Community of the Spirit

And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. Acts 2:44-45

The early church as depicted in Acts 2 may sound a bit naive and idealistic to our 21st century ears, but I believe it is the true representation of what God has in mind for the church. After Peter delivers his Pentecost sermon several thousands Jews come to faith in Jesus Christ and become baptized. Filled with the Holy Spirt, the early church lived together in community, sharing resources and coming together for worship, prayer, and learning. They had, as scripture tells us, "all things in common." This is absolutely remarkable, especially when you consider the devisive and divided nature of Christian sects today.

What is so powerful about the unity of the early church was that it was achieved despite enormous cultural and ethnic differences. Faithful Jews from across the known world had gathered in Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost, and despite differences in culture and language, the power of the gospel brought God's people together in a transformative way. The unity of the church existed in the midst of real diversity, it was not a group of like minded people of similar backgrounds.

So what might the unity and diversity of the early church have to say to us today? For me it means that the petty differences that define so much of human relationships are truly meaningless to God. It means that in Christ we are free to be ourselves AND honor others for their uniqueness. It means that while we acknowledge diveristy, we recognize more fundamentally it is not our differences which define us but our shared connection through our Lord and Savior. Genuine Christian community is possible but it starts with our shared identity as children of God. Let us stand together, seeking authentic community, honoring one another while serving and loving the Lord.