by Steven Gledhill for FREEdom from MEdom Project
God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 14:24-27 (NIV)
Community is defined as… a unified body of individuals as:
- the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species) in a common location
- a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society a group linked by a common policy
- a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society
- joint ownership or participation
- common character : likeness
- social activity : fellowship
- a social state or condition
Reference: Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Communism doesn’t work and cannot work because of self-centered intentions, especially of those in positions of leadership within and throughout the community. But what if there was a motivating factor that was more powerful and influential than self-centeredness?
Community is supposed to work because of its unified, single-minded purpose focused on common interests and objectives. It is supposed to work because its interests are shared; its resources are shared, and the active participation is motivated by the life force of the community. Community works when its character is committed to equality while at the same time not caring about equality since it is inherent in its character and purpose. Community works when fellowship is shared and resources are exchanged for the good of the life of the community. What if families worked on that level?
The family of God, what the Bible describes as the body of Christ, and is typically known as the church, was created by the Spirit of God to function as a unified army to prevail against the forces of evil. The first church, referred to as The Way, got off to a pretty good start led by the chosen one of Jesus Christ, Peter. Jesus said to his disciples that built on the rock the church would not—could not—be stopped; not only by man, but even the gates of hell would collapse under the weight of its might.
The original church was that unified, single-minded community of believers committed to a holy purpose. How did that happen, and what has happened to it since then? What will it take for the church, the Body of Christ, to come together again as a unified community? What will it take for the church to again be a force that literally scares to death the powerful forces of darkness?
Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 (NLT)
We are living in a day today when it is becoming more and more popular for folks to be preparing for the apocalypse; doomsday preppers and survivalists are hoping to be prepared for anything building fortresses, buying solar-powered generators, hoarding food, guns, etc; ready to engage in war, if necessary.
A Revolution
What was it about that first generation group of post-resurrection Jesus followers, in something known as The Way, that was unique as the standard of community living? The Way was pioneered by the likes of Peter and Paul. What we recognize today as the origins of the church, these disciples of the ascended Christ were so full of love for Jesus that their love for Him eclipsed understanding and translated into love for one another as a family of believers. How did this happen? Why is it not more common among the family of God today, that we would share with another from our resources the way they did? Instead, it appears as though our make up today as a church community is to fend for ourselves.
The story of Acts Chapter 2 concludes with the new church family families giving of their property and resources to the leaders of the church community as a unified people. They had a common purpose to ensure that each and every need is met, especially the needs of the poor and impoverished. What would motivate an entire community of people, numbering in the thousands, to agree to commit to such a noble mission. Had they been threatened? Had they been brainwashed by some heinous psychotic dictator?
The Way was a community of several thousand believers in the resurrected Christ. Just a six weeks earlier they had watched or heard about Jesus Christ being beaten and tortured, ultimately executed as a hardened criminal. Christ’s closest disciples who He called friends had either denied knowing Jesus or went into hiding fearing for their lives. Prior to that they had sacrificed the lives they had known, leaving loved ones behind, to join Jesus in the mission to liberate their countrymen from under the oppressive hand of the Roman Empire—at least that was their perspective. Many of the rest of these followers were likely among those crying out for the crucifixion of Jesus.
So what changed to the point that they were agreeable and motivated—even compelled—to sacrifice their own selfish interests for the sake of the community, this family referred to as The Way?
Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 (NLT)
This was huge for the movement of The Way. Besides His family and close friends, Jesus was seen by more than 500 people at one time. He may have been seen by dozens, hundreds, or even thousands more. The fact that resurrected Jesus appeared to an entire crowd of people before ascending into heaven, which occurred also in front of witnesses, is revolutionary. Had Martin Luther King prophesied that he would rise from the dead and then did, imagine what that would have done for racial equality and the civil rights movement. Like Dr. King, Jesus spoke against poverty and injustice with a message of love. When Jesus appeared, love was alive in Him and His message. Though the body of Jesus ascended to heaven, the spirit of love was left to abound, thrive, and build momentum for the greatest revolutionary movement in history.
What came next about this revolution would change the world.
Pentecost
The promise of the Spirit of God would permeate into the hearts and minds of believers like had never been known and experienced before. Loving compassion would compel brothers and sisters of faith to care for one another as if they were family. Pentecost would be the event that when experienced would change a person’s life forever.
