The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. For there was no one needy among them because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds from the sales and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds were distributed to each, as anyone had need. Acts 4:32-35 NET
This week our devotional team has been exploring this scripture passage and the hopes it generates toward replicating the glowing sense of family companionship and generosity experienced by the Church in its early glory.
As our team discussed that “one heart and mind” condition, our attention drifted to Acts 5. We were struck by the almost immediate complications this happy family suffered. We contemplated further developments in Acts and the rest of the New Testament and remembered that, as the Church grew, human relationships continued to be challenging.
Likewise, in our era, the Church faces perpetual relationship issues. U.S. congregations are experiencing what has been labeled the “Great Dechurching”. Serious students of this phenomenon struggle with its whys. Have we become satisfied with something less than Kingdom living and are now harvesting the outcome? Will this Great Dechurching cause us to resemble post-Christian Europe as disillusioned attenders find fulfillment elsewhere?
If, like me, you are committed to walking with Jesus, at times you feel overwhelmed by the task of being enough for those God brings across your path (especially in church). Falling short of your own expectations may bring on bouts with guilt and shame causing you to grasp for new techniques that promise to equip you to meet diverse relational issues and desires.
Rather than panicking and trying to solve this oversized problem with an arsenal of contemporary, pre-packaged solutions, let’s return to the inexhaustible well of God-inspired scripture, expressly designed for early congregations experiencing similar struggles to our own. Foremost of our concerns must be that our Church fellowship be rooted and grounded in this:
What we have seen and heard we announce to you too, so that you may have fellowship with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ). Thus we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. I John 1:3-4 NET
Breaks in this central relationship inevitably lead to snarled human relationships and disordered church experiences. But don’t stop there. Here’s what happens if we don’t follow the laws of God’s harvest.
Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith. Galatians 6:7-10 NET [Emphasis added.]
Here we’re encouraged to resist sowing to the desires of our own flesh (immediate expectation for satisfaction), and to continue doing good, especially to others in the family of faith. This passage also suggests we will experience uncomfortable interactions when ungodly behavior and corruption surfaces. Furthermore, trying to move forward together without properly addressing those issues will only result in a harvest of “corruption” rather than furthering the Kingdom of God.
Our contemporary mindset of instant gratification tempts us to skip the required basics of the one, true faith. Omitting essentials robs us of the joy of experiencing the exciting sweetness of “one heart and mind”. If those who loyally follow Jesus must be encouraged to “not grow weary of doing good”, it’s unsurprising that some in our midst might leave to seek less demanding alternatives. Therefore, it’s unreasonable to expect that we can control every response of those who enter our church buildings.
Take a few moments to recalibrate your mind and heart to the basics of following Jesus as you ask him for strength and energy, so to not grow weary or give up seeking his Kingdom with members of his forever family, through whatever adversity we may encounter.
by Kathleen Petersen
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