All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. (Acts 4:32; NLT)
OMGosh! How on earth is this possible? It is virtually incomprehensible that a group of people could have an attitude of gratitude so big as to share, not some of what they had, but all of what they possess with everyone of like faith. We live in a “me” generation. I like to call this the “toddler" generation. For the most part, we are a bunch of toddlers that never grew up. There are many things that contribute to this, but for the sake of staying true to the text, I’ll only share three. There are toddlers in the church today because we are underdeveloped in our spiritual skills, social skills, and sharing skills.
Toddlers in the church because we are underdeveloped in our SPIRITUAL SKILLS.
To begin with, there are “toddlers in the church” because we are underdeveloped in our spiritual skills. This of course is the disease that spreads the “toddler” contagion. The text says, “All the believers.” The whole premise behind Christianity is that it is a growing process. Peter talked about believers having a desire for the pure milk of the Word (1 Peter 2:2). Spiritually and physically speaking, babies need milk to live. I heard a preacher say one time that we need to get off the milk of the Word, and start a steady diet of the meat of the Word, but I think I will always enjoy a cold glass of milk to wash it all down now and then. That old preacher was partially right though. We need to stop depending on someone giving us a bottle and start feeding ourselves.
The Word of God not only grows us from “toddler” Christianity to mature Christianity, but it also cleanses us (Eph 5:26). Let’s face it, the two biggest challenges we face as parents with our children is helping them grow up, and keeping them clean. As a matter of fact, I am 43 years old, and my dad and mom still try to get me to grow up. My wife has all but given up on that one.
Think that last statement through for a second. Is that the problem we are really having in our churches? Do we know we stink, and just refuse to do anything about it? Could we also be immature and just simply not care? I think this is far too often the crux of the matter. We are far too often a bunch of sinfully immature stinky big babies who refuse to grow up, and take a bath in the Word. I guess I’m trying to say we all need to be changed. Our diapers are full, and we need Jesus to clean us up. Excuse the pun, but sin is a dirty mess, and we sure can’t clean or change ourselves.
Toddlers in the church because we are underdeveloped in our SOCIAL SKILLS.
Second, there are “toddlers in the church” because we are underdeveloped in our social skills. A lack of spiritual skills greatly magnifies this underdevelopment. The text says “All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.” There was a huge sense of togetherness. If you really want to know how we are to relate to one another you should definitely take time to study the “One Another” passages found in the New Testament. I have pasted an Into Thy Word Ministries document so you can see for yourself what the Bible has to say about our Christian relationships.
The “One Another” Passages
Bible passages essential for us to understand and develop healthy relationships by knowing we are called to One Another:
- Love one another: John 13:34-35; 15:12, 17; Romans 12:10; 13:8; 14:13; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11, 3:22; 4:8; 23; 4:7, 11-12; 2 John 1: 5
- Serve one another: Galatians 5:13; 21; Philippians 2:3; 1 Peter 4:9; 5:5
- Accept one another: Romans 15:7, 14
- Strengthen one another: Romans 14:19
- Help one another: Hebrews 3:13; 10:24
- Encourage one another: Romans 14:19; 15:14; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13; 10:24-25
- Care for one another: Galatians 6:2
- Forgive one another: Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13
- Submit to one another: Ephesians 5:21; 1 Peter 5:5
- Commit to one another: 1 John 3:16
- Build trust with one another: 1 John 1:7
- Be devoted to one another: Romans 12:10
- Be patient with one another: Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13
- Be interested in one another: Philippians 2:4
- Be accountable to one another: Ephesians 5:21
- Confess to one another: James 5:16
- Live in harmony with one another: Romans 12:16
- Do not be conceited to one another: Romans 13:8
- Do not pass judgment to one another: Romans 14:13; 15:7
- Do not slander one another: James 4:11
- Instruct one another: Romans 16:16
- Greet one another: Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 13:12
- Admonish one another: Romans 5:14; Colossians 3:16
- Spur one another on toward love and good deeds: Hebrews 10:24
- Meet with one another: Hebrews 10:25
- Agree with one another: 1 Corinthians 16:20
- Be concerned for one another: Hebrews 10:24
- Be humble to one another in love: Ephesians 4:2
- Be compassionate to one another: Ephesians 4:32
- Do not be consumed by one another Galatians 5:14-15
- Do not anger one another: Galatians 5:26
- Do not lie to one another: Colossians 3:9
- Do not grumble to one another: James 5:9
- Give preference to one another: Romans 12:10
- Be at peace with one another: Romans 12:18
- Sing to one another: Ephesians 5:19
- Be of the same mind to one another: Romans 12:16; 15:5
- Comfort one another: 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11
- Be kind to one another: Ephesians 4:32
- Live in peace with one another: 1 Thessalonians 5:13
- Carry one another's burdens: Galatians 6:2
© 2000 Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.org
http://filemanager.silaspartners.com/dox/intothyword/OneAnotherPassages.doc
Imagine a church where you feel safe, not only from the schemes of the devil, and the attacks from the world, but a feeling of safety from the ones closest to you—the Church. Personally I have always longed for a Church that more resembled the Cheers sitcom that aired from 1982-83 than the local churches I see today. Remember the lyrics to the theme song?
