SHEEP OR GOATS

In both the Old and New Testaments, God instructed his people to care for the poor and needy (Deut.14:28-29). In Jesus' parable in Matthew 25, the main concern of God's kingdom is to care for the poor, sick, and needy, even strangers (hard to grasp in our age of xenophobia). Every time the church obeyed Jesus' command to 'love one another,' it resulted in spectacular church growth (Acts 6:1-4).

In the Roman system, the vast majority of people lived in rural areas or small towns. There was no middle class in the Roman Empire. Wealth was based on ownership of land. Most land was controlled by a limited number of wealthy, elite families who profited from taxation and governmental policies. Inequality was widespread in both rural and urban areas. It was in this climate that the early church lived and grew. It was estimated that in the year 40, there were a thousand Christians. Their numbers grew to about 7,500 in the year 100, 217,000 in the year 200, and six million Christians at the beginning of the 4th century. This growth is impressive if we consider the social situation of the early Christians. Despite the scorn of the powerful elite and persecution, the early Christian movement was growing. This implies something was deeply attractive to the society.

There are three major facets by which the early church attracted people. 1) They self-identified as “resident aliens,” and this was reflected in their teachings. They believed that because Christ had conquered death, Christians need not fear death, for they will rise from it. This belief encouraged them to withstand persecution and how they handled epidemics, for example. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy .... Many, in nursing and curing others, transferred their death to themselves and died in their stead ....The best of our brothers lost their lives in this manner; a number of presbyters, deacons, and laymen won high commendation so that death in this form, the result of great piety and strong faith, seems the equal of martyrdom in every way. 2) The presence of divine power in the form of healing, miracles, and exorcism of demons made the church very attractive to people who were oppressed by spiritual forces and longed for liberation. 3) They teach that people are faced with two options: they can choose the way of life or death. Christians who choose the way of life must first love God, and then his neighbour as themselves. In practice, if one has material possessions, one must freely give to those who are in need: “Give to anyone that asks, without looking for any repayment, for it is the Father’s pleasure that we should share his gracious bounty with all men.” Shepherd of Hermas states: “Assist widows, visit orphans and the poor, ransom God’s servants, show hospitality, help oppressed debtors in their need.”Since Christians are strangers in a strange land and not permanent residents of this world, they should not settle in like colonists and not increase wealth for the sake of being rich. Their priorities should be, “instead of fields, purchase afflicted souls, as each is able." These theological concepts - love, sharing our goods, the right use of wealth, God as the Creator and the Provider of the material world – were passed on to later Christians.

PRAYER POINTS

ME: Ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts. Are we living like our brothers and sisters in the early church, considering ourselves aliens passing through this world, not seeking wealth but freely sharing from the bounty God has given us?

US: Is your heart longing to be part of a church that is so attractive that unbelievers would flock to it, to become part of a body whose love for one another is visible to all? Let us bring this request before God's throne.

THEM: Let us join Jesus in his prayer in John 17 that God would make us one to reflect His love, power, and grace to the world around us.

Remember your John 17 memory verse.

"When a needy person stands at your door, God Himself stands at his side." – Hebrew proverb.