How Easy to Overlook

"In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food." Acts 6:1

Don’t ever presume that the early church had fewer problems than we do, today. Where there are people, there are problems. The complaint department was just as busy 2,000 years ago. Whether there was rampant inequality or favoritism in this case, the trouble was created by numerical growth, plus the combining of groups of people who hadn’t been together before. These dynamics not only create logistical issues, they also put pressure on closed systems. Fairness and equal access to ministry programs were also problematic in the Old Testament times.

The solution in the ensuing verses was to establish a committee (not the worst kind, of course, that meets and never does anything), but a task force empowered to make sure there was evenness and sensitivity. You know that didn’t solve the pettiness immediately and that folks had to be encouraged to forgive and open their hearts to newcomers, whoever there were. They did well and the church grew even more, with some priests converting to the Way. (Maybe that is one of the reasons Stephen was stoned to death) He was the first ministry leader or “committee chairman”, as it were.

The lesson in this: We must be Christian about being Christian, and we must be open to newcomers. We also, must understand that change and growing pains are very difficult on the status quo. A spirit of unity and focus on the main thing must come first. Leaders must be sensitive and followed. Counsel must be taken and responsibilities shared. Above all, the love of Jesus must be paramount. Nothing other than surrender to Christ can solve people problems. One heart at a time. If the whole group can agree to that, there is hope for each of us to be the church, together.

We are a work in progress. With His love and mine, Pastor Fred

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