The Spirit and the church

Seven to distribute food

Something to read

During those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, 'It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.' What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
Acts 6:1-6 (NRSV)

Something to think about

When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost the result was a united, rejoicing, inspirational congregation of Christians. Right? Hmm! Church has never been that simple.

In its early days the Jews who spoke Greek thought that the Jews who spoke Aramaic were getting a better deal. This presented a problem to those who led the church. They realised that their skills were in teaching and leading worship. They knew that there were vital tasks to be done in pastoral and practical work, but that they had overlooked them because they were time-consuming and because they were not the best people to do it.

Their decision about what to do was a model in resolving conflicts in church (or anywhere, for that matter). First, they admitted that they had got something wrong. Second, they involved the whole community in finding a satisfactory solution. Third, they opted to give away some of their power and delegate it to others. Fourth, they made it clear that they didn't see those whose role was to be a practical one as second-rank, because they too had to be evidently wise and godly. The picture at the end of this story is of genuine reconciliation - for a time, at least!

Something to do

Christian Aid partners many organisations which work to resolve conflict, and to strengthen communities as peace is slowly built after wars come to an end. In Angola three decades of civil war are over, but it will be many years before their legacy has been dealt with. Christian Aid supports COIEPA, the Angolan ecumenical peace initiative, to consolidate peace at grassroots level. Find out more here.

Something to pray

May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.

2 Thessalonians 3:16