I am beginning to appreciate mass transit. I still find it somewhat inconvenient, but letting someone else do the driving allows me time to do other things. Sometimes, it's getting my day organized. Other times, it's catching up on my reading. And other times, it's spending time reflecting.
Today was a reflection day. I spent a few minutes reading Acts 2. I was especially struck by verse 46, and especially the statement, "and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart..." Two comments struck my by this verse. First is "simplicity of heart," and second is "breaking bread."
I will address the second comment first. The new church met daily, and it revolved around a meal. They ate a meal, in common, EVERY DAY. This served two functions. First, the young believers came together to learn from each other in a casual, friendly setting. Second, they learned to serve one another, going from home to home, sharing a meal. Instead of meeting once a week, maybe twice, they met every day. Instead of meeting for an hour, they reclined at each other's tables for prayer, praise, teaching and encouragement. This is a much different model from today.
My second observation was around the comment, "simplicity of heart." The young Christians had one main love, and that was a love and respect for their God. It played out in their simple faith. My struggle is keeping my faith pure and simple. It's so easy to complicate it with logic and reason, or with blind mysticism. The young believers knew what they believed, mostly based on what they witnessed, and that was enough. I am not discounting, science, logic and reason, as they are necessary for many aspects of life, but I can't let it cloud my simple faith. Instead, science and reason should enhance and magnify my simplicity of heart.
To live in such a place is an amazing place. To have a simple faith; that at the same time allows for amazing discovery through science, logic and reason; is an amazing place. Also, to have strong fellowship with others, to the point that meals are shared on a regular basis, is an incredible way to live.
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2 comments:
Very cool thoughts Asa. I know the struggle of keeping the faith simple - so often I want to add in the complicated details that I see affecting the faith but it ins't like that. We simply need to believe. Simple faith. That's how the children understand it so well! Remember when we were kids and it was all that could possibly be? It still is, but adults add way too much to it. :-)
Lindsey
What?! You mean it's not a complicated theological thing?
Whew!
thanks for this reminder. we would all be a lot more relaxed and friendlier toward one another if we lived in a 'simple faith' way.
:)
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