JULY 25, 2021 SUNDAY MESSAGE
JOIN US LIVE AT 10 AM TODAY!
Community Life in the Margins 7.25
Transcription
We are beginning to wind down our summer series entitled Perspective Shift and we’ve had a number of great speakers pouring into us to talk about, and give their perspective on...our three Pillars of Engagement: Devotion, Community, Mission.
The speakers we have had up to this point have been incredible (If you missed it, go back and watch the replays).
Today I am going to be talking to you about Christian Community for the second time (Pastor Dero with El Shaddai) Instead I am speaking from a perspective shift to me a few months ago!
So, before we jump in, I want to give credit to Pastor Ricky Jenkins who spoke at virtual conference our staff attended called “discipling out racism” led by Albert Tate and facilitated by the Global Leadership Summit. Much of the thought process on today's text is my version of his teaching that day.
I thought, his perspective on the integration of community in the book of Acts was something our church needed to hear this.
When I was first immersed into a Christian community, there were lots of community expectations (RULES!!).
I wasn’t good at following them.
4 guys in 2 bedroom apt. on campus
...any time two parties come together and agree to be in the same space, you have to work some things out:
If you grew up with siblings
If you get married
If you have roommates in your living situation,
As we said a few weeks ago, if you are in COMMUNITY in ANY way shape or form...there is a communal negotiation that takes place.
With it comes:
Conflict, stretching, sharing, compromising, accommodating, assumptions are revealed
“My family always did it this way and yours always did it that way”
But there’s GROWTH, learning, introduced to new things
All of your histories including the trials, pains, vices and achievements, virtues come colliding together and you have to figure it out!
THIS PROCESS REVEALS THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF that may surprise you or you may not like:
Selfishness, pride, OR
You develop a loving willingness to submit to each other and work things out.
If you’re committed to not leaving, if you are on level footing, you can make it happen. BUT, YOU MUST BE:
Willing to Listen AND
Willing to Change
It’s NEVER easy but it is beautiful when it comes together!
This happens to all of us! Now, I want to add another layer of difficulty to this process, what if:
Your partner, roommate, friend, etc were coming together after having beef between you two.
What if it’s not just you but your families.
Shakespeare tried to capture this in Romeo and Juliet, right?
What if there are years and years of conflict, tribal or community feuding (Welcome to the world of first Century Jerusalem because...) wherein walls of prejudice, slandering, and negative depictions of the others identity have been developed?
THIS is the context we find inside the early church and a LOT of what the book of Acts is about because, when the early church begins to grow, there are all kinds of people with different backgrounds, living conditions, ethnicities, and cultures colliding that have had LOTS of conflict in their history. Some have even been in positions of power over others ...everything just runs seamless and smooth, right? NOPE!
We’re going to take a look at Acts chapter 6 verses 1-7 today (turn there with me) and take a look at one incident that arises as they figure it out together and see where we might apply this in our own lives!
Acts 6:1-7
6:1 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.
If you’re in this distribution you are of low status because you are poor...and one group is being overlooked.
It’s possible this group was simply “overlooked” ACCIDENTALLY
but the greek word can also indicate intention
so, depending on who you want to sympathize with, you can depict it one way or the other.
The fact is that NEGLECT was taking place and the division between these two groups is historically documented and well known:
“The “Hebraic” and the “Hellenistic” Jews were two different groups in this church with different backgrounds. While they were both considered ethnically Jewish they had different languages, different cultural expressions and a conflict arose.”
The Hebraic Jewish Christians took a lot of pride in their Jewish identity, maintained a distinctly Jewish lifestyle, and spoke Hebrew or Aramaic.
The Hellenists, on the other hand, were Jews who had allowed a Greek lifestyle to affect the way they lived. They had adopted some Greek customs and had lost the ability to speak Hebrew or Aramaic.
