church

So back in Acts... I've also been reflecting on what those 3,000 Israelites did after their conversion & receiving of the Holy Spirit within them. I'm going to cut and paste to make it easier:

(Acts 2) 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

This is a sweet, simple, pure picture of what God's church should look like. The awe and wonder that each Christian believer should have for God. I fear, well, I know, that so many of Christians have given the false impression that we have it all together or that we are somehow better than those that are unbelievers. We lose the simple awe of God when something amazing happens. Acknowledging Him as the sole reason we don't sink in submission to the world. We think it was something we did that made it all come together. From the little things to the big things, it's only by His grace and mercy that we make it through.

This passage clearly shows us the humbleness that ought to bind us together... the openness to learning from one another... the unselfishness of sharing possessions... the everyday ordinariness & "messiness" of life shared. Verse 47 says as a result they were having favor with all the people. So surely if nonbelievers saw this lifestyle today, they couldn't help but to be drawn to Jesus as well.

Amidst studying this, my husband and I have discussed searching for a new church to attend. It's a post for another time, but we feel that we are in an unhealthy church, whose focus isn't quite straight. We wrestle with staying and praying/working with them through this, but also feel that we've done the biblical process of talking with the leadership about it and haven't seen a change in the 9+ months it has been since those discussions. In no church will we find perfection, however we both desire a church of humble openness as found in Acts.

It's made me look inward, for I know if I don't start with me, I can't expect to find it in another. Am I in awe of God's work? Do I have a glad and generous heart? I challenge you to think about the church you find yourself in. Are you doing your part to contribute to the facade or are you worshiping and sharing in humbleness?