More of the Story: Saved
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. ~ Acts 2:43-47
This is what God's kingdom is like: a bunch to outcasts and oddballs, gathered at a table, not because they are rich or worthy or good, but because they are hungry; because they said yes. And there's always room for more. ~ Rachel Held Evans
A point of privilege. As I write this piece, it is during a week that Christian blogger, writer, speaker, theologian, and young wife and mother, Rachel Held Evans succumbed to an illness and died at the age of 37. I'll probably be quoting her a bit this week.
She was a voice for many Christians who struggled with their faith, doubt, and past bad experiences with the church, while at the same time inspiring others with her deep personal faith in Christ, her love of the marginalized, and her love of the Church.
The community that inspired Rachel herself sounded a lot like this one in Acts.
- where people had generous hearts
- where they spent time together
- where they shared together
- where they had goodwill for all people.
For all people.
We tend to hear the word "saved" and think of what happens to us when we die.
But for God, the Kingdom of God is meant to save continually. Not just then.
But now.
It is no accident that many of the first Christians came from poor, marginalized communities. They were the people beaten down by the Empire. Oddballs and outcasts.
People that were hungry both literally and figuratively.
People saved by being part of a loving community.
It is no accident that the places the Christian church is growing most rapidly today are in poorer parts of the world. Former parts of empires. Outcasts to the West.
People that are hungry both literally and figuratively.
People that are saved by being part of a loving community.
But that hunger doesn't just happen in the poorer parts of this world.
Hunger happens to those of us who seem to have everything we need for survival.
There is still a hunger for Christian community.
Maybe we are all outcasts and oddballs in one way or another.
And maybe we too can be saved by sitting down at a table together in generosity, in goodwill, and in love so that we can be strengthened to go out and share that salvation with a world in need.
Prayer: Save me O Lord! And let me be part of your salvation for the world. Amen.
This is what God's kingdom is like: a bunch to outcasts and oddballs, gathered at a table, not because they are rich or worthy or good, but because they are hungry; because they said yes. And there's always room for more. ~ Rachel Held Evans
A point of privilege. As I write this piece, it is during a week that Christian blogger, writer, speaker, theologian, and young wife and mother, Rachel Held Evans succumbed to an illness and died at the age of 37. I'll probably be quoting her a bit this week.
She was a voice for many Christians who struggled with their faith, doubt, and past bad experiences with the church, while at the same time inspiring others with her deep personal faith in Christ, her love of the marginalized, and her love of the Church.
The community that inspired Rachel herself sounded a lot like this one in Acts.
- where people had generous hearts
- where they spent time together
- where they shared together
- where they had goodwill for all people.
For all people.
We tend to hear the word "saved" and think of what happens to us when we die.
But for God, the Kingdom of God is meant to save continually. Not just then.
But now.
It is no accident that many of the first Christians came from poor, marginalized communities. They were the people beaten down by the Empire. Oddballs and outcasts.
People that were hungry both literally and figuratively.
People saved by being part of a loving community.
It is no accident that the places the Christian church is growing most rapidly today are in poorer parts of the world. Former parts of empires. Outcasts to the West.
People that are hungry both literally and figuratively.
People that are saved by being part of a loving community.
But that hunger doesn't just happen in the poorer parts of this world.
Hunger happens to those of us who seem to have everything we need for survival.
There is still a hunger for Christian community.
Maybe we are all outcasts and oddballs in one way or another.
And maybe we too can be saved by sitting down at a table together in generosity, in goodwill, and in love so that we can be strengthened to go out and share that salvation with a world in need.
Prayer: Save me O Lord! And let me be part of your salvation for the world. Amen.