They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 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, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
Isn’t this a wonderful image, that actually expressed the reality of the early Christians? Many of them believed, and subsequently experienced persecution from their only family members, as some were shunned for following “The Way”. “The Way” was how these early Christians were possibly known for four reasons: (1) Jesus Himself declared that He was the way (to the Father); (2) the way was suggested a transformed way of life for a believer; (3) the Hebrew word הֲלִיכָה,“halakha” is translated a “way of life” outlined in the Torah, and (4), “The Way” could also be seen as a metaphor for the Christian movement as the true end-time Israel, fulfilling prophecies about the return of Israel from the diaspora. It is suggested that the believers were participating in a journey back to God.
So, the experience of collective awe, with signs and wonders performed by the apostles, was not experienced till the impartation of the Holy Spirit at the day of Pentecost. Jesus said in John 14:16-17a, “And I will ask of the Father, and He will give you an Advocate to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth,…” And earlier in John 14:12, “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these,…” If Jesus had not gone to the Father, the Holy Spirit of the Trinity would not have been given – an always abiding presence inside of each believer.
And it is clear from the Acts passage that there was a collective purse, for all the believers had everything in common. It was similar to what one would call today, a commune. They met from house to house, sharing meals, praying and rejoicing and experienced the favor of all the people. This must have been very attractive since people were being added to their number, day by day. I remember being in a Christian Community during and after attending Michigan State University. We did not have a common purse, yet it was understood that if anyone had need, they could freely ask anyone in that community, and it would be shared without hesitation. I so enjoyed the sense of belonging from being in such a community.
Was God just wanting to make a big splash so that the early Church would be vibrant and develop some level of critical mass? Or possibly, this was to be more of the model of what it means to be filled with the Spirit and to live in common with fellow believers. I lean towards the latter, even if this kind of community is uncommon. Today, we have community when someone walks their dog in their community, meeting neighbors. Sometimes we have community in the workplace or from coming together during our children’s sports programs. Let’s consider how we can build a vibrant community within the Church. Our Executive Pastor, Steve, who recently retired, said “the Church is still God’s best idea.” We are to be a “city set on a hill”, and certainly a church that would be missed if we were not around. May it be so.
by John Colvin