JNT says, “The division between Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking (or culturally Greek and culturally Hebrew) Jews dates from the conquest of...Alexander the Great in 323 b.c.e. He and his successors introduced the Greek language and Greek culture into the lands they ruled. “Hebraists” considered the “Hellenists” to have developed an adulterated Judaism which had assimilated elements of the pagan cultures around them.”
Though both groups were Jewish by descent, there were distinct and obvious cultural differences and discord existed between them.
The hebrew speaking group looked down on the greeks for having compromised their Jewish existence
Similar distinctions show up again in Acts 15 as they decided how to further integrate those in the non-jewish greek/gentile culture.
With this kind of history, the intentional exclusion of basic needs wasn’t just possible - it is likely the case and, SO, very early on in the life of the first century church:
a wall of division is erected!
a social class hierarchy has been established and it was ethnically/culturally charged
SO, just like that, a marginalization of that community has been baked INTO the social system of their community regarding the distribution of goods.
Much of today’s content can be applied in numerous situations of conflict and justice but it very easily can apply to racial tensions in America and serves as a reminder to our value of Justice and Reconciliation (I’ll center that issue today and add to it as we end).
What we see in Acts 6 is that those being neglected, those in the minority position - the Hellenists - decide to speak out about it! It says: “the Hellenistic Jews complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.”
What do the disciples decide to do?? Let’s read the next verse:
2 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.
What did they do?
They did not ignore it.
They LISTENED & they called a gathering to hear the complaint
They considered the variables:
“Is this a matter we need to get directly involved in or not?”
You see, we can tell from the quick engagement of the leadership that
This was a safe place to have a hard conversation because they TALKED ABOUT IT!
Difficult conversations (including those that our church has ventured into) should be normalized so that, when they are brought up, when a conversation needs to take place, it can!!
If we take a topic, a conversation, or an issue and tuck it away or hide it, it becomes that much more difficult to engage when the moment surfaces on it’s own and must be dealt with.
IN our own church, the decision to center the topic of ethnic division was not easy and we have made some commitments to normalize and even systematically bake into our discipleship process difficult conversations. In fact, in order to ensure that there was a regular flow of engagement, we have used multiple liturgical expressions and even diversified our preaching resources so that this conversation wasn’t just during a few weeks every year (or just MLK weekend) but a natural part of the exegetical process in rightly dividing the scriptures and pulling ideas from pastors who are not just white males.
We still have a long ways to go and there are others issues that need to be normalized but my point is that the disciples didn’t try to:
hide their shortcomings,
didn’t try to deny the problem or write it off because their own widows’ needs were being met
They could have said, “not my problem!”
They didn’t dodge it or get defensive saying: “well that’s critical race theory” or “all widows matter”
When the issue was brought up there was a posture of and willingness to listen...but not only that! There was a willingness to DISCERN.
I want to recognize that:
not all issues are Gospel informed,
not all issues are congruent with the ways of Jesus and
Not all complaints are legitimate.
SO, a discernment process is necessary to decide what should and what should NOT be moved into consideration but my point is that the process cannot be stopped at a refusal to listen or the inability for one side to consider the possibility of their part in the problem. (we get a little more insight on the discerning process later)
One of the reasons RACISM is such a difficult topic to engage in is because our culture tried to sweep it under the rug at best and protect it at worst. It’s like when a family has an ugly part of their family history and they just don’t bring it up or go to great lengths to cover it up...but a wound cannot heal unless it is exposed and dealt with.
Over decades there has been intentional and concerted efforts to conceal these issues:
Overt: The Slave Bibile which removed the liberating elements of scripture.
Or it gets minimized to the extent that people feel ambushed by this topic when it comes up naturally in scripture.
THIS SIMPLY SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE.
While some ask “why do we talk about this so much?” others say, “why don’t we ever really talk about this?”
So, one of the reasons we have to continue to talk about it is that it’s constantly being hidden and another reason is that we SEE IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE BIBLE.
