Serving At The Table

The church had its first internal dispute.

The beginnings of the church sounds idyllic

They met together frequently for encouragement.

They made sure that everyone was taken care of.

They shared everything common.

They had their first dispute.

Taking care of the widows and orphans was mandated by the Law in Judaism.

There were still real difference between them

Hebraic Jews presumably stayed close to Israel and spoke a blended form of Hebrew, Syriac, and Phoenician: Aramaic.

Hellenistic Jews were descendants of the diaspora, who had lived outside of Israel and spoke Greek.

Hebraic Jews focused on Temple worship and sacrifices, circumcision, and food purity laws.

Hellenistic Jews sought to move away from those traditions, seeing them as less meaningful in their context, and precipitated the Maccabean revolt against Hellenistic influences.

Their differences either emphasized or de-emphasized political/national interests.

The Hellenists had returned to Israel to re-establish ancestral links but not necessarily religious observances.

One Theologian pointed out,

“There was never a time when the church did not know the tensions which come from diversity of culture and viewpoint and defects in organization!”

The church was commissioned was to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ

The church would have to last a longer than the Apostle’s lifetimes.

The church would have to be multi-lingual, multi-cultural, and multi-national

The Gospel would have to be preached to all nations of the world before the end

Even with all the good they were doing, some of the other Jews continued to lie about the church leaders.

When other people lie, things get dangerous.

They were going to need something more than good intentions of taking care of their own

The Apostles needed to stay devoted to prayer and ministry of the word.

There are other ways to serve at the table.

What kind of people should serve them?

How should they be held accountable to their call?

There are often disputes among people with differences.

No one has lived the same life.

We need to hear the stories of others who have not had the same experience as us.

Different people, different needs OR the same needs no matter the difference.

If we create a system for filling needs, but it doesn’t serve everyone, is it a system that cares?

Does an economic system work if it is o.k. with the existence of the poor?

Does a justice system that marginalizes certain kinds of people really a just system?

Is a healthcare system that doesn’t care for everyone’s health really care?

Sometimes, we need to rethink what we are doing to ensure everyone is taken care of.

Unless, of course, we really don’t care.

Maybe, people just need their needs filled, while others find purpose in filling other’s needs.

It is fitting that the people to lead should come from among those who they serve.

The Apostles asked these Brothers and Sisters in Christ to choose.

Stephen, Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas were called to serve.

The first six were Hellenistic Jews, while Nicolas was a convert to Judaism from Antioch.

They became known as the Seven.

In the Scriptures, people were anointed and prayed over for the Spirit to lead them.

But, they were just serving food…

Even serving food required wisdom and fullness of the Spirit: finding out how best to act in love.

They were mature in spiritual inspiration, insight, and discernment

There were qualifications for those called to serve: full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, exhibiting wisdom; Serving requires humility.

Their qualifications (Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit) come from God.

Apostles, Evangelists, and Bishops were to focus and preaching the word of God, and secondarily serving.

Deacons, as the Seven, focus on the physical needs of others, and secondarily preaching the word.

As some, like Stephen became Evangelists or Bishops, others were chosen to lead.

Stephen was said to be full of God’s Grace and Power

Full of Power: performing signs and wonders

Full of Grace: serving food to others at the table

The Spirit bore witness to Stephen’s character in Christ

His face looked like the face of an angel, even to the Sanhedrin.

God qualifies those who are called to serve and to minister the word.

Ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit working in and through the Body of Christ who both empowers and holds us accountable to our calling.

We need the fullness of the Spirit and wisdom to serve others in the fullness of love.

The witness of our faith in Jesus Christ shines through the gifts we are given, and the fruit of the Spirit grown in us.

Discerning the Needs and discerning our Calling to know how to best love others.

The Spirit empowers us to serve God and others with God’s perfect love.

In this way, others can see the glory of God shining from us, like the face of angels.