BULLETIN ARTICLE – 18 March 2018
After the Day of Pentecost for the church in Jerusalem, we catch a glimpse of the unity of the early church. Apostles Peter and John were imprisoned for preaching about Jesus. They were released from jail after much questioning by the Sanhedrin Council. The church rallied around them in prayer. They “lifted their voices together to God”, asking him to look upon the threats they faced, and to grant the believers boldness to speak his Word. It pleased God to answer their prayers, for after they had prayed, the Holy Spirit shook the place as he came and filled them. He granted them the boldness they sought to continue to speak the Word of God. The believers shared the burden of Peter and John and the leaders in the Jerusalem Church in the mission to preach the Word.
Immediately after this, Luke goes on to record in Acts on how the early believers shared everything they had. They shared sincerely. It was not just talk, but it was also seen in action. In those days, the practice of a society to care for needy people that seeks to end poverty was not exclusive to the church. Such a desire was present in Greek society. Greek philosophers like Pythagoras and Plato subscribed to this. The Essenes Community in the Qumran area (from where they found the dead sea scrolls) also practised “care and share” in their community. Although the properties were still held by the believers/followers, they did not love and treasure their property as much as their love for God’s people who were in need.
In the Jerusalem Church we see the work of the Holy Spirit in the believers. We observe their unity and love which acted together as a powerful witness to the work of the church. As a result, we see that God enabled them to address both concerns – preaching the Word and care for the needs of believers. They continually sought to proclaim the Word boldly and God enabled the apostles to testify to the resurrection of Jesus with great power. They sought to love the community of believers and God’s grace ensured that there were no needy persons among them. What a dynamic (power packed) and charismatic (spirit filled) church.
What does it mean to be “one in heart and mind”? What does Christian unity look like? What do you think can happen when believers in a church are united? How will the community at Bethesda Katong be transformed as we share in the burden to preach boldly, and to love each other? 1 John 3:17-18 reminds us, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” We definitely can learn many precious lessons from the early Jerusalem Church. Preaching the Word and caring and sharing with one another are certainly simply two of them. Let us just get on with the task.
