The Spirit In Action ACTS 5:29, 33-42; 6:1-7
“RUMBLINGS”
For the last several weeks we’ve been getting into the act – The Acts of the Apostles that is – Luke's amazing sequel to his gospel. It tells of how this whole thing got started when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to his disciples, how they were filled with the love and power of God and began healing people and setting them free from the enemy, and people have been coming alive in Christ ever since.
So far, Luke's sequel reads like a series of good news, bad news, proclamations. To properly convey that I need your help. When I recount the good news, I'd like everyone over here..., to raise your hands in the air, and declare: “YAH!” When I recount the bad news, I'd like all of you, sitting over here..., to put your hands on your hips, and protest with a: “Say what?” Got it? Here we go...
The Good News is that the book begins as Luke's gospel ended, with Jesus appearing to his disciples, risen from the dead...! ('Yah!') The bad news is that several weeks later his disciples are still hiding behind locked doors... (Say what?) The good news is that, just as Jesus promised, they are all filled with the Holy Spirit...! ('Yah!') The bad news is that the people outside think they're drunk....
(Say what?)
The good news is that in spite of that Peter convinces 3000 people of the truth and they're all baptized in Jesus' name, and the church is born! ('Yah!') The bad news is that all these people, from at least 14 different countries, languages and dialects are expected to get along.... (Say what?)
The good news is that Jesus' disciples begin to boldly do what Jesus trained them to do, to heal people and share the good news...! ('Yah!') The bad news is that the religious leaders didn't like it, and try to stop them by repeatedly arresting them and punishing them.... (Say what?) The good news is that Jesus' disciples refuse to stop and the church rapidly multiplied...! ('Yah!') The bad news, is that “As the disciples rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent.” (Acts 6:1) (Say what?)
Rumblings of discontent, huh? Good thing that never happens in the church today tho', right? Fact is, it’s the church’s reputation for intolerance and infighting that scares many seekers off. It's a behavior that a certain six-year-old friend of mine is notorious for. Check it out. (Hobbes enters)
Calvin: Hey Hobbes! Say, you know what gets under my skin?
Hobbes: Other than that adorable six-year-old attitude of yours?
Calvin: Yeah, other than that. Hey! Watch it, bucko! No, it's that some people complain all the time – and they complain about the least little thing.
Hobbes: (rolling his eyes) Imagine that...
Calvin: If something bugs them, they never let it go of it! They just go on and on complaining, long after anyone else is interested. People who gripe all the time really drive me nuts!
Hobbes: (wide-eyed and looking at cong) Sounds like a pretty short drive.
Calvin: You'd think they'd change the subject after a while, but they never do! They just keep griping and complaining and repeating what they've already said!
Hobbes: Sounds strangely familiar. I wonder, maybe they're not very self aware. (winks & exits)
Calvin: Yeah. Maybe. Wait – what...? (chasing H. to sacristy) Very funny, fur ball...!
Nothing like having a stuffed tiger friend to put things into perspective! Thank goodness the early church had Jesus' disciples to do the same because already they've hit a significant pothole.
-2-
Luke informs us that with the church's rapid growth have come rumblings of discontent. It's not surprising really. After all, as noted a moment ago, part of the bad news Luke reports is that all these people, from at least 14 different countries, languages and dialects are expected to get along. That's easier said than done. It's no surprise that people speaking a different language is at issue with this speed bump the church has hit. Luke informs us that “The Greek speaking believers compained about the Hebrew speaking believers...” (Acts 6:1) Turns out it's a language issue.
How often is that the case among us as well. Oh, we may all speak English, but the way we were raised and the way our brains are wired, it's as though we do speak a different language. Years ago Redeemer's council meetings tended to get rather volatile. Based on advice I'd received at seminary
I suggested we all take the Meyer-Briggs personality test which helps leadership teams better under-stand and appreciate how others approach decision making from a different perspective than we do and that neither is right or wrong they're simply different. We tend, not unlike those in question here in Acts 6, to enter into relationships with unresolved issues from our past.
Luke informs us that “The Greek speaking believers compained about the Hebrew speaking believers...” (Acts 6:1) Turns out it's an unresolved issue of the past. Hebrew-speaking Jews had long distanced themselves from Greek-speaking Jews. Now that individuals from both groups have come to faith in Jesus these two groups are now sharing the same space, and the same resources. The Greeks say their loved ones are getting short-changed. So they go to the twelve and complain. It would seem that both groups have issues. It’s an old issue, in fact, some times identified as “us and them-ism”.
There’s a song I like about a grove of trees, that begins: “There is unrest in the forest, there is trouble with the trees, for the Maples want more sunlight and the Oaks ignore their pleas. The Maples say 'The Oaks are just too lofty and they grab up all the light.' But the Oaks can't help their feelings if they like the way their made and wonder why the Maples can't be happy in their shade.”
