"The Lord added to their number daily..."
A week ago, I was part of on online Sunday School class at Dayton Church of the Brethren. One of the questions considered focused on lessons/priorities that were being learned. As people responded, it became clear that relationships and the value of relationships were central to what people value. The connections with each other as followers of Jesus were a source of encouragement and hope. The prolonged crisis only deepened people’s appreciation for each other.
This message is reinforced by the scripture lesson for today. We catch a glimpse of the priorities of early Christians in
Acts 2:43-47
. This is an oft-cited reference whose relevance has never been greater. Listen to the practices described.
- Studying the teachings of Jesus through the apostles
- Sharing meals
- Praying diligently
- Sharing the Lord's Supper regularly
- Practicing sacrificial generosity
- Exhibiting joy and integrity
- Showering God with gratitude and praise
From these practices, visible to those in the surrounding community, scripture tells us, "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." I believe this is the opportunity now among us. Congregations in the District are testifying to reexamining fundamental priorities. Many of you have borne witness, during moments of real exhaustion, to the renewed desire for the kinds of traits exhibited by our early sisters and brothers. Rather than the spirit being quenched and our faith grinding to a halt, we are finding that God is much bigger than our circumstances. We bear witness to a God that is transforming our practices and priorities.
I say these words, not as a “Pollyanna” kind of fix. I have heard numerous expressions of lament, grief over the loss of a way of life, cancellation of events and programs that can never be recaptured, separation from loved ones, and the list continues. These experiences are real and need to be part of the sharing and vulnerability of our life together.
The dual trek of lament and renewal go hand in hand. Let’s not forget the context of these early disciples. Roman occupation, an unfriendly religious establishment, the uncertainty of their place in the culture, and the list continues. These early Christians were confronted with profound loss of place and security. Yet “they broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.”
We make things far to complicated. The message of Acts 2 stands as a stark contrast to what is being revealed in our culture. Brother Nathan Rittenhouse said it well in his meditation on Wednesday of this week, “The goal isn’t to live with a satisfied smugness at the stability we have in Christ and in Christian community. The command is to offer invitations for others to participate.”
What does it mean to return to normal? Acts 2 is normal. We live in a culture and denomination hungry for expressions found in these verses. May we find the grace and courage to live into these verses during the phases of living that are yet ahead. “And God added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
