UNITY - is not a musical!

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

  Acts 2:44,45

It is easy sitting in a living room with a cup of coffee and a Bible to somewhat romanticize the Biblical world of the First Century.  It is nice to imagine that they were all dancing around like they were in a musical and that everything was rainbows and roses. However, First Century Jerusalem was not like that. The famous events of Pentecost, we must remember, is only 50 days from the events of the crucifixion. The same political and social world is still in play. The believers of the day (that would become known as Christians in just 10 years) were still looked upon with disdain. The Jewish leadership is still in panic and cover up mode (Acts 4:1-3). The Romans still disdained Jews and had no empathy for Christians, especially Jewish Christians. Because of the events of the cross, Jerusalem is a police state. It is an occupied city and people are still people. No one, especially if they know that someone is a believer in Jesus wants to have anything to do with them. They are afraid that the Jewish leadership or Romans will come down on them, so they want them gone. Pentecost is still a feast day in 1st Century Jerusalem, so activities especially around the Temple were high. This did not set well though with the Roman Authority, who thought just 50 days previous that they had quelled a rebellion. The Jewish Authority as evidenced from Mt.28:11-15, is still on their guard not to let anything regarding Jesus come to the surface. Acts 4 backs that fact up.  No one, is willing to openly show any hospitality to those who follow Jesus, much less kindness or open sympathy. 

All of this sounds familiar doesn't it?  Being a Christian is bad - being looked at as sectarian. To openly walk as a Christian or say you're a Christian, especially in public or civic oriented jobs, is to face censorship or the loss of your job. Here's one thing for sure....just as Christians in the first century did not need a bunch of infighting neither do we today. It is hard enough to live in a world that is hostile, without having to worry about whether your brothers or sisters in Christ are going to devour you. So, looking to the example of Christians of the first century let's look at how they worked and acted with and among one another..

1.) Jn.13:14,15  - Jesus' teaching was to love as He loved. To treat others as their servant

- not their Lord - especially one another.  To understand that in God's kingdom, we are NOT to be like the world or act like the world AT ALL!

2.) Acts 2 All things in common Distributing to all that had need.  There is an attitude of desire and generosity,  to work together on everyone's part. A desire to help, be concerned about the welfare of everyone that was among them. Acts 4 One heart and soul  This echoes Jn.13 and Acts 2 and shows how different this was from the world in which they lived. 

It is interesting, that even as today the first schism in God's house came from the all to familiar worldly mind set of ethnicity (Acts 6). And did you notice that when this happens and divisions and hurt occur, the less like Jesus their Lord they looked?  What does this tell you? 

 You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, "How have we wearied him?" By saying, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them." Or by asking, "Where is the God of justice?"

Mal 2:17 

Jim