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Acts 2:42-47
April 13, 2008
Debbie Weatherspoon
"Acts." Not the most creative title for a book. If I wrote my life story I could title it, "Acts, although it often seems a more appropriate title would be, "Intentions". "Good Intentions". "Really, Really, Good Intentions". Acts is a story of the early church, as told by Luke, as a witness of the gospel which is accomplished through the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. The full title is The Acts of the Apostles, with a possible subtitle of, "The life and struggles of the early church". It reminds us what we are called to do as followers of Christ, so that our life stories of faithful discipleship are more than intentions. The theologian Lesslie Newbigin reminds us that Jesus "did not write a book but formed a community." We learn and we do together. My personal experience is that I often ask God to teach me, to which I recently sensed God responding with, "Practice." I asked God to show me the way. God said, "You make the way by walking." So, I come here today as your companion on the journey. How do we get from intentions to acts?
On my stole here I've placed my old collection of pins that back in college adorned my backpacks, representing various political issues or popular expressions of that time. Remember this one, "Practice random acts of kindness?" In his book, Wrestling with Grace, Episcopal priest Bob Morris offers liberating news to anyone who longs for everyday spiritual practice. He writes, "I didn't begin praying in a steady, daily way until I gave up all attempts to develop a 'prayer life'." When the authors of the book Mommy Guilt surveyed more than 1300 moms about what made them feel most guilty they found out it was "yelling, by large margin." Some of the suggested ways to cut ourselves some slack include counting to five or using a code word — something you can say that lets your child know you're about to really lose your temper. The hope is that you can reset the situation to a calmer note. That's what I do with my computer: control, alt, delete or unplug, not bad spiritual practices for ourselves! This relates to how Rev. Morris discovered his prayer life. One day when he stubbed his toe he breathed a frustrated curse and realized he was praying! It began with the words, "O God!" at least. On the next conscious breath, he breathed more deeply and repeated, in a somewhat friendlier groan, "O God!" On the third breath he prayed, "O God...bless". He says that, "Once I saw frustration as an invitation to breathe more deeply into grace, the occasions for spiritual practice multiplied rapidly." Frustration is where our human spirits practice dealing with life as it arises to meet us, rather than as we'd arrange things if we were God. A moment of frustration is a real relationship between soul and life rather than a moment of idealized spiritual fantasy and protected exaltation. This is a good place to begin. It is a good intention. How does it become an act?
The Bible says that our ancestors devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple...and day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Reminds me of the song from the 1970s musical Godspell: "Day by day. Oh Dear Lord, Three things I pray: To see thee more clearly; Love thee more dearly; Follow thee more nearly. Day by day." Being in community presents great opportunity for seeing frustration as an invitation to breathe more deeply into grace. Think about this early community. What do they look like when you picture them? What did they talk about: Politics? Religion? How did they deal with their differences and their different opinions? Well, the rest of the Bible tells you all about that. The way that we get along, and don't get along, as Christians has inspired comedy writer/filmmaker Dan Merchant to write the book and produce the documentary titled, "Lord, Save Us From Your Followers: why is the Gospel of Love dividing America?". He traveled across the U.S. to find out why religion seems to divide people instead of bringing them together. Similar to my stole of pins here, Dan covered his outfit with bumper stickers with hot-button expressions on them to engage people in conversation. I like the bumper sticker: JESUS CALLED. HE WANTS HIS RELIGION BACK. The documentary concludes with a message of hope, as we see people engaged in acts of love, using words of healing and kindness that overcome the culture wars.
In the late 1930s Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Lutheran pastor and theologian, wrote Life Together, which contains his thoughts about the nature of Christian community based on the common life that he and his seminarians experienced. He writes that a foundation for such community is to be found in spiritual love, which transcends natural human love, agape over eros. He explains, "Human love is directed to the other person for his own sake, spiritual love loves him for Christ's sake." I believe that there is a transforming presence, the Holy Spirit, which unites different believers into a common community. Luke uses the word koinonia, a well-known phrase from Greek philosophy indicating friendship. Worship, teaching, fellowship, sharing goods, and prayers are the resurrection practices of the early church. Each is made possible because of conversion, and together they make possible the convert's continued formation toward maturity. This is the story of the early church, the story of the early Methodist movement, and the story of how people continue to grow deeper in their spiritual lives. Dr. James Howell, a United Methodist pastor, wrote the following in a recent post in his e-mail series eBestIdeasofMethodism. In referring to a conversion story of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, when his heart was strangely warmed, Howell writes,
"God moved dramatically in Wesley's heart because Wesley had put himself in the position for his heart to be warmed. That morning he read his Bible; he prayed for an hour or more. He attended a worship service at St. Paul's cathedral, he went to a small Christian fellowship group on Aldersgate Street — and he did these things on that day after many years of daily Bible study, prayer, fasting, visiting the prisons, and traipsing off on a mission junket to another continent. Americans tend to wait until the heart is warmed... and then I will serve, then I will pray, then I will go out in mission. But this is as if I wish to converse comfortably in a language I have never studied, as if I want to propose to a woman I've never met, as if I'd like to make a hole in one without ever swinging a club on the driving range."
We'll do it for our sports. We admire, respect, and give space for followers of other religions to do it. And we know it to be true if we ever want to get to Carnegie Hall, or whatever is the "great accomplishment of our field." We are called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and sustained by the grace of Jesus Christ to walk our path of spiritual growth and spiritual companionship the same way: Practice, practice, practice. Let's take a brief look at the documentary, "Lord, Save Us From Your Followers." It opens with a city councilman reflecting on love in the recovery work from Hurricane Katrina, and then love in the ministry with the homeless. O that they would know that we are Christians by our love!
Citations
Robert Corin Morris, Wrestling with Grace: A Spirituality for the Rough Edges of Daily Life (Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, 2003). www.upperroom.org
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community (New York, NY: Harper & Row Publishers, 1954).
James Howell, (http://www.mpumc.org/mpumc/ebestideasofmethodism)
Dan Merchant, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers: Why is the Gospel of Love Dividing America? (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2008).
http://lordsaveusthemovie.org
"Come Home Sweet Child" lyrics ©2006 Sam Martin Music
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