The story ends with the narrator telling his audience: “Now there's no more Oak oppression for they passed a noble law and the trees are all kept equal with hatchet, axe and saw.” (Neil Peart) Such is the nature of us and them-ism – it seldom resolves with a happy ending.
So how can we avoid unrest in our forest and trouble with our trees? We can take a lesson from the Acts 6 church. Three things stand out in this passage that can help us in seasons of unrest.
The first involves a do and a don't. Luke tells us: “There were rumblings of discontent as the Greek speaking believers compained about the Hebrew speaking believers, saying that their widowss were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.” (Acts 6:1)
Clearly the Greeks have a legitimate concern. This is not a carpet issue. Do you know that one, of the church that divided and disintegrated over the arguring about the color of the new carpet that they wanted to install? Too often rumblings are over insignificant issues.
That's not the case here. The concerns of the Greeks have substance. Yet, rumblings tend to be expressed as whisperings among the like-minded, or gossip. Apparently that was going on here. Acts 6 reminds us how counter-productive that is. That's what we shouldn't do: complain to each other.
What we should do is what's modeled here. The concern is brought to the leaders of the church. In our case, that would be the church council. Once they learn of the murmurings of discontent they take appropriate action: “The Twelve called a meeting of the believers” (Acts 6:2)
-3-
So that's the first thing we can learn from the Acts 6 church. 1) If you have some concern, don't murmur or gossip about it, don't start a rumble, bring it to pastor or the church council.
The second thing we can learn is this: 2) Diversity of opinion brings opportunity.
In the Jerusalem church the rumblings of discontent leads to an interesting decision. During the meeting in question, The Twelve urge the church to choose seven individuals to lead a new ministry to make sure food and resources are fairly distributed. “Select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.” (Acts 6:3)
They realized that out of the diversity of opinions present there was a wonderful opportunity for discipling the next generation of leaders and sharing responsibility. What's more, Luke provides us another insight by providing us with the names of the seven so chosen: “They chose Stephen (a man of faith and the Holy Spirit), Phillip, Procurs, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas & Nicolas of Antioch.”
(Acts 6:5)
Here's what's significant about that group. In addition to Stephen being among them, the seven so chosen all have Greek names. The Greeks raised the concern and so from among them will come a team to bring peaceful resolution. Those who raise a concern, are those who help to resolve it!
This is not done as reproach but in the wisdom of raising up to leadership those who have a common heart. They are not put down, but lifted up in prayer: “These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.” (Acts 6:6)
What do we learn here? 1) Don't start a rumble, bring it to pastor or council. 2) Diversity of opinion brings opportunity. And 3) Unity is a powerful testimony.
Whenever we find ourselves pointing fingers or being hyper-critical, we compromise the unity and mission of Christ’s church. If we're perceived to be constantly murmuring against each other or against them, whoever the themmight be, Jesus' transformative gospel is compromised among us.
If, on the other hand, we learn to listen to one another's concerns in a spirit of understanding and love, if we exhibit the Spirit of peace and unity here, though we may not all hold the same views about what songs we sing or what politicians we vote for or the color of the carpet, people who visit will take notice. Luke notes the impact that their finding a resolution to the rumblings of discontent had on the community around them: “God’s message continued to spread and the number of believers greatly increased...and many of the Jewish priests were converted too.” (Acts 6:7)
I love that Luke includes that final detail, that many of the Jewish priests were converted too.
These were those who had been adamently opposed to Jesus and his followers, who only weeks or months earlier, had arrested and beaten Peter and John for even mentioning Jesus' name. Now, so moved by the powerful testimony of the the church's unity, even they too are converted to The Way!
In a season such as this, when our country is so highly polarized, we have a unique and wonder- ful opportunity. We can turn heads to Jesus by loving through our differences in the unity of the Spirit!
Two of the most memorable worship experiences I've ever been blessed to be part of exhibited that kind of unity. One was at an Alpha Conference in which the speaker called off all the denomina-tions present: Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Assembly of God, Foursquare, Catholic, Apostolic, Anglican, etc – and then led us with one voice into praising Jesus' name! Powerful!
-4-
The second time, was worshipping in Frankfurt at an international church in which a number of people were dressed in their cultural apparel. There, side by side, were Africans, Koreans, Norwegians, Germans, Americans, Brazilians, Ukrainians, all praising Jesus' name!
When concerns and differences of perspective or persuasion arise among us let us learn from the Acts 2 church:1) Don't rumble; bring it to pastor/council, 2) Remember diveristy of opinion brings opportunity, and 3) Unity is a powerful testimony. As Jesus prayed: “Father..., may they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as you love me!”
(John 17:23)