On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. Acts 2:1-4 (NLT)
Then Peter preached this incredible message of hope and certainty that the resurrected Savior is alive, and alive in the hearts of all believers; that what happened to him and other believers was not for some exclusive club but for all who believe.
“You have shown me the way of life,
and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.” Acts 2:28 (NLT)
“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” Acts 2:36-39 (NLT)
The Apostle Peter delivered such incredible hope through his message in a way that made so much sense to his audience that some three thousand people came believe in the resurrected Jesus in one day. It would be like getting up in the middle of a crowded shopping mall and begin preaching the gospel. For all we know, he was simply having a discussion with a few folks when a few more would join in until the number swelled to several thousand.
What was so convincing that thousands were persuaded to denounce human logic and believe; believe in someone who while unseen was quite known, to the extent that people were willing to give up their freedoms for the hope of the resurrected Savior?
There was already incredible momentum behind the force of The Way on the social and religious culture at a time when the buzz around town was that Jesus is alive. “That Je…” “Yes, that Jesus! The one we saw beaten along the road to his death up on the hill hanging from a Roman cross.” The buzz that Jesus had risen from the dead as he said he would must have shot all the way to Rome.
On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. Acts 2:1-4 (NLT)
What happened to some 120 believers gathered together in one place fulfilled this promise spoken by the risen Jesus just days prior.
Once when he was eating with them, he (Jesus) commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5 (NLT)
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)
Imagine
Consider where you’re at on your spiritual journey. Now, imagine having seen Jesus crucified to death with your own eyes and then doing a double take having seen him alive standing right there before you. Then you see him ascend to heaven where He is exalted to where He was prior to His human experience. Then, you experience the first wave of the very Spirit of Jesus literally entering into your life experience. How might that be for the very best of a new life experience? Would it do it for you?
How close is this to what Apostle Paul wrote about in 1st Corinthians 13 when he writes about the time of perfection coming? Paul is writing about eternal love in glory but Paul is the man who was struck down himself by the Spirit of Jesus made manifest through a bright glorious light. Paul, struck down was love struck from that point on, transformed from the executioner of Christians to literally leading The Way and writing about the love of God he experienced.
Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:9-13 (NLT)
The Miracle
Paul wasn’t writing from merely some spiritual revelation, though he had plenty of that; he wrote from his personal experience, having had that very personal encounter with Jesus. I had a client a few years back who had an experience that completely changed his life. He didn’t know Jesus from Santa Claus. He’d never been to church. He’d never prayed… never ever. I was able to help him to consider the historical evidence of Christ’s life, crucifixion, the empty tomb, and the implausibility that a group of scared fisherman would be able to take on and overcome as many as two dozen skilled Roman soldiers that had guarded the tomb that night. I also explained the historical record of Jews who ignored their heritage and at times were martyred for their belief and eyewitness accounts of personal encounters with the risen Savior, Jesus.
My client listened intently like someone might with inoperable cancer but willing to at least listen to someone presenting alternative theories on how to treat his condition. He did not believe in God but appeared as though he wanted to; like someone trapped in a cave that was blocked with fallen rock but heard that if you say “open sesame” the stones will roll away and you will be set free from what would become a tomb if there was no way out. Who wouldn’t say “open sesame” as a last resort with nothing to lose as silly as it may sound to do so. I encouraged my client to call out to God with his voice and dare Him to show up in his recovery.
On his way home from the third evening session of intensive outpatient treatment, my client was on his way to buy “cigarettes and beer”, beer was his drug of choice, and his nightly consumption was heavy. His craving—his urge—to use alcohol on a scale of ten was “a thirty.” Even though he stood to lose everything… again… using alcohol, he felt he would lose his mind if he did not drink. Even though he had detoxed, and had been sober two weeks, his post-acute withdrawal symptoms were off the charts.
My client prayed for the first time while in his car driving. He cried out, “Jesus, if you are real, come into my life and help me!” It did not take but a second. My client experienced what he called “a whoosh” go completely through him. It was so much more than a physical or emotional feeling. It was a spiritual experience; a personal encounter with the living Christ! He said his desire for alcohol “went from a thirty to a three.”
Then my client said something that threw me. He said that he experienced “the love of God.” I never used that expression with him before. I doubt he had ever heard that before. You don’t credit the love of Santa Claus for your Christmas presents. My client experienced the love of God revealed to him through an experience beyond anything he could rationally describe. From that moment on he would seek Christ-centered recovery meetings, inquire about church and how to get his hands on a Bible, and so on. One thing he no longer asked about was how to communicate with God. That he knew how to do.