Makin' your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you wanna go
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
And they're always glad you came
You wanna be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same
You wanna be Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Be glad there's one place in the world
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
And they're always glad you came
You wanna go where people know
People are all the same
You wanna go Where Everybody Knows Your Name
OMGosh! Could it be possible for us to experience the intimate relationships that the Church of Paul’s day experienced? Imagine a Church with no gossip, backbiting, wife/husband stealing, whining, pouting, and power brokers. What really bothers me is that we should not have to imagine it—it should be so very real to each and every one of us.
Toddlers in the church because we are underdeveloped in our SHARING SKILLS.
Finally, there are “toddlers in the church” because we are underdeveloped in our sharing skills. Here again, due to a lack of spiritual skills, we find ourselves lacking in the seemingly simple ability to share and share alike. I don’t want to mislead anyone here. There are some people who are the epitome of benevolence. I have known many through the years who have demonstrated a love for me and my family by sacrificially giving of their time, giftedness, and finances. They have left me awe struck more times than I can count, but the fact of the matter is there are far too many who are lacking in the spiritual characteristic of sharing with their fellow believers.
By the way, selfishness is both a learned and genetic behavior. We are all born stingy, and selfish. We all are born screaming for what we want and we will do whatever we have to do to get it. I am about to be a grandpa for the very first time. We are all so excited. I have thought at length about what it is to be a grandpa, and one of the cool things I will truly enjoy is being able to give her/him back to mom and dad. The joy of just knowing that when that baby starts screaming, I can simply lay that beautiful little bundle of screaming joy back into the arms of mom or dad. Oh, the joy of knowing that when that little precious bundle of joy begins to perfume the room with its stinkiness that only a newborn baby can do, I can just simply and calmly place that precious darling back into the arms of mom and dad. The text says, “they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.” I’m here to tell you I’m glad I don’t have to share in that baby’s stinkiness at all (LOL).
As that precious little bundle of happiness grows to toddler stage it will develop the “MINE” disease. There are far too many of us who scream to the top of our spiritual lungs “MINE!” In the same way that little darling refuses to let go of what she/he desires most, believers refuse to let go of what they desire and value most in life. Believers need to learn a very valuable lesson. We don’t own anything—it’s all God’s. The text says, “They felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.” That was their feeling, and from that feeling they felt compelled to share everything. We forget sometimes that feelings are not evil. God gave us feelings. The problem is that we live in a fallen state. Because of Adam and Eve’s sin our feelings have been tainted, but thanks to Jesus these feelings can be and should be restored, and rest assured, if you feel like giving to someone in need, your feelings are godly.
Many today think that this type of Church cannot exist today. Well, I have to admit that I have yet to see a group where “All the believers were united in heart and mind,” but I have seen my fair share of believers who did live their lives like this. I like real life stories that demonstrate the power of God’s truth. I recall a time when my wife revealed to me one Sunday morning that she had just put the last diaper we had on our little boy. We went ahead and got ready and went on to church knowing we didn’t have a dollar to our names. It had come down to our last diaper, and last dollar. We went into our discipleship class for Sunday school and had a great time listening to the teacher. As we were leaving, a gentleman who I had grown to love and admire walked up to me and reached out to shake my hand, and as we shook hands I felt something in between our palms that was puzzling. He looked me dead in the eye and said, “Put that in your pocket.” I did as he had said and didn’t think anything else about it until we were on our way home, and we remembered we needed diapers. I reached back into my pocket and found $20. That was enough to get the baby some diapers and us some groceries. My father-in-love used to say, “Ain’t God Good? All the time! God is Good” Now sit back for a minute and consider how awesome our God is. I’m serious—take a minute and praise Him for His goodness.
In conclusion, many of our churches have started what we call “Children’s Church,” and I was just thinking how fitting a name that is for every church, and I’m not being facetious. We are all children of God, and we should most assuredly act like it, but that in no way should imply that we are to be “babies” or “toddlers” indefinitely. It is high time that believers grew up, and if you want to know how a mature church looks, let me close with our proof text. “All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.”
Now go grow up…
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