Let’s imagine in our minds what is happening the day that was described by the scripture, from the book of Acts, written by Luke.
Thousands of people are listening to Peter, as he tells them about Jesus, and how he was crucified. They asked what they should do? And so the scripture goes like this:
38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
Notice that Peter says the promise of a new way of being, where the Holy Spirit is given to them, is available for anyone! For you, your children, and all who are far away. All are welcome.
When Peter says, “Save yourself from this corrupt generation”, doesn’t it feel like today? So often we hear on the news about corruption, from in the White House, all the way down to local government and businesspeople.
Then the scripture continues, to what we read today. And it is here I want you to imagine. Close your eyes if it helps you visualize. Imagine it is 2,000 years ago. Peter is at the Temple, and there are thousands of listeners. Jesus has recently died, and many have seen him alive.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 Awe came upon everyone because many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds[j] to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home[k] and ate their food with glad and generous[l] hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Imagine, you are a follower of Jesus who was baptized. You listen at the temple, this crowded and hot place, loud because of the people, smelly because of, well, you know. You listen to the apostles, who perform healings and teach what will become the gospel – they teach using Jesus’s words from his many sermons, and from his many discussions with believers and nonbelievers alike. Perhaps today as you sit listening in the temple.
From the Gospel of Luke, one of the most important messages was a response to a lawyer who asked how to inherit eternal life: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” When asked who was his neighbor, Jesus told the story of the Samaritan, an enemy of the Jews, who took care of a Jewish man who was beaten and left for dead, left to die by the side of the road, left there even by Jewish leaders.
Who is the neighbor? The neighbor is anyone. The neighbor is everyone! And when Jesus says to love your neighbor as yourself, he is saying that you MUST love yourself. And as the foundation of loving all of humanity is loving God with every bit of your life – your heart, your soul or spirit, your body or strength and with all your mind. Every minute of every day.
So then, in the passage we read today, we can begin to see what this life would look like, where we actually live the life that God has asked us to live and to live the life that is imagined as a new world, based on God’s Will and God’s Love.
Now you leave the temple and go home to eat with your family. On your way home you pass by a neighbor. This is a person you don’t know, but you recognize this person from the worship service. They look lonely, so you engage them in conversation. As you talk, you realize that they don’t have family nearby, and will not be eating with anyone, so you invite them to eat with you. The offer is accepted, and as you walk, you discover that they also have no food. So, you are very happy to help this person today. You have been granted abundance in your life and today you get to share that with someone who did not have such fortune. Everyone eats and everyone has fellowship and kindness and joy. What a beautiful scene.
44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds[j] to all, as any had need.
Over time, back then, it appeared that this feeling of community spread. This feeling came over them so greatly that they shared everything – not just food, but possessions, clothing, perhaps even their housing. During the day they probably worked and worshipped; maybe they even worshipped while they worked.
By the way, recently I was zooming with the women from Uganda, and they wanted to show me how they made liquid soap. So, for the next half hour I watched as they stirred the bucket and added ingredients and stirred and stirred. It seems that constant stirring for a half hour is important in the process. But while they stirred, they sang praise songs and danced joyfully! God is infused in their work, so God is infused in their soap as well! Imagine your work being carried out with joy in your heart and gratitude for God in every moment you worked. How would that change your job?
Back to 2,000 years ago.
So, we are imagining this life. Working, worshipping through prayer and praise and lessons in the temple, and community time together. Also, plenty of alone time, just as Jesus did, to reflect and regroup, to meditate with the Holy Spirit. An interesting life. Much different, I think, from yours.
Now imagine what that would look like today. Imagine the people dressed like they did 2,000 years ago. Men in long hair and beards. Women in long dresses and covered hair. No one out to make a buck to keep up with the Joneses. Instead, working at what they needed to keep the community fed, clothed and sheltered. Living together, worshipping together, no one owning property, all things shared so that all had enough. And pure joy is heard all day long with song and prayer.
Sounds like a hippy commune, doesn’t it? Or maybe like the Amish today. It sounded great for the early Christians, who started with dozens of believers, and quickly grew to thousands. Living in commune-ity. It also sounds like Socialism, right? Or even worse, communism?
