An Ecclesial Problem Resolved

The situation is described in only 7 verses in Acts 6; but in those few words, there is a wealth of information conveyed regarding the causes of ecclesial problems and the right way to approach their resolution.

Five factors can be identified in verse 1 that led to the difficulty and even at a distance of some 1900 years we can easily relate to all five of them.

1. The ecclesia experienced a period of rapid growth. This had been occur­ing over a period of some months as in­dicated by Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14. No ecdesia since has known the explosion in numbers indicated in these verses, but any ecclesia that has known even a 25% increase in a short period of time can empathize with the problem in Jerusa­lem.

Ecclesias are families and it takes time to develop a family spirit amongst people. When many new members are added in a short period, there is simply inadequate time for the peculiar needs of different individuals to be understood let alone catered to. Under such circumstances, ecclesial elders will lose track of some situations just as they did in Jeru­salem. When the problems surface, they should be addressed in a patient and godly manner as the apostles do in this case.

2. External difficulties had abated for the ecclesia because the Jews had been advised by Gamaliel to leave the apostles alone (5:34-40). In addition, the people magnified the apostles for the healthiness Christ wrought through them (5:13-16).

As we find today, brethren experience greater harmony amongst themselves when they are drawn together by a common conflict with the apostasy around us. Living in a situation of remarkable religious tolerance, we can readily turn our energies inward upon ourselves and in so doing magnify our differences thereby creating tension where there should be a fellowship of working together against the enemies of the Gospel.

3. Society’s problems were reflected in the ecclesia. Palestinian Jews generally looked down on those who lived outside the land. A similar bias unfortunately overflowed into attitudes within the ec­clesia.

The same is seen today. In some parts of the ecclesial world, strong feelings are held by various groups about customs of dress or customs of food or drink. Our social environment even effects our presentation of the Gospel. Literature designed for areas where the Jews and their land are unknown will have a considerably different approach from what one would normally expect. There is even a marked difference in the religious environment in England as opposed to the United States or Canada. ‘While the Antichrist may be a big issue in North America, it has not been in England.

Brethren are Affected by the Societies Where they Live

We need to recognize that brethren are affected by the societies where they live. That was the case in apostolic times; it is the case today. Recognizing this situation, we should be very hesitant in our criticism of the problems faced by ecclesias who function in a totally different social environment than our own.

4. Human nature is not changed by baptism. The warfare against the impulses of the flesh continued in Christ until his dying breath and the same will be true of ourselves unless we capitulate wholly to our own way and forsake God’s way. The difference between our­selves and Christ is that whereas he never allowed his impulses to conceive and bring forth sin, we do. The frequency and magnitude of the actions of the flesh will be less in ecclesial life than in the world, but each of its works will evidence themselves from time to time.

Ananias and Sapphira were overcome by pride and as a consequence practiced covetousness and lying (5:4). The incident in Acts 6 reveals inconsideration, unkindness and pettiness had affected a regular ecclesial practice.

From a detached perspective, there was absolutely no excuse for conditions that had developed. Scripture made abundantly clear that consideration of the widows is an essential part of true godliness (Psa. 68:5; 146:9). They are vulnerable (Ex. 22:22) and among the first to get hurt when the flesh is allowed to control one’s conduct. Furthermore, all of the disciples believed they were to practice compassion and to serve one another ahead of themselves; this was basic to the commands of the master they served (John 13:14-15, 34-35). And they all knew they had been reborn into the family of God where cultural differences become insignificant yet it was the circumstance of their natural birth that was a major factor in this problem. They all looked forward to sharing rulership in the Kingdom when they would implement the rule of God in the earth yet they could not handle administering the daily meal fairly.

What Was The Matter With These People?

A person might well ask—”what was the matter with these people?” however, any believer who has honestly examined himself before the breaking of bread would know the answer. The impulses of our nature are called “deceitful lusts” (Eph. 4:22) for good reason. When we see the flesh intruding itself into ecclesial affairs, let us realize the problem is not new and let us work out a solution with patience and godly fear.

5. The Divinely implemented policy of one body in Christ contributed to the problem in Jerusalem and plays a part in many of our own difficulties. The Jewish synagogues kept the Palestinians and the Grecian’s apart in separate communities (6:9). They allowed people to follow a favorite rabbi or to divide themselves along lines of economic level or social status.

