? What doctrines/viewpoints do we need to lower
in our list of importance? What is our
overriding message? How do we show the
gospel in our lives? Are we good news
for the poor?
My desire is to be a part of a community
like that recorded in Acts 2. Except
wiser! We have learnt from past
mistakes. I want to be a part of a community
where I deeply love and live out my faith with those who have differing
opinions and viewpoints. I want to be a
part of a community where everyone is bringing a word/a teaching/an
exhortation. I want to be a part of a
community that sees God miraculously at work and bringing his kingdom on earth
as it is in heaven. I want to be a part
of a community that is fighting for equality and leading the way in sharing its
gifts with those in need. I want to be a
part of a community that meets so often, loves so deeply that it feels like
family. I want to be a part of a community
where we hear and see what God is doing around us and with mutual encouragement
join in. I want to be a part of a
community that stops strategizing about mission and stops getting tired out
with programme after programme but releases me to be all that God has called me
to be in the world. I want to be a part
of a community that is one… one in worship… one in prayer… one in Jesus. And my prayer is that God will add to our
number daily those who are being saved!
If you are reading this and are a part of
an institutional church, I’m sorry! But
do have a go at rewriting Acts 2 for your specific community. How can it become even more radical? But be honest! I did not write this to do
harm but because I think that people living like Acts 2 would see
transformation in the lives of those around us.
With that in mind, please can I be so bold
to ask that you pray for Ez, me and the kids as we strive to see this community
come to fruition in Charlton Down and the villages of Dorset. We need it!
Because the major problem of creating a wonderful community is that we
will be in it!!!
God bless you and your community.
