Acts 6:1-7
Acts 6:1-7
June 7, 2020
Acts 6:1-7
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said,
3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. 1
There has been much discussion in the past week, especially, related to unity in the church, unity in our city, our community, and especially in our nation. Unity – it seems is the treasure we all seek, but just when we think we have found it, it becomes elusive once more.
Yet, we know there are numerous verses in Scripture related to the unity of believers. Even in the Old Testament, the message is clear – unity is God’s design and desire among his children.
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 6:1–7). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 1
right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve
“It is not
tables.
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 2
Unity is blessed. It is modeled in the Trinity with the oneness of the Father, Son, and Spirit, and even prayed to the Father, by the Son, through the Spirit for you and me in Jesus’s High Priestly Prayer as recorded in John 17.
Unity is a goal, but it is unity founded on Christ, on the gospel, on the truth. You see, the enemies of God, as we discovered last week were unified, but that was a unity of evil.
The enemy of God works to create a false harmony among those outside the church, with the church and the cross being the focus of that which the world is against. That unity is destructive.
It is also his tactic to create disunity among the brethren, within the church fellowship, so that the focus of the cross and the message of the gospel become peripheral issues rather than the main one.
So, you see, the theme “We’re all in this together” which becomes a rallying cry for nations in times of war, international communities in times of pandemic, and even oppressed groups in times of strife, can end up being little more than trite words that look good on T-shirts, create nice sound bites for the media, and even give the appearance of “oneness” in a world gone mad...but actually mean nothing for the long term.
This is our enemy’s strategy – it has been from the beginning.
2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 133:1). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 2
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had pure fellowship with the Father, until sin is offered and received and then that fellowship is broken. The unity is divided and the man and woman are expelled from the paradise.
Shortly afterward, the two sons of the first family are anything but unified as Cain murders his brother.
The early chapters of Genesis are filled with story after story of division – Noah and the people, Abraham and the Egyptians, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, etc. You see the trend, right?
So, it should come as no surprise that in the early days of the church as led by the apostles in Jerusalem, that the unifying message of the gospel, the offer of life eternal through Christ, the bold stand for the truth, and the exciting and electrifying crowds that gathered daily to hear the teachings of the Word were not only attacked externally (through that which we looked at in previous weeks related to the Great Sanhedrin) but also internally, as we will see today.
1. THE CHURCH DIVIDED OVER MONEY
Here’s a shock. The early church – before there were buildings, before there were names of churches based on geography or perhaps even based on being the first one in a city (you know, like First Baptist Church) and before they had organized in such a way as to have pastors, deacons, elders, committees, ministry teams, etc. there was a dispute.
The church was gathering in the courtyard of the Temple. The Sanhedrin had taken the apostles leading the gathering – Peter and John – arrested them, thrown them in prison, brought them up for trial, beat them, then by the words of an old Pharisee and God’s providence were set free to (in the minds of the Sanhedrin) to just gather their groups and soon dissipate into the annals of Israel’s history as another fringe group that amounted to nothing.
3
Except this was no fringe group.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the outpouring at Pentecost, and the boldness of these apostles, the church grew.
This was no church-growth modern era mega-church movement built on the personality of a charismatic celebrity preacher and great media acumen. This was built on the Word of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, and spoken through the men of God to a lost and dying world seeking the way, truth, and the life that is sought by all.
All is good. All is unified, right? Nope.
There’s a division among the church. A big one. And...it’s based on money.
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
When I first read this verse and then the following, I immediately think that the primary reason there is division is because one group is feeling left out. That’s true, but if you look closely here, these feelings are based on money.
Church finances! Apparently, a place the enemy has created division within the body since the very beginning. A tool that he has continued to pull out of his toolbox to create division among the brothers and sisters.
4
In this case, the widows were the focus it seems, but it wasn’t just the widows, it was the amount of money and other received gifts that were being given to the widows.
The concept of giving benevolent help to those in need, especially church members, is not foreign to the church, but the “fairness” of the distribution is what created the issue.
2. THE CHURCH DIVIDED OVER CULTURE
Everyone in the church in this chapter is Jewish by culture. They are meeting in the Temple and while there were places for Gentiles, the majority of believers here are Jews. So, in this account we’re looking at two groups that claim the same cultural and religious heritage, but even prior to coming to Christ, they’re greatly divided.
