I've been a follower of Christ for a few years now, and one of the reacurring themes that I've run across over these years focuses on the subject of community. I was once part of a local church who's theme for a particular season was, "...a sharing, caring, Christian Community....". I'm currently part of a small group who's focus is, "Contagious Christian community". Several years ago, my wife, myself and my then two year old daughter - who's now 17 - and three teenage girls in our youth group took a trip to the west side of Chicago to be part of a long established Christian community. As I reflect on the subject of community from a hopefully maturer perspective, an observation comes to mind. It seems to me that our understanding of community is like our understanding of "Church". When someone says, "I'm going to church", I totally understand what they mean, they mean that they are going to the building on the corner. But technically, to say, "I'm going to church" is incorrect. Why? Because the church is not a place, rather, the church is a people. Therefore, we don't go to church, we are the church. The same idea is true of community. Community is not something we try to pursue or produce, rather community is something that we are. The moment someone is converted to Christ, he/she becomes part and parcel of the Born-again community. Now here's the $100,000 question, "what kind of community are we"? Are we a dysfunctional, corrupted community or are we a healthy, sharing, caring community?
Please turn in your bibles to the book of Acts. The first six chapters of the book of Acts can be classified as, "The period of establishment", meaning that in these chapters we learn how the christian community was brought into existence. As we examine the establishment of the early Christian community, the question that's asked is, "what were some of the characteristics that described the early Christian community"? These same characteristics that existed in the early christian community, by way of continuity, should also be reflected in our experience of community. Let me say it this way, If we today, are going to experience (i.e., live out) real, sharing, caring community, the same characteristics that described the early christian community must be true of us also. According to Acts 2, verses 37-47, I see at least four key characteristics that existed in the early christian community:
First, they were a saved community (vss 37-41)
Acts 2:14-36 records Peters sermon to the crowd that explained what had just happened to the 120 believers in the upper room. Verse 37 states, "Now when they heard this (Peter's sermon), they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter responds in verses 38-40, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.....and with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" Verse 41 states, "So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls"(NASB).
I believe the reason why many believers are not experiencing healthy, loving, sharing, caring community is because many of the folk involved aren't christians. One commentator writes, ""....only disunity and dissension can result when those who serve Christ try to work in harmony with those who serve Satan".
Second, they were a committed community (vs 42)
This idea of commitment is expressed in the phrase, "They were continually devoting themselves....." To be, "continually devoted" means that the early church community as a whole was ongoingly adhering to, persevering in, and continuing in something.
What?
Four things:
1. They were committed (i.e., continually devoted) to Scripture (vs 42a) "...the apostles' teaching..."
2. They were committed (i.e., continually devoted) to Fellowship (vs 42a) "....and to fellowship..."
The early church community adhered to and persevered in developing close, intimate interpersonal relationships with fellow believers around the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the center of true fellowship with other believers. When believers get together, Christ must be at the heart of the interaction.
3. They were committed (i.e., continually devoted) to communion (vs. 42b) ".......the breaking of bread..."
Communion is not so much about the elements of the bread and juice, but what the bread and juice represent, the finished work of Christ on our behalf. The early church community was committed to regularly remembering Christ's work of redemption.
4. They were committed (i.e., continually devoted) to prayer (vs. 42c) "....and to prayer" ..
The early church community lived on it's knees. Prayer was the life breath of the early christian community (Acts 1:14,24; 4:31; 6:6; 8:15; 9:40; 10:48; 13:31; 14:23).
In closing, maybe the reason why our experience of sharing, caring community is not that great is because maybe some of the people that traffic in our community aren't saved. Or maybe our community experience is undermined by people who aren't committed - to the four things mentioned above - Whatever the reason, I hope we have a better idea of how to pray to the sovereign God who can fix the problem. Next time we will look at the two remaining characteristics that marked the early church community.
For His Glory,
CoolImprov
1. They were committed (i.e., continually devoted) to Scripture (vs 42a) "...the apostles' teaching..."
2. They were committed (i.e., continually devoted) to Fellowship (vs 42a) "....and to fellowship..."
The early church community adhered to and persevered in developing close, intimate interpersonal relationships with fellow believers around the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the center of true fellowship with other believers. When believers get together, Christ must be at the heart of the interaction.
3. They were committed (i.e., continually devoted) to communion (vs. 42b) ".......the breaking of bread..."
Communion is not so much about the elements of the bread and juice, but what the bread and juice represent, the finished work of Christ on our behalf. The early church community was committed to regularly remembering Christ's work of redemption.
4. They were committed (i.e., continually devoted) to prayer (vs. 42c) "....and to prayer" ..
The early church community lived on it's knees. Prayer was the life breath of the early christian community (Acts 1:14,24; 4:31; 6:6; 8:15; 9:40; 10:48; 13:31; 14:23).
In closing, maybe the reason why our experience of sharing, caring community is not that great is because maybe some of the people that traffic in our community aren't saved. Or maybe our community experience is undermined by people who aren't committed - to the four things mentioned above - Whatever the reason, I hope we have a better idea of how to pray to the sovereign God who can fix the problem. Next time we will look at the two remaining characteristics that marked the early church community.
For His Glory,
CoolImprov
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