The Story of Us: Lessons From the First Church
Big Tree
Jesus once likened the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed; that though it is the smallest of all the seeds it would grow to become an enormous tree and the birds of the air would make their home in its branches. Something tiny would become something huge. Something huge would be vulnerable to corruption. (Matthew 13:31–32)
Hard to imagine a massive old tree was ever a tiny seed. Looking back at the history of the church it can feel an awful long way back to that perfect man, plainly planting words of truth, when you’re out on the end of one of those branches being pecked at by a bunch of old crows.
Standing back and observing the church can be a painful exercise. Like looking into the mirror too early in the morning. Is this me? When did this happen? Some actions of our tribe are so dark to a watching world, they seem to invalidate the claims of a holy church and should send an almighty regretful gulp down our collective throats. We crusaded into Jerusalem in the name of God and killed thousands citing ‘God willed it.’ We’ve advocated slavery, turned a blind eye to abusive Priests, hoarded money from the poor and so on and so on. It can be a painful watch today too. We repeal at the racist elements we see in the conservative right, cringe at the sandals and socks brigade, curl our toes at the distant vocabulary of the haughty vicar. It can make for grim viewing. Life out on a branch, a long way from the seed. Painful reflection. Is this me? When did this happen?
Shared Roots
But there is beauty too. Some acts of God’s people flood history so perfectly it seems stunning the whole world has not come to faith because of them. We read, dumbstruck, of missionaries killed for their faith; stand proudly alongside William Wilberforce, the Christian who opposed slavery; and in awe of the countless Christians who fill the spots at food banks and homeless shelters. This is our story! Faltering, lukewarm, falling out. Faithful, on fire, united. A body shaped in sin pointed to holiness. Church; holy and being made holy. Saved and messing up. Kingdom now and not yet.
Church has become many different things; sprouted some new and interesting branches. Some things are great, others terrible. We need to trace the story back down the branch to make sure it’s still attached to the tree.
‘In order to know where you’re going you need to see where you’ve been.’ James Burke, Science Historian.
Sometimes we need to look back in order to go forward. CS Lewis said ‘The remedy to chronological snobbery is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds.’ Or, the way to make sure you don’t mess things up now, is to live aware of lessons from the past.
Looking Back
Over the next few weeks we will be taking a look at the book of Acts. We’ll be looking back to the story of the first to church to help us make sure the present one stays on track. Reconnecting with the original, retracing their steps, understanding their circumstances and learning lessons.
The story of Acts is essential reading because it connects together the life and teachings of Christ with the church. All that Jesus began to do and teach is carried on by the disciples. We see Christian community drawing people to Christ like a magnet and then lying and falling out. We see burnt out witnesses fired up by God’s Spirit to reach out to others. We see the church reach out geographically; Jesus' heart for the lost burned into the shape of his people. We see what happens as the good news about Jesus, the Jewish rabbi from Nazareth, spreads to the empire in Rome. We see what it looks like for the good news to cross cultures. Essential grace fuelled compassion and a loaded gun of problems. We see how people who know the Bible story inside out, as well as those to whom God is completely unknown, are witnessed to. We see suffering on a colossal scale remain of secondary importance to the spread of the good news. We see the story carry on going out whilst the characters drift out of view. We see God’s Spirit orchestrate and his people try to stay in tune.
We see our story. People like us. Charged with the same responsibility (Acts 1:8). Fuelled by the same energy source (Romans 8:11). Prone to the same mistakes. Certain of the same outcome. The story of us.
Psalm 1:1–3
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither –
whatever they do prospers.
Join us over the next few weeks at Christchurch as we look at Acts or catch up with the talks online.
Ash Gibson, Assistant Pastor, Christchurch Xscape
