SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

One way to learn what matters to a group or culture is to look at the slogans and “proverbs” the group repeats. Let’s begin this week by looking at a few well-known American-isms.

  • Because I’m worth it.
  • An army of one.
  • Have it your way.
  • You be you.
  • Be true to yourself.
  • You’re one of a kind.
  • If you want something done right, do it yourself.
  • God helps those who help themselves.
  • Pull yourself up by your bootstraps!
  • Stand on your own two feet.
  • Look out for number one.
  • Every man for himself.

Sound familiar?

Meanwhile, proverbs from other areas of the world demonstrate very different perspectives on “common sense:”

  • If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. (Africa)
  • The nail that sticks out gets pounded. (Japan)
  • Better to be a fool with a crowd than a wise man by oneself. (Mexico)
  • A solitary soul neither sings nor cries. (Mexico)

Researchers have observed that American culture values individualism and self-reliance more than any other country in the world. This deeply embedded cultural lens impacts each one of us, and colors how we interact with the world—including how we read the Bible, how we determine what is right and wrong.

Now, let’s take a look at our text for this week, where Luke describes the growing community of believers, a rapidly growing group that in the preceding verse accepted three thousand new members in one evening alone!

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:42-47

It seems almost unthinkable to live this way, doesn’t it? Over three thousand people? Together every day? Owning everything in common? Eating together daily, not just on holidays?

As Americans, we talk about our “personal relationship with God” to such an extent that Church becomes a place to receive personal spiritual food. But the Church is so much more than that. God created the Church to be a Body, to work together as one unit in the world.

Christianity, the life of faith in God through Christ and the Spirit, is not something we can do alone. We have signed on to a group project. It will take each one of us graphed into a committed, unified team to complete Jesus’ mission.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • How have our American values impacted our view of Christianity?
  • What can we learn from this text that our culture has made difficult to see and do?
  • What should we do about it? In what ways do we need each other?

 

Church Reading Plan: Ezekial 12; Psalm 51