Another Sunday, Another Beginning

I am sitting in my office awaiting the time when people start showing up to church.  For once I have some time to sit and reflect with no interruptions, nothing to do, no meetings.  I don't think I have ever had this kind of time before.  As I sit and reflect, I can't help but feel helpless.  Helpless that I am no more in charge than child is in a classroom.  We stress and stress about trying to "pull off" a Sunday morning service, as if we need to impress someone.  We want guests and members alike to be impressed with our show.  How terrible is that?  And I fall victim to it as well.

This past week I had a chance to grab dinner with a close friend of mine who was teaching a Winter term class, teaching on Youth and Missions.  We had some great discussions in class about about what the church should look like in terms of taking care of one another and social injustices in the world.  I can't help but think that so much of that conversation is correct. 

We looked at Acts 2 and 4 and looked at the community that took place.  We live in such an individual sociey, one free from community and true relationships, even though those are the very things we are yearning for and fill our life with substitutes, even in the church body we do this.  We live out our lives trying to be individuals, trying not to live in community, but when we examine the church in Acts we see that the body is a very communal, life giving body.

Acts 2:44-47, Luke writes

"All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." 

And again in Acts 4:32-35, he writes

"All the believers were one in heart and mind.  No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.  With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.  There were no needy persons among them.  For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need."

Luke wanted us to see how the body of Christ is supposed to be.  It is much easier for other cultures to live this way, but in America it is so easy to fall prey to believe that everything is for my benefit and to stop at nothing to get what we want.  I wonder what it would like if we would truly learn what community is about, what the church body should like and how people would react differently to us.  The body of Christ is supposed to be in communion, in community, sharing our belongings, opening up our homes to those in need, giving up our pantry for someone else.

As I write this, I am in Cassville, MO.  I wonder what would change here in this small town in SW Missouri, if we and other churches started to live like the body was supposed?  I wonder what impact we might have on the state, country and world?  This year I resolve this...I will try to take off my individual tendencies and live in open community, sharing my life and my belongings to those in need.  Will you join me?