One aspect of restoring Apostolic Christianity that we need to recover is a genuine “family spirit.” A few of our local churches have this. But others do not, and certainly all of us can do better. A warm, close, loving spirit among ALL of our brethren will create a kind of welcoming atmosphere that will help hundreds—hopefully even thousands—of new brethren feel that they have “found a home” when they visit our congregations or start to attend.
Remember the early Christians? As you read the book of Acts carefully, it is obvious that they had this kind of togetherness. Describing the earliest converts, Luke tells us: “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart” (Acts 2:46). Being Jews, they still worshipped in the temple. But they ate in each other’s homes regularly. Can you imagine the “Feast of Tabernacles” type of enthusiastic fellowshipping that occurred! These brethren must have been really excited. They had just seen and heard the mighty winds and the tongues of fire, which descended upon them on the day of Pentecost. They had seen the other miracles and healings (v. 43). They felt the power of God’s Spirit in their lives and they knew that God was now among His people in a special way.
So they shared their joy and excitement with one another. Their hearts were full as they talked about the healings and blessings they were experiencing. And they must have been deeply encouraged as they shared these things together. For they were greatly outnumbered by the other Jews around them—just as we are greatly outnumbered by the professing Christians of this world and by the vast multitudes of other people.
The early Christians clung together like a little “family”—constantly encouraging and praying for each other in the midst of a hostile world. When Peter and John were threatened by the Jewish hierarchy, they came back to their brethren, who “raised their voice to God with one accord” (Acts 4:24). God heard them and literally SHOOK the building in which they were meeting! And, in sharing these trials these brethren came to feel so much like a “family” that God inspired Luke to write these words: “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common” (v. 32).
Later, when Peter was put in prison for the Gospel’s sake, Luke tells us, “CONSTANT PRAYER was offered to God for him by the church” (Acts 12:5). When Peter was supernaturally let out of prison by an angel, we read: “So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying” (v. 12).
Perhaps the outside persecution drove these early Christians closer together than they might otherwise have been. But we see, nevertheless, that a great deal of closeness was felt even before that time. We in God’s Church today must build on the closeness and unity we already have. We must be fully prepared to encourage and comfort one another in the severe trials, which we know certainly lie ahead! We, too, must pray for each other constantly and unselfishly. We must become increasingly aware that we are “family”—NOT as a flippant slogan, but as a REALITY.
How well I remember the early days of Ambassador College—and the still “pioneering” church of that time. Most of the brethren really appreciated one another. They would have others over regularly after Sabbath services for dinner, for “pot luck” or for a backyard barbecue. This was a constant thing—for nearly every Sabbath, at least a few of the leading church families were generously inviting others over for food and fellowship. As a single male student or Ambassador College graduate, I mightily enjoyed those occasions! And so did scores of others who might otherwise have been lonely and with nothing to do on those Saturday evenings.
In those days, brethren were constantly helping each other with babysitting or other needs; they were bringing food and encouragement to those who were sick or to families where the mother had just had another child. Leading men would try to help others gain better employment. Nearly everyone would pitch in with food and money if a tragedy occurred to some family or there was an unusual need.
Did some people take advantage of this? Yes. Did some of the givers become cynical because of this and because of other problems in the Church as a whole? Yes, they certainly did.
But should they have become cynical? Should they have retreated into their own family or their close circle of friends?
NO!
Because the “way of GIVE” always pays back the giver in the end. God ALWAYS blesses those who give and help and serve. It is a living LAW. For God tells us: “He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor” (Proverbs22:9). And the Apostle Paul reminds us of these meaningful words of the Son of God: “It is more blessed to GIVE than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
We live in a selfish age. People are constantly seeking SELF-fulfillment and SELF-gratification. So it is going against the grain of modern society to be truly UN-selfish. But we are the begotten sons and daughters of GOD. And we must surrender our time, our resources and our lives to be led by God’s Holy Spirit. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14).
Through the Apostle Peter, our Father in heaven tells us: “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another FERVENTLY with a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22). This fervent, out-flowing LOVE—which can come only through God’s Spirit— will make us truly “family.” Eventually, we will share ETERNITY with each other in the Kingdom of God—which is a FAMILY. God grant that—through His Spirit—we may build the genuine affection and out-flowing concern among our- selves which will prepare us for that eternal life together in the family of our Father.