Imagine a country having a revolution where corrupt leaders are driven out and all the property and businesses become communal. The large houses are broken up into small units. All people are given housing, food and work. If you have need for more, you can work more for extra income. Health care is free. No homelessness or poverty or starvation. Well almost none.
See, this experiment is going on in Cuba, and has since the 1950’s. I was able to visit a few years ago and saw the positive and negative effects. One of the negative effects is that for a decade, after Russia pulled out, the country went into great decline. Because of the embargo against them from the US and our allies, they had few imports, and being a small island country, did not have enough food. These years were called the lean years, and all people – of any age and size – lost an average of 10 pounds. Since then, China has stepped in and trades with them so they are generally better off.
Another problem is that the government is in control, had used violence to get there, and there is fear amongst the citizens who might otherwise rise up and protest. The government has used repression, violence and jail as deterrents. I honestly don’t know if they are singing and praising God.
So, this also sounds like the early Christians in the 300s. They started to live this way, but Rome rose up against them. Christians had to hide, as they were persecuted and killed. Then, in 380, to retore peace, Rome chose Christianity as the official religion.
Over time, we see fear and we see peace, rising and falling, one then the other, like waves on the ocean.
Where are you in this ocean of life today? Are you in fear? Are you in peace and love and joy?
How do you find balance? I know I find it through worship. I find it in this community. I find it during our hour together, singing, praying, learning and laughing. I find in my morning meditation.
I feel like we are at the dawn of a new world. I have felt this for a few years, since COVID hit. When we were in isolation, I had just returned from the life-changing trip to Uganda in March of 2020, I was ordained in June, and we were in isolation. As I wrote poetry and painted and listened to God, I was awakened to the possibility of a new type of world existing once we came out of isolation.
And we DID have a new world, like it or not. Many companies that saved money by having employees work at home, made it optional or permanent to work from a home office. Many restaurants still have entrepreneurs deliver their food, the way pizza delivery has done before. The number of retail outfits who are closing their brick-and-mortar stores - and instead primarily selling online - is growing.
Many people who were let go, or whose jobs changed during isolation, have decided to retire or change jobs. They found that they are no longer pushed by the grind every day, and that they can find better ways to work better, to have their needs met.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, it also appears that many people are waking up to a spiritual life, although not necessarily a religious life. According to Pew Research Center, as of 2021, about 29% of Americans consider themselves Spiritual But Not Religious – SBNR, or “nones”, and the number continues to grow each year. And this is the fastest growing group among religious affiliations.
So this “New World” may look quite a bit different in the US anyway, than it did before 2020. More people are looking for satisfaction in their jobs, as opposed to working hard for money. Companies are making it easier for this transition. Church attendance is declining, but the number of people who are spiritual, religious or not, is remaining constant. People are still seeking God, but not in this exact fashion, that you and I are used to.
My question now is this: Are we heading into a new world like the one that Jesus imagined and invited us into?
If the number one message that Jesus taught is to love God, love ourselves, and love everyone else, well then, maybe yes. Certainly those who retired or changed careers to one more satisfying are showing themselves more love. Since the number of people in the US who are spiritual has not changed, no matter how they display that spirituality, then they are showing their love for God.
Finally, since I don’t know how to measure if people in general are more loving to their neighbor, let’s focus on us here today. Yes, we love our family and friends. And we love this church community, new and old. How are we doing with the people who live near us? How about those who live in our town, our state, and our nation? Can we love those who differ from us in their opinion? Who differ from us in their skin color or gender or sexual orientation? Finally, those around the world – can we love them? Can we consider them part of our community? This church certainly has shown your love for the people in Uganda, and the people served by Concerns-U!
So let’s sing, let’s praise God, let’s share our abundance, let’s accept the abundance of others who share with us. Let’s create this new world that Luke wrote about 2,000 years ago, the world where all people love all of God’s creation.
I think it is the dawn of a new world. May today be the day that the sun breaks out over the horizon and shines on all of us! May it be so. Amen.
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