You might be wondering, “Why didn’t his desire for alcohol go to zero if he was delivered by some supernatural intervention?” I have a thought about that. I believe the greater miracle is that while he still had a desire to drink, he did not have to. We of faith through relationship with Jesus have been set free from sin but still sin. We wouldn’t still sin if we did not desire selfishly sinful things. Our supernatural intervention occurred at the cross through to the resurrection but………… and that is the miracle.
Perfect Love
It is the love of God, the perfect love of God, that changes a life forever. It is the love of God that attracts and draws us together as a community, unified with a common purpose, to love one another as a family, and battle together against a common enemy, empowered by the Spirit of God. Jesus came into a world of poverty and injustice and disease and death to provide for us, have mercy on us, heal us, and instill in us new life.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 (NKJV)
It is in this new life that we are empowered, not with human reasoning and human weapons, but with spiritual weapons for the pulling down of strongholds. Hatred is the weapon of unrighteousness to battle injustice. Love is the weapon of righteousness to overcome injustice. Taking is the weapon of this present age to divide and conquer. Giving and sharing is the weapon of the eternal age to draw together the unified family of God.
Imagine if we were to altogether at the same time experience Pentecost in the manner The Way did. Would we bring every resource we have together in one place to be used for the glory of God? Would we commit to feed the hungry, provide shelter and clothing for the less fortunate poor?
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27 (NLT)
Where the Heart Is
So what does communism have to do with any of this? That first church sold their property and resources in order to be a true community, using the profits to ensure that no one was in need. In it’s purest form, full throttle sharing without reservation is necessary to having a common purpose as a unified community of people. The problem is that we are selfish and not fully alive in the love and common purpose of God.
“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:30-31 (NLT)
We struggle to give and to share completely because we fear getting burned. Someone will take advantage. Someone has taken advantage. It hurts. We fear repeating the pattern of getting hurt again. Paul wrote that Jesus said that it is better to give than to receive. The fear of being disappointed is in fact the point of ambivalence (“What if… ?”) that gets in the way of giving generously without reservation. Why else would we be resistant in our giving and sharing?
Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:21 (NLT)
Listen again to the words of Apostle Paul in his letter to his protege, Timothy:
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT)
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good reserve for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (HCSB)
The Age to Come
As I read this passage, it feels like it was written for the time and culture that exists in the world today. I suppose not much has changed in the last two thousand years. People, including believers, are preparing for end of days as though they are living in the ‘age to come’ that Scripture speaks of. But it’s not the case at all. While there may be no harm in preparing for end of days, storing up food and resources, the age to come for believers is as citizens of heaven eagerly awaiting the return of the Savior, anticipating the time of perfection to come.
We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. Philippians 3:20 (NLT)
How do we as a community of believers with a unified purpose prepare for the age to come? By storing up good works. What are good works, they are the generous sharing of our resources. Motivated by what? Motivated by the love of God compelling us to do good, right, and best for one another, loving our neighbor as ourselves, holding the needs of our neighbors in high esteem. If we are motivated by the love of stuff, relying on material wealth, we will likely be stunned when we get to that point in our economy when our currency is compromised and we find that even precious metals become near impossible to trade for goods. Then what?
We will reap what we sow during difficult times. If one sows sparingly one will reap sparingly. If one sows generously one will reap generously. It is through this truth straight from the Word of God, spoken by Jesus Christ. We as Christ’s church are supposed to be the rock that the gates of hell will not withstand. Paul wrote to Timothy that this life of giving and sharing is real life, truth to be experienced.
What are we? Who are we in Christ? Are we a community surrendered to a singular focus? Or are we fragmented and scattered, not only throughout the world, but even in our neighborhoods and local churches and gathering places. What would change if Pentecost happened when large numbers of us convened together in one place? Would we come together as one mind, of unified thought and purpose; or would each one of us have our own agenda, storing up food and supplies, fortifying our humble fortresses, preparing for battle? Preparing for battle against who, especially as the distinctions become less clear between us and them?
Compelled by Christ’s love, The Way had sincere love for one another, holding each other up in highest regard for one another. While I tell myself that I want that, to experience that kind of powerful selfless love for my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, I find myself feeling more like the rich young ruler, discouraged at the prospect of sacrificing my routine and my creature comforts.
I am praying about that. What about you?