Remember – division is the common denominator here.
The two Jewish (and now Christian) groups are the Hellenists and the Hebrews. They were divided prior to surrendering to Christ and they still struggle with their baggage of self-focus and looking down at the other group. This still happens. It’s human nature.
The Hellenists were Greek Jews who had been dispersed throughout what was then known as the Greco-Roman world years prior. They’re upbringing was in a Gentile culture while they held onto their Jewish roots. They likely spoke Greek as their first language and Hebrew in their worship. This is not unlike many Jews who were dispersed for centuries throughout Europe and Russia, living as aliens longing for the return to Zion. Early and mid-twentieth century history shows this reality.
The Hebrews as designated in the passage were the more narrow thinking as relating to the Old Testament law and the observance
5
of rituals and feasts. They spoke Hebrew first, even as Aramaic was popular.
Some would categorize the Hellenists as more progressive and Hebrews as more conservative, but those words mean so many things to people today, they are not the best descriptors.
It is more a realization that these people were brothers and sisters in Christ – this is the church remember – but they are drifting to their default where one group is the majority (the Hebrews) and the other is the sub-group (the Hellenists) and while one may not intentionally be seeking to oppress the others, for years they have and this carries into their new church.
Ultimately – division. In other words just joining the church and saying “We’re all brothers and sisters and equal” does not mean that it is occurring. This is a constant challenge.
3. THE CHURCH UNITED IN ITS FOCUS
2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said,
Some look at this verse and struggle with the meaning. This is likely due to some having experience with pastors and spiritual leaders who, for lack of better terms, were lazy, authoritarian, and maybe even abusive in the way they led.
In other words, sorry leaders will misuse the truth of God’s Word for their own good (or power) to the detriment of the gospel and the church.
When the twelve apostles gather the church together, the divisive arguments are now what is permeating every single discussion.
“It is not right that we should give up preaching the
word of God to serve tables.
6
Have you ever been in a church that was so focused on issues that were not unimportant, but definitely not of primary importance, for so long and at such volume that the chasm dividing the believers grew to such a place that nothing else was being discussed?
When a meeting like this has to be called...it is to get to the heart of an issue and keep the church moving forward.
These apostles clearly remind the church that they have a calling. They have a job description (not voted upon by the church, but from Christ himself.) They have a priority role and if they do not fulfill that, then the church will not only suffer, but the church will be disobedient as a body, and sinful.
The apostles state as the ones called to lead the church, they are not to focus on the waiting of tables for the distribution of money or food to the widows.
There are those in our culture who believe that the church is little more than a benevolence club that should have as its number one priority the service to those in need (food, clothing, hospital visits, etc.) So, hear me clearly now – those are things the church does and must, but those are not the priority.
“It is no right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.”
This is the mandate to the pastor – to preach the Word, to proclaim it clearly, to protect the flock by preaching the truth. If any other “ministry responsibility” gets in front of that...the church is sinning.
7
4. THE CHURCH UNITED IN ITS SERVICE
Look here, the preaching of the Word and the study and prayer needed to ensure heresy is not taught, half-truths are not expressed, and false gospels are not affirmed are primary.
But God provides.
The practical ministry issues of the church body are real. The feelings of oppression, classism, fairness, are not ignored.
3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
CONCLUSION
What divides the church must be overcome by what unites the church. This passage of scripture teaches us that perhaps even unintentionally, division occurs. It can be addressed. It can be ignored. It can be a little issue. It can become a huge issue.
What squelched the enemy’s attack on the church was the gathering, the clarity of the call, and the leaders leading well.
The apostles state “We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word” while calling out from among the church men to serve in the capacity of what we call deacons in this area of ministry. Deacons who were men full of faith and the Holy Spirit, serving the
8
Lord by serving the church so that the main thing would remain the main thing – the proclamation of the gospel.
It is the gospel that unites.
It is the Word of God that unites.
It is the Son, who prayed to the Father for the oneness of his church that unites us in His Spirit.
May we be one, as the old song states, in the bond of love, but firmly standing on the gospel.
Otherwise...we have failed. We have sinned. And we must respond accordingly.
Footnotes