If you are reading it, the topic should already be normalized in the context of nations, ethnicities, and cultural tensions that build division and hierarchies
wherein the kingdom of heaven is calling us to constantly work in opposition to create true unity and equity.
But NONE of it takes place if we are unwilling to LISTEN!
So when there is a people crying out or raising a concern (especially an issue of injustice) - when there is a sizable group of folks in your church saying something is “off” here, we should be willing to listen and discern and one of the ways we remove the stigma is by normalizing difficult conversations in our community to ensure a defensive recoil mechanism doesn’t shut it down and we can listen!
After they listened and discerned, they concluded this:
3 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 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 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. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 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.
The majority group was willing to change their ways, to alter their processes, to shift their METHODS in order to address the problem.
There are all kinds of reasons NOT to change our methods:
That’s the way we’ve always done it.
Protecting traditions
Ego holding on to what we’ve already accomplished
It seems to be working from my perspective (says the person whose community widows are being taken care of)
Fear of the future
As soon as you mention a change, someone lists 3 reasons why it won’t work
Tired of pushing, fighting, or advocating for change.
When our “FONDNESS FOR THE PAST EXCEEDS PASSION FOR THE FUTURE” we ALL struggle to change our methodology!
I don’t know if you are aware of it but the church isn’t KNOWN for being at the cutting edge of cultural (or any) trends!! That’s not always a bad thing but where it is bad, we usually have to PULL things into existence against the natural fabric or tendency to maintain the status quo.
I love the way Ricky Jenkins says on behalf of the church in Acts 6:
“We are not going to allow ‘method’ to stop what God is calling us to do. We are going to continue to be anchored to the rock and geared to the times. My methodologies can fail and fall as long as my principals of the Gospel continue to be consistent in how I lead. In other words, we’re not going to ‘so hold on’ to systems, hold on to tradition, so hold on to “that’s the way we’ve always done it” and limit ourselves...from innovation that houses God’s original heart for all people to be together in God’s church.”
After hearing the voice from the margins, and learning that the system of distribution embedded in the UNION of these new communities was inconsistent with the heart of God - the Status Quo was benefitting one group of people over another- they didn’t let the standing method outweigh the changes that needed to be made.
Here we see that they discerned a plan forward and executed:
choose seven men from among YOU
Side note: if you bring up a complaint, you may be called on to be a part of the solution!
who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.
Qualifications or standards are established based on biblical principles, right?
They are still ANCHORED to truth and anchored to Jesus!
We will turn this responsibility over to THEM. This proposal PLEASED the whole group.
EVERYONE AGREES but, now, who is the “them??” It told us in the next verse…
They chose Stephen, Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
Most, if not ALL, of the names listed were Greek names and Luke, the writer of Acts isn’t flippant with his word choices. He wants us to know that the new leaders were chosen from those who brought the complaint, who felt the sting of negligence, and put them in charge! still known, still full of the spirit, still wise but, whether intentional or not, their widows were NOT going to be skipped in the daily dispersion again.
We must not be convinced in our minds and hearts but lack actionable endeavors that work to undo the broken methods we see in our culture, in our city, and in our church when they are discovered!
COMMON GROUND, will we be a community that is
anchored to Jesus and willing to hold tight to truth,
but MALLEABLE enough in our expressions to adjust when necessary...
To keep focused on the things God has called us to do,
to bring new folks into the fold and say you have a voice,
to recognize when someone is being neglected in the midst of our current systems, methods, and frames and make space for them?
Are we willing to listen?
Are we willing to change?
Now, as I step outside of the issue of race in America, I want to apply this more broadly in our church. I think some of you may think, we are pretty young in our venture here. Do we really have traditions that will stop us from moving forward?
Not often, but sometimes I hear this:
“Well that’s not really the ‘common ground way’”
or, more often, I hear a longing for the “good ol days” from when we were planted and
there was a unique moment of explosive growth at the midtown campus
There were so many leaders
There was money coming out of our ears
It was SOOOO exciting!!