However, in a given geographic area, the believers were to put aside worldly differences and were to be bound in unity by their one baptism into the one body of the Lord Jesus. This created situations of inevitable tension. The problem described in Acts 6 was an early manifestation of much greater problems that were to come. Later, Jew and Gentile were to strive mightily over meats and holy days and circumcision; slave and slaveholder were to meet as equals around the table of the Lord. From a human point of view, much trouble could have been avoided if God had been satisfied with ecclesias drawn along ethnic or social or economic lines. Much trouble could be avoided today if we were free to do the same.

In many cases, the only common denominator we have with others in our ecclesia is the Truth. Our brethren and sisters are not people we would ordinarily pick to travel through life with. Our personalities and our interests may vary widely or even clash with others in the ecclesia. But we are not only baptized into the Name we are also “baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13).

The great advantage in the Divine arrangement is that in our ecclesial associations our characters are developed. We develop patience by practicing it; we learn forgiveness when we have to exercise it; we develop longsuffering when we have to suffer long with a situation we do not like. The brethren at Jeru­salem were to learn graciousness and judgment by implementing these attributes in a problem that arose because of their being forced to live as one body with others who were called to be saints in Christ Jesus.

A Solution That Worked

The twelve did not have specific Divine instruction on solving the matter so their approach provides useful precedent for our own ecclesial decisions.

1. They did not forsake their role as ecclesial leaders. “The twelve called” took the initial steps to work out a solution. While the ecclesia was to appoint a committee of their own choosing, the apostles were to exercise final approval over those selected (v. 3 “whom we may appoint” and v. 6.). The example for ecclesial elders today is dear; they are to take the responsibility for working out solutions to ecclesial matters.
2. While the apostles did not have specific Spirit guidance in this matter, they did have Biblical precedents to guide their actions.

They could look to Moses and see an overburdened leader sharing his responsibilities with others among the people of God (Ex. 18:13-26; Deut. 1:9-16).

The Leaders Were Men Selected By The People

Furthermore, the leaders subordinate to Moses were men selected by the people using a method of their own preference: “take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes . . .” (Deut. 1:13). Moses would not select these men, the people would. Whether these men would be selected by general ballot or by lot or by the vote of representatives of the people or some other means is not specified. They could evidently use the method of their choice.

Acting in harmony with Scriptural precedent, the apostles instructed the brethren to “look out from among you seven men of honest report . . .”. How they would make the selection was up to the brethren just as it was in Moses’ day.

3. The apostles were responsible ec­clesial leaders, they followed Divine pre­cedent and thirdly they gave heed to Divine priorities.

They recognized it would not be pleasing to God for them to place the temporal needs of the brethren ahead of their spiritual ones. Their eternal welfare was of greater importance.

This was clearly the priority of the Lord Jesus as he consistently placed the proclamation of the Word ahead of healing physical infirmities (Mk. 1:38) and it is the way of God who regularly brings affliction on His people that they might suffer a little now in the hope of participating in His holiness forever (Heb. 12:6-11).

The Apostles Were not Reluctant to Serve

The apostles were not reluctant to serve for they continually gave themselves to the ministry (service) of others in the matters of prayer and the word. Furthermore, they did not minimize the importance of a right handling of ec­clesial welfare as is evidenced in the qualifications they set forth for those who were to perform the function. When it came down to a matter of the allocation of their time, however, they knew the Divine priorities and followed them.

4. They exercised spiritual common sense. If those administering the sensitive welfare matter were chosen by the disciples as a whole, the ecclesia would be more likely to co-operate with their decisions.
5. The brethren who were to form the welfare committee were to be outstanding brethren first and administrators second. The ecclesias can be efficiently but badly run. They are to be an instrument of God in developing characters fit for His Kingdom and they will only work to that end if the elder ship is in harmony with the Divine principles.

Upon a brief consideration of this one incident in Acts, we have a summary of some causes of ecclesial difficulty which are still with us today and we have some apostolic precedent in the process to follow as we seek to resolve those difficulties that are an inherent part of this present order.