“There arose a murmuring of the Grecian’s against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration” (Acts 6:1).
While the word “Grecian’s” is later used of Gentiles, here it refers to Grecian Jews. We know this because Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, was not yet baptized (Acts 10:44-48; 11:18). The ethnic bias of Palestinian Jews verses Grecian Jews was a common problem among Jewry. The Grecian’s had been influenced by Greek culture in their mannerisms, dress and accent; they were different. But why should that matter in the ecclesia? Here all were one in Christ no matter how different they may be.
And the apostles were there.
Not only were the apostles there, but Holy Spirit gifts were also widely distributed among all of the believers, Grecian or Palestinian.
A surprising problem
Furthermore, these were all Jews raised on the Old Testament warnings to beware of how they treated widows. “Ye shall not afflict any widow…if thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me…my wrath shall wax hot…” (Ex. 22:22-24). How could they possibly let ethnic bias affect their treatment of widows?
And there was the great principle of their fellowship in Christ: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). What would non-believing Jews think when they learned of this problem in the Jerusalem ecclesia? Here was no unique love, here was fleshly discrimination just like among the Jewish community throughout the world.
The seriousness of the problem is magnified even more when we remember that, like all of us, these believers had been called with the hope of ruling the world with Christ. If they could not administer the daily meal, how could they administer the world? (cp. I Cor. 6:2).
Problems inevitable
If the Jerusalem ecclesia had so serious a problem when they were all Jews, the apostles were in their midst and the gifts of the Holy Spirit were present, then we can be certain that we, in our day, will have problems. This may not be comfortable to admit, but it is surely the case.
Since problems are inevitable, there is no point in panicking when they occur.
Brethren and sisters will sometimes do the wrong thing. Angry voices may be raised in a discussion class. There is no point in panicking and stopping all discussion at Bible classes.
The chances are good that at some time somebody will falsely accuse us; we only make the situation worse when we refuse to talk to the person again.
Ecclesias will make decisions that disturb us. We accomplish nothing when we panic and stop attending meetings or walk out on a memorial service.
A person may hurt our feelings or we may object to something in the announcements; it is a wrong reaction consequently to refuse the emblems.
Brethren will sometimes express a wrong idea. They may even hold it for a while. Don’t panic and immediately move to disfellowship the person. Work with them that they might deepen in a right understanding.
A useful rule of ecclesial life is, problems are inevitable; when they occur, don’t panic.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One