Stirrings

I've got a lot of things stirring around in my head lately.  I have the drive to do something about them, but I'm not yet sure what it is that I need to do.  These things are continually on my heart, occupying my thoughts, and trying to sort themselves.

Here's a little of what's swirling around in my head:

  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  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, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  

Acts 2:44-47 NIV

They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.

Acts 2:45 The Message

  Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.  At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” 

2 Corinthians 8:13-15 NIV

This picture of the early church is so very different than today's typical American church.  These folks were not offering leftovers - paying their bills, buying "necessities" and offering the rest to to their church and the poor.  They were selling their property and possessions - whatever they owned - to give to anyone who had need.  

Acts also talks about all of the believers breaking bread in their homes, eating together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  Do you see that ALL in there?  That's right, Luke was including the poor, the childless, the odd, the obnoxious, etc.  The believers enjoyed the favor of all the people. 

These people took care of each other.  They welcomed each other into their homes, communed with glad and sincere hearts, and praised God together.  No one had too much, and no one had too little because they provided for each other. 

So what's keeping the modern American church from returning to these New Testament roots?  Are our homes and possessions THAT important to us that we can't assist all of those in need?  Do we point our fingers at some and say they make poor financial decisions or I don't like the way they sin or they should just get a better job or I need this money more than they do? 

Other things that are swirling around in my head include the self-segregation in my community between the Hispanic and White populations, housing for migrant workers in the Skagit Valley (this story has stuck with me for some time now), and COV, an after-school program - which I've mentioned before - that targets the poorest of the poor in my community.

And here I am.  Roused by these thoughts and trying to find my place and direction amongst them.