Unity, Diversity, Community

Acts 6:1–7

“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. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”

Living in community is interdependence as we see a division of roles and labours initiated by the Apostles so in all areas of the early church community, there is a ministry that takes care of each task and service, this helped the leaders to focus on the “ministry of the Word” (v. 2). I believe this ministry is intercession, studying the Scriptures, and teaching. These are what undergirds faith of the early followers of Jesus Christ, this, I believe is what made them effective and “so the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith (v. 7).” The Apostle Paul discusses this interdependence in our fellowship comparing it to systems and parts of the human body and not just anybody, but Christ’s: All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it (I Cor 12:27). He stressed that interdependence is essential in unity in the church amidst the differences: “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit (I Cor 12:12-13).” I think this had been stressed upon him by St. Peter and the others. The Church is naturally inclusive, in terms of membership, irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, class, social status, occupation, capabilities, skills, nationality, language, etc so long as we enter voluntarily and are all equally willing to be transformed by Christ’s saving grace and the minsitry of the Holy Spirit, to shed the perishing sinful shells and put on eternal robes of light and freedom. Unity is not uniformity, however, the diversity is also celebrated, “yes, the body has many different parts,” St. Paul continues, “not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? (I Cor 12:14-17).” We live together and need each other, that’s what the Church is about, focusing on what we have in common, in our fallenness, in our human nature and finitude, and yet we are all equally capable of being saved by God and share in fellowship with Christ and each other: “But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you (I Cor 12:18-21).” We live in this corporation (embodiment, literally) to serve each other as we also serve and love Christ and His great commission, we are here to encourage one another, teach, discipline, rebuke when necessary, help in times of need, feed, nourish, share burdens of living, protect, nurture, understand, forgive: “In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity (I Cor 12:22-24).” This is a knitting of hearts, minds, parts, and bodies under one temple: “This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad (I Cor 12:22-26).” Church, as we see here in the earliest followers of Christ, isn’t perfect and may have had the same issues we face today, however, they strived to meet each others needs, to live harmoniously, and focus on the Word and the spreading of the Gospel, the good news that is Jesus Christ!