"All the believers were one in heart and mind." - Acts 4:32
Over the past 2000 years, the Christian church has become known for a great many things. From hospitals to international relief organizations to our university system, and so much more, the Christian Church has had a profound impact on human history. Just in the United States, most universities were established first as institutions of faith – Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, William and Mary, Princeton, and Rutgers are but a few examples of universities founded by Christians. Christianity has been the inspiration for more art, more music, and more books than any other topic by far.
Today, Christian relief organizations go far beyond our borders in helping to save lives and provide aid to tragedy-torn areas around the globe. Mother Teresa – is well-known for her sacrifices to serve the outcasts of India, assisting the hungry in Ethiopia – even the radiation victims in Chernobyl. Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision, Compassion International, Convoy of Hope, Doctors without Borders, The Salvation Army, World Relief, Hope International, Children’s Hunger Fund – just to name a few of the current organizations saving lives and providing hope to a lost and broken world.
But, unfortunately here in the U.S., anti-theists, rather than recognizing the wonderful contributions of the church, point to a rather embarrassing history. The Crusades, the Inquisition, Salem witchhunts, apartheid, and much of the slave trade – all done in the name of Christianity. Why, even the first slave trade ship was named Jesus. A bit more recently, the image of Christianity was marred by activities such as initial support of Hitler, racism, and intolerance, all while flying the flag of Christianity.
While it is pointless to argue the weight of how much overwhelmingly more good has been accomplished in the name of Christ – clearly, the history of the church has been tainted by the wicked. Of course, we all also recognize that in this broken world, people will do evil – even while claiming to be Christian. But even today, Christianity receives a bad rap as a result of the behavior of some who claim faith. Mahatma Gandhi is known to have said, “I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Such a charge is stunning—and frankly, rather upsetting. How is it that those who claim to be followers of Jesus fail to live like…well, like disciples of Christ? A.W. Tozer once wrote that if the Holy Spirit stepped away – nothing would change in 90% of the churches.
Aren’t we supposed to be the hands and feet of Jesus? Clearly, we should be doing something different. Should we be living our lives differently? What should be our collective objectives to serve the Lord in a manner as the Bible instructs?
What did Jesus say about the role of the church?
Throughout the gospels, Jesus referred to the kingdom of God – fifty-three times in Matthew, seventeen times in Mark, and forty-one times in Luke. Yet, when standing in front of Pilate, Jesus said this - “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36) In fact, while the synoptic gospels mention “kingdom” over 100 times, they mention church twice. Perhaps we are getting too focused on the church and not enough on the kingdom.
Jesus did not say – “kill me and soon you will see my disciples taking over the world and forcing everyone to believe in me.” He did not say – “all men will know you are my disciples if you make theocracies out of governments” or “Go out and accuse sinners, pass laws, and restore the Ten Commandments as the law of the land!” No. Jesus said,
“ By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” - John 13:35
Jesus never once could be found teaching his followers to rebel against Rome – he taught them to care for each other. Jesus was so often found among the reprobates and sinners that he actually offended the Pharisees – whose laws made it sinful to dine with sinners and gentiles. Today, sinners often see the church as a place where they would never be welcomed. Jesus demonstrated love first – and then instructed them to sin no more.
- The woman at the well – a Samaritan who had been married five times and was living with a man she wasn’t married to. This was the first to whom Jesus testified that He was the Messiah. (John 4)
- The woman caught in adultery whom the Pharisees threw in front of Jesus to test him. (John 8:3-11)
Then, at the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples—a duty performed by the lowest of the servants. He did this to show that he had come to serve and as an example to his disciples that they, too, should have the attitudes of servants to others. Jesus came to serve us and to show us that we, too, are to serve each other. Jesus didn’t see sinners—he saw souls in need of love and salvation. He had compassion for them because they were helpless. And he acted—saw something, felt something, and did something.
Who is the church put in place to serve?
Chapter 25 in the Gospel of Matthew offers three parables Jesus used to teach his disciples important lessons of discipleship – examples of what ought to be the mission of the church. In the parable of the ten virgins (25:1-13) wherein He warned against becoming complacent. Five of the virgins were wise and five were foolish. The wise virgins remained ready for the bridegroom to return, while the foolish, without oil for their lamps, were left on the outside looking in.
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore, keep watch because you do not know the day or the hour." -Matthew 25:10-13
In the parable of the bags of gold (25:14-30) – also known as the parable of the talents – Jesus taught us to put the gifts we have been given to good use and not let them sit dormant and undeveloped. If we allow laziness or selfishness to get in the way of putting our gifts to work for God’s kingdom, then we fail to follow His teachings.
“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’" - Matthew 25:28-30
But perhaps the most poignant of the parables – the one most clear on how we, His church, ought to be conducting ourselves, is the parable of the sheep and the goats (25:31). Come judgment day, the Lord will separate the people with the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. To the sheep, the King (the Lord) will say –
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’" - Matthew 25:34-36
Not knowing when they saw the King and fed him or clothed him, the sheep asked…when Lord? When did we feed you and give you something to drink and clothe you? The King’s reply:
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” - Matthew 25:40
We must therefore ask ourselves, are we doing that? Are we, as a church, helping “the least of these?
How does the church develop disciples?
Then again in Matthew, Jesus offers us what we call the Great Commission – outlined in Matthew 28:16-20, as he was ascending into heaven.
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
We seem to interpret this verse in a very limited way. As a church, we appear to be satisfied with making converts. We seem to celebrate when we hear someone say, “Yes! I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.” We throw our hands in the air, “TOUCHDOWN” – and then assume these folks will come to church and start studying the Bible. We forget about the “creating disciples” and “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” part. These newcomers to a life in Christ are, for the most part, left on their own and lumped into the very same categories as others who might be more mature in their faith.
The risk – and often the result – is that these believers don’t know how to go deeper in their faith, so they don’t. They continue on with their lives as if nothing has really changed. Rather than becoming true disciples, they become more like cultural Christians. Oh, they may be coming to church and celebrating and singing – but they aren’t connecting with others who can lead them to build their faith on a foundation of rock. They perhaps know about God, but they don’t yet know God.
Can we become the church as Jesus commanded?
Perhaps the problem is that so many of us look at the “church” as the building, the pastors, and the other leaders. We sort of just assume that is their job. It is their job to set up programs to help others and to teach others. But when a church offers a program, they may get a few volunteers here or there but often struggle to get people to fill the need, sometimes even in helping around the church.
No, it is up to us. We are the Church. All of us. Yes, the pastors are there to help us, to guide us, to lead us – but it is up to us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It is up to us to help feed and clothe “the least of these.” The Church is a community of believers – together. It is a family of believers who can accomplish so much more – together.
In the Book of Acts, all the believers came together as one—one heart and one mind.
"All the believers were one in heart and mind." - Acts 4:32
The believers acted together to help each other.
"With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. From time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." -Acts 4:33-34
We are stronger together. It is a cliche that seems to be a bit overused today but which is so appropriate in this context. We are stronger together – with the strength of the Holy Spirit leading us and guiding us. We can do more – in His name and with His strength. Together.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/AaronAmat
