Acts 2 Church

Acts 2:42-47New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

This passage often gets lifted up as an example of what we call an Acts 2 Church.

There are some who might grouse a bit about it (is that socialism? communism...all those people holding all things in common??).  

And others who think, Yes!  This is how it should be! THIS is what church is meant to be!

And finally others who just feel shame and downtrodden that here is yet another expectation they feel unable to attain.

It's easy to get lost in the details of this passage - whether positively or negatively - and miss the general sense that here was a group of people who liked being together.  

Who LOVED being together!

And because of that they were happy.

And generous.

And cared for.

And fed, both physically and spiritually.

And God just continued to grow their number.

There are all kinds of churches, and all kinds of people in churches, but whether you hold all things in common, or whether you each have your own homes in gated communities, what is your sense of each other when you come together?

In my experience, when people love being together, things happen! Awesome things happen!

LIFE happens!

And when people don't, doors shutter and life peters out.

So, what do you do when you don't love the people in your church?

Well...

Love them anyway!

God of love: remind us that love is a verb for you more than it is an emotion! Amen!