The Lord Bless You, those WERE exciting times, and we are thankful for everything God did in it.
DO NOT GET STUCK THERE!
Don’t buy into the lie that God doesn’t have something in front of us moving forward.
We sent out a family update last week and mentioned, we have lost some people during COVID, we have all gone through a globally traumatic event so we, as individuals, are NOT who we used to be. We have new people coming to check us out after COVID (each of them has different backgrounds and perspectives, different church experiences to bring to the table, callings they want to see expressed) Even myself as the lead pastor (I’ve mostly been set in honoring what we were).
So, moving forward, if you want to see CGNE become something it WAS you will be constantly disappointed in that endeavor because it’s not even the goal!
We aren’t who we were but I am excited for who God is shaping the new us to be! I am excited to begin tasting that fruit and the new wine that Jesus has in store for us moving forward.
...as we move into the future together!!
Is there some major change coming?
The elders have been praying since Oct of last year for God to counter the momentum of our church. We are still asking God if there is an “all in” thing we are supposed to move towards - we don’t know - but I want us to be willing to take some risks if God wants us to!
As a new pastor to this church we were still trying to get to know one another
There is still this “who are we?”
After COVID its upon us in another way?
So, in some ways this a call to re-commit to one another and the scriptures to whatever God has in front of us
If you have been fickle in our attendance and gathering with the saints recommit, if your house church has not been meeting recommit, if you want to be a leader here but you’re not sure if you agree with our statement of beliefs, if you have thought about serving somewhere but just haven’t committed...We want to be about some things but if we don’t know who’s committed to where God is taking us next...
That’s not Devotion, that’s no Community, that’s not MISSION together...that’s not CHURCH!
This is not, in any way a guilt trip, maybe you considered it, prayed about it, and concluded that you aren’t sure you can get behind the new US. I am not naive enough to discount that possibility but I do want to know that however God molds us, and wherever God takes us, whatever risk he asks us to take, we are committed more to the Lord’s leading than to our former methods and recreating our history.
We can’t step into that next season if we are unwilling to change.
We must be:
Willing to Listen
Willing to Change
…….AMEN?!
I was thinking about the Olympics and thought that the event of hurdles was a great final illustration:
There is a goal to get to the end of the race and every hurdle is a barrier to get there .
The racers body must function fluidly and be focused on the goal. If the body is too rigid it will hit the hurdles and knock them over ruining their race
COMMUNION:
(1 COR. 11:23B-26)
“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SAVE THE DATE: The 2020 Marriage Retreat is scheduled to be Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and November 8!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
We are hosting prayer team meetings for both the congregation at large and individuals to sign up for individual prayer.
SUGGESTIONS FOR WORSHIP:
“Praise & Worship” Spotify playlist and “Praise & Worship” YouTube playlist (slightly different from each other), both of diverse music that are being constantly updated!
Bethel Music :
Bethel Music’s hours of live music YouTube Playlist, also being constantly updated
Bethel provides chords to most (if not all) of their songs here (just have to register email, but free!)
Live worship moments from the Upper Room YouTube Playlist
Journal writing! (I’m a writer too, so sometimes creative writing and writing my thoughts to God is my form of worship.)
Declare and worship with truth by singing and praying scriptures.
WORSHIP NIGHT! Dedicate a night to worship with friends and family, your house church or neighbors, those who need prayer, love worship, or just enjoy music through a video chat platform like Zoom. You can have one person leading at a time (switching off to whoever else wants to lead) while others sing along, pray, or prophesy, etc.
Serving your community, both online, in person, or both, is a great way to worship God, from spreading encouragement and God’s Word online to physically serving food to others. If you are able to go out and serve, click here for opportunities.
COMMISSIONING:
As Jesus said in John 20:21,
"Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
Go, be the Church!
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.