A Community Gathered (Matthew 21:23-32, Acts 2:42-47)
Listen.September 28th, 2008
Rev. Dr. Craig A. Wagner
Introduction
Individuality is highly valued in our society. In fact we have made it such a premium in our life that it is possible to spend entire days and weeks alone without the need for personal face to face contact with others.
On the train Friday evening I observed cars on the Kennedy expressway. As I watched I noticed that most of the cars had only one occupant. Many people live in gated communities or in access controlled buildings designed to keep people out as well as serving to keep people in. We can do our banking at ATM’s or on-line. And instead of speaking to someone on the phone we can simply text message each other so that we do not even have to talk to someone. Shopping on line is growing while retail stores are having a difficult time. This is an easy less congested way of doing out shopping and serves to heighten our sense of individuality over against doing anything in the community.
This heightened sense of individuality flies in direct contrast to our life in Christ. Christianity is not about individuality, it is about community as we see in our passage this morning.
The Acts church
Last Sunday our passage was the famous Pentecost text. We heard about the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, the speaking of those disciples in other languages and the result of 3,000 people coming to faith in Christ in a single day. This morning we follow up on that miracle and find out what was happening following the conversion experience for those people.
What we find is the forming of a community of faith. This community was beginning to function as a faith community. We notice that they were involved in four activities that would mark them as Christ followers. They were listening to the teaching of the apostles, they were involved in fellowship activities, they were sharing food and they were involved in prayer. These four aspects of communal life are seen in Christian communities even today. These were people who were called from their normal lives into a community of faith that focused on Jesus and raised to new heights what it meant to be a person of faith.
If we look a bit closer at each activity, we understand how important community life was. Faith in Jesus as the Messiah would certainly govern their actions and attitudes. It would change the way they thought about their faith as well as change the way they were living.
First of all, they were taught about Jesus and about the kingdom of God from Christ’s perspective. The apostles were doing what Jesus had told them to do: they were making disciples through baptism and they were teaching the crowd to obey Jesus’ commands.
They were involved in fellowship. This fellowship was marked by caring for one another. They would encourage one another in this new faith, they would help one another. To be a part of this community was to feel accepted and loved through the Spirit.
They ate meals together. Most people agree that the sharing food was both in the everyday manner of eating meals together and also in the sharing of food in communion. This community was one that knew the importance of meals – both as physical nourishment and as a place where people could have conversation with the Spirit touching the hearts of those gathered. Individualism was not part of this pattern.
They devoted themselves to prayers. These were people who prayed. They saw, heard and experienced some wonderful things and they knew that God was working in the disciples and through the spirit and they prayed.
These were the basic functions of that community, but there was more to come. They had additional commitments and deeper involvement in the community. It was to be a radical departure from their normal existence. Community life was so important that each person sold their belongings and pooled their resources so that everyone would be taken care of. If there was a need among them, it was met by the community. This was so radical that some suggest this never really happened and that it was an exaggeration. Some say it did happen. Whichever position one takes, it is noted that the Christian community exhibits a love for one another that is not seen elsewhere. “See what love they have for one another.” In this community people would be welcomed and cared for by the group. Each one would use the gifts and resources they had been given to care for others. Of course, conflict arose and problems developed in the community. Acts 5 tells the story of Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Apostles concerning their contribution for the community. Because they lied each of them immediately died. (Perhaps this would be a good text for a stewardship sermon!)
And they worshipped. They would go to the temple each day for worship. This draws that connection with Judaism. The people of that faith community believed in Jesus as Messiah and kept the connection with the temple!
Modern congregations
In our modern Christian congregations do we find true community? I sometimes think that given our determination to be individualistic we have failed to live in a community of Christian grace and faith. We are hesitant about allowing the spirit to gather us into worshipping and caring communities. Notice in the book of Acts, the community of Christ worshipped in the temple but cared for one another and shared meals and prayed for one another in a smaller group! There is no way that this could happen if those early Christian converts considered Christianity to be an individualized religion.
Today our congregations exhibit a different attitude and have different expectations than those of the early church. There is a lack of commitment on the part of many people and there is an attitude of self-entitlement in the lives of many who claim Christ as Savior. It’s the “me and God” approach to faith with little regard for the others in the body. This exhibits itself in the attitude that the church is there for me. When I’m hurting or in difficult situations, I expect the church to be present and help me and bless me. I expect to come to church and have my expectations for a service to be fulfilled.
I want my favorite hymn/song played. It doesn’t matter if your favorite is different than mine – I want mine! You get the idea. Our individualistic lifestyle is all about “me.” And this permeates into the church of Jesus Christ – shouldn’t we be ashamed?
Those first Christian communities had their problems and struggle, too. There was conflict in the congregation because of selfishness that rose and self-righteous attitudes that served to be divisive. Yet, our example before us is one that needs to be held up in the light of our modern day churches – it is a model of community in Christ where people are loved and cared for in unselfish ways. They were so committed to this new community they willingly sold their possessions so that they could care for one another. What a witness to the community! God has formed us into this community of faith. We are called together in the body of Christ to care for one another to use our gifts and abilities and resources to help and uphold each person. When we fail to live in that love may God forgive us and move us from being babies to being more mature people living in community.
Christian love
The ideals in our passage set forth the love that those early believers had for one another. This is the love that Paul speaks about in 1 Corinthians 13. It is an agape love that seeks the best for others. It is the self-giving, sacrificial love that Christ had for each one of us. It is the highest form of love – one that is not jealous or deceitful or proud – it is one that cares for the other. But it is a love that can only be expressed and realized within community. That’s really what makes a Christ centered community so special. We all are to use our gifts in a spirit of love and joy to care for others. This is why the early church grew so rapidly; the communities exhibited this to a hurting world.
In our baptism we are baptized into Christ. Although baptized individually, once baptized we enter into a family, a community. We grow and mature in faith and in Christ’s love. But we are always a part of the community. And in order to experience God’s love through others, we need to be a part of the worshipping community and a part of the smaller group community. That is where Christ’s love, agape love is experienced.
Jody laughed out loud at the mention of going to Sunday school. I haven’t been in church for years she told her friend that invited her. I don’t see the need. I can be a Christian without going to church. It is not relevant she explained. However, one day her son had a mishap in gym class that revealed a serious health problem. She took him to a doctor and then to specialists. The days ran into weeks and into months. She was feeling overwhelmed and stressed out.
People from the church where she had grown up and where she was married began dropping off meals, staying with her son so she could rest and go to work. The youth group provided yard work and so on. Jody saw and felt first hand the self-giving love of the Christian community. Her faith was reborn. Christ followers can not be selfishly individual. They are part of Christ’s community.
Conclusion
In the beginning God created us male and female – a basic community. One could not get along without companionship. In God’s self-revelation we find Father, Son and Holy Spirit – an eternal community. Why do we think we can go it alone? We need one another, we rely on one another – we are community gathered by God Holy Spirit. May our life together reflect our faith and our love of Christ Jesus! Amen.