I was blessed this weekend to be able to attend a Christian ladies' retreat in Double Springs, Alabama. There were eight of us from 3 different congregations in Mississippi that all rode together in one church van. I think everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only did we have some wonderful fellowship together during the drive over and back again; but we participated in some great fun and fellowship at the retreat. We got to catch up with old friends and meet many new ones. We had good food and good silly fun during our activities. We got to pull ourselves out of our ordinary routines and give ourselves a little time just for us; and most importantly we were refreshed and re-filled spiritually by the beautiful singing we participated in and by the two wonderful lessons we heard from God's word.
I love retreats, ladies days, Christian camps, gospel meetings, Bible Bowls, and any other extra acitivities of the church where Christians get to share with one another; to exhort and edify one another. I know that not every event is for everyone. I don't think anyone can participate in all activities of the church. But I do think that everyone should participate in some way. Members of God's church are to work together, to serve one another and to build each other up. We are commanded by Jesus to love one another.
In John 13:35, Christ tells us "A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another." OK - so how can Christians learn to love one another if they don't spend time together? And how can "all men know" that we are Christ's disciples if we don't fellowship with one another so that we can openly demonstrate our love for each other? Closeness between Christians is a commandment. How we develop this closeness is left to us; and the how doesn't matter. But it matters very much that we make sure we obey all God's commndments including this one. There are clear examples of that closeness in the New Tesatament. And there are many opportunities available to us so that we can enjoy that closeness.
In Acts 1, even before the establishment of the church, we see that the apostles were sticking together. After the ascension of Christ, they go back to Jerusalem to an upper room where they were staying with other disciples. Acts 1:25 tells us that there were about 120 people gathered together in that room. These were followers of Christ - people with the same beliefs -- