Today we continue our series entitled, The ABC’s of faith. The larger idea is based on the idea that we learn over time through an exploration process of success and failure. Everything we come to know and understand is built over time on the foundation of trial and error.
We learned last week, the wooden blocks we have all played with were an idea in 1594, a practical concept 100 years after that, and only then it would take another 175 years to be mass produced as the blocks we know and love from Brooklyn, New York.
Last week, Peter talked about behavior and this week we continue with “B” alliteration by building on the idea of Christian belief, behavior and move on to belonging and its role in Christian witness. These are the building blocks (or the major aspects) of Christian identity that help us to withstand the storms of life.
What does it mean to be a part of a faith community?
What does walking in the faith with God and others look like?
How is it different from the rest of your relationships?
Before I begin, I’d like to tell you a story to illustrate the idea of belonging and community. A soldier saw his lifelong friend fall in battle. Caught in a trench with continuous gunfire whizzing over his head, the soldier asked his lieutenant if he might go out into the “no man’s land” between the trenches to bring his fallen comrade back. “You can go,” said the lieutenant, “but I don't think it will be worth it. Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your life away.”
The lieutenant’s advice didn’t matter, and the soldier went anyway. Miraculously he managed to reach his friend, hoist him onto his shoulder and bring him back to their company’s trench. As the two of them tumbled together to the bottom of the trench, the officer checked the wounded soldier, and then looked kindly at his friend.“I told you it wouldn’t be worth it,” he said. “Your friend is dead and you are shot.”
“It was worth it, though, sir,” said the soldier.
“What do you mean; worth it?” responded the Lieutenant. “Your friend is dead.” “Yes, Sir” the private answered. “But it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive and I had the satisfaction of hearing him saying, “Jim…, I knew you’d come.”
True community is found when everyone involved believes and behaves in a way, they know that, they belong to a cause greater than oneself.
Let’s dive into the scriptures this morning to find the answer. As you open your bibles to Acts 2, let me give you a little background. The Holy Spirit had just been given to the disciples on Pentecost. There was a crowd gathered and Peter was preaching his first sermon and it went viral. Take a listen.
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
A faith community has some similarities to the other groups you might be associated with or have a shared interest. However, being a part of a faith community is different from your other associations due to the level of commitment required.
Baptism is more than a ritual. It’s the entryway into a new way of life. It declares what you believe about the physical and spiritual life. It codifies your understanding of right and wrong. As Luke shares this account, we must remember that those who publicly repented after the sermon were declaring allegiance to the unpopular idea that Jesus was the Messiah. A declaration many in positions of power were opposed to. It was a decision that would affect both the standard of living and the quality of life of those declaring it. Let’s continue…
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Personally, I understand why Luke writes that Peter warned and pleaded with many words. It’s hard to describe what happens when you're in the Spirit and you encounter people who are starting to connect with the abundant life message. It feels like you're offering someone a life line but your words aren’t just right. It’s why I think a few hundred years later, an entire group of Christian elites at the declaration of the emperor Constantine decided to crystallize what it means to be a part of the Christian faith in what today we refer to as The Nicene Creed. The creed affirms what we believe:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy catholic (universal) and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
By sharing these words at baptism, we confirm the core of what we believe so we can identify with those who came before us and try to live in harmony with one another today. As Paul wrote in Romans 14:8 - If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
When a person claims to be a Christian they are claiming their allegiance to Jesus and what He stands for and signifies our life’s purpose while fostering a commitment to one another. Let’s take a listen..
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
I remember the first time I read that last scripture in a small church. I was a new naive enthusiastic pastor thinking if the people in the pews just heard these words the division in the little church would dissipate and a new unity would arise. No sooner had I read these words, did one of the wealthiest men in town (think Mr. Potter from a wonderful life) said a loud whisper to his wife and the 23 people present to hear, “Sounds like communism.” Undeterred, I tried to get the point. I wanted to say, if the Lord truly wanted us to keep our stuff and not help a brother or sister in need out, He certainly would have told us this in scripture, but he didn’t. He gave us commands if we want to emulate Him on earth.
Love the Lord Your God with your heart, soul, mind and strength AND love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:28-31)
We are to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18-19)
We are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything I he taught (Matt 28:18-20_
Do justice, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
Belonging to a Christian community allows us to experience a portion of God’s abundant life now as well as experience receiving God’s goodness and sharing in God’s mission with others.
Christian community is supposed to be the pinnacle example of community, relationships and belonging. We are to set the bar of what it means to belong. Hebrews 10:24-25 says:
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
An abundant life is not something we participate in as individuals, it is something we grow into with others. Belonging to a Christian community strengthens our witness by reinforcing our shared hope through shared activities, goals and even meanings.
But that’s not all, take a look at those final words in verse 47
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
The verb tense is noteworthy. The people who joined the Christian community were not those “who had been saved” but those whose participation in the community led them to salvation or an abundant life. Belonging is as important today as it's ever been in building a community of faith.
There are some pundits who will point to that last statement and say the next generations are not joiners or people who want to belong to any organization. AND that is why the American Church is declining.
Honestly, I don’t agree. I think they are willinging, and even longing to be a part of, they are just more leery. As columnist Sarah Sladek said, “...research proves young people are joiners. However, they are seeking new and different ways to engage, and many organizations have struggled to understand and respond to their requests. Simply stated, decline occurs when organizations use ineffective, outdated practices and alienate new people with new ideas.”
We need to strive to open ourselves up to become the bridge over a deep gorge of culture and have faith our bridge will hold us if we are willing to walk on it.
Let’s be honest with one another for a moment. Do we believe the greatest news of this life is God’s love for us? That everything you have or believe you earned is actually not yours but Given to you out of God's great love. A generosity so complete that he dares to challenge you to everything in the same way so He can use you to reach others? Share our time, our resources, our skills, our understanding of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? Share our prayers, the scriptures, our food, our homes, our struggles, our successes, our lives, our needs, our laughter?
If you said yes, then what are you actually doing about it?
Belief includes commitment.
Commitment requires action.
Action is behavior and the outpouring of belief.
Belonging is what happens when others join what the Holy Spirit is already doing.
Question: What does it mean to live in a community of faith?
Creative: Blocks on Stage, Reading of Scripture prior to preaching, MJ reading Acts 2:37-47
Reference: https://www.sarahsladek.com/young-people-arent-joiners-or-are-they/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/nextdoor/horror-gripped-the-heart-of-the-world-war-i-soldier-as-he-saw-his-lifelong-friend-fall-in-battle/ar-NDA22X2g3tMtSDR
