Things That Make Christians Different: Relationships III
In my last message in this series, we talked about how we are as Christians, supposed to be building relationships with people in the world that may be different from us in many ways. They may be in a different economic situation than we are, they may be in a different place in their lives than we are, they may do things that we know that are biblically wrong but we have to build relationships with all kinds of people because that is what God has called us to do in the Great Commission.
We probably won’t agree with them on some things or many things but just remember that when we were still lost some Christians probably thought the same things about you and me. The bottom line is that we are called to love them, not necessarily what they do, but we need to love them as people, just like God loved us when we were lost. We need to see where we can find common ground with people of all sorts.
In Romans chapter 5 verse 8 we read this: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
We need to use God’s relationship template that we find in Scripture. He loves us unconditionally and that is in spite of being able to see what is in our hearts and minds, the good, the bad, and the ugly. God loves us so much that He sent His Holy Spirit to convict our hearts and gently lead us into a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. God knows that He will clean up our sin mess if we will just accept the free gift of salvation that He offers to everyone regardless of their current situation.
Well, we have talked about our relationship with God, about our relationships with people in the world, and now we are going to talk about our relationships with each other in Church. I know that I have preached on this in the past but our relationships with each other when they are healthy can really make a huge difference with our other relationships.
The relationships that we have within the body of Christ (The Church) are special. I believe that the local church is like a relationship laboratory. If we can’t get our relationships with each other right here then how can we believe that we can form and build relationships with people outside the church that most likely don’t believe what we believe or act the way that we act or love people the way that we love people?
Those of us in the church are filled with the Holy Spirit who is the One who is supposed to be leading us, guiding us, and teaching us on how to love others and build relationships with each other. It is vitally important that we as Christians get these relationships right.
But one important thing here before we move on. Relationships cannot be built properly unless the one who wants to initiate the relationship is comfortable with themselves first. Christians have to be comfortable with who they are in Christ before they can go out and build relationships with anyone else. You can’t love others unless you first love yourself and you can’t love yourself properly outside of a relationship with God, who is the only true source of love in our world.
So how did the early Christians treat each other as far as relationships go? It shouldn’t come as a surprise to any of us that there were good things about the relationships with early Christians and also some not so good things just like it is today!
After Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead, the Apostles were asking Peter what should they do next and this is what Peter told them in Acts chapter 2 verses 37-47:
37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
In verses 42-47 we just read that everyone there had a sense of awe and many wonderful signs and wonders (miracles) were taking place through the Apostles. And that all the believers had all things in common. There was something truly amazing happening here. The Holy Spirit had free reign to do whatever He needed to do to build up the relationships between these believers both mature and new.
What does it really mean to have all things in common? For me as a Christian this statement has more than one meaning. Are Christians supposed to believe the same things scripturally? Are we all supposed to love God? Are we all supposed to love the fact that our salvation saved us from an eternity in hell and gave us an eternal home in heaven with our heavenly Father? Are we supposed to be ambassadors for Christ in a lost and dying world? There are more things but you get the idea. There are way more things that we as Christians have in common than the few things that separate us.
The early Christians also had a sense of what it meant to help one another. In verse 45 we read that they sold all of their possessions and were taking the proceeds and using them to help each other out when and where there was a need. And no, this is not an early form of socialism as we know it today. This was something that God did at this time and while we are still supposed to help each other we are not under the same kind of persecution that the early church was under at this time.
The spirit of this verse is clear still today though and that is that we are supposed to love each other enough to want to help each other out when someone in our church family needs help.
And in verses 46-47 we read this:
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Every day these early Christians were of one mind, worshiping together not only at the temple but in their homes as well. This is where home churches first started. Notice the relationships here. They were making sure that everyone had food enough to eat and also worshiping God at the same time. There was a sincerity of heart and a gladness to be with one another, they loved each other A LOT!
This is a model that the modern day local church could use to its benefit every day.
When we gather together here in this sanctuary do we all do so with gladness and sincerity of heart? Do we come here desiring to put the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ before our own needs and wants? For me as your Pastor I want to do all that I can do to promote this kind of environment for all of to worship in. But we all have a role to play in making worship successful here every time we gather together.
It is up to all of us as individuals to come here prepared to worship. We have to put the strife of the world behind us for a time. We have to put our differences and our disagreements down while we are in the Lord’s House so we can praise and worship Him in Spirit and in truth. If we can’t do these things then the entire worship event will be less than it should be instead of the excellence that God requires of us in our worship time together with Him.
Again, if we can’t get these things down right in this building together with the help of the Holy Spirit then how on earth can we expect that we will be able to go out of this place and build relationships with others?
Verse 47 said that they were praising God and having favor with all people. I find it interesting that the early Christians found that when they were praising God properly that were also having favor with all people. That is not a coincidence or an accident. There is a direct correlation between proper worship and how we as Christians will then relate with those around us. If we want to build good relationships with people, Christian or otherwise, then we have to be right with God first.
And if we can do this the end of verse 47 says that the Lord was adding to their numbers daily those that were being saved. If we are truly interested in seeing people be saved then we have to get our own relationships with God right, then we have to get our relationships with each other right and then we have to go out and then and only then, will we be able to go out into the world and build relationships with people who need a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Now I know that all of this isn’t as easy as it seems to be. But that’s because we usually look at our relationships through our eyes and not the eyes of Jesus. And also, just because a thing is hard to do doesn’t mean that we are excused from doing it.
Getting along with your brother or sister at church shouldn’t be that difficult. If you find it difficult though just add a little grace, a little mercy, a little diplomacy, and little tact and I know from experience that you will find being in relationships with your fellow church members a lot easier and way more fulfilling! Amen? Because we all know that none of us are perfect and that from time to time we can get on each others' nerves but we can’t let these petty things get in the way of loving each other the very same way that God loves all of us!
Can we learn from the early Christians about how to have better inter church relationships? Can we love each other just a little bit more every day? Can we show each other a little more grace and mercy when things don’t go our way? I want us to but more importantly God wants us to!
