Generous Community #2

The notion of a generous community (found in Acts 2-6) is intriquing.  This utopian picture of a community found in Acts, doesn’t stand alone.  It is seen in other parts of God’s community.  A good example of this is found in Deuteronomy 15.  But furthermore, we see this type of generosity, extravagant giving, taught all through the Gospels and the letters to the early churches.  They can not be ignored.  The only difference about Acts is that we see it being lived out in reality, while in the other letters is given as a command or principle to base a community on.   What a dangerous combination.  Today, we read stuff in the letters to the church and say, “That’s impossible.  Nobody does that.  What is generous to me may not be the same to them.  Plus, this is just the way it is.”  It grabs us by the throat and that is not a good feeling.

A Generous Community

I want to look closely at the marks of the radical community that Jesus dreamt of.  Looking at the heart of this community gives us a clear view of the Good News that can radically transform lives, communities, and the world at large.  We have glimpses of this dream in Scripture.  Some clear ones can be found in John 17 or the ever famous Acts 2:42-47.  But for this conversation, I am going to land on one topic in Acts 2:42-47.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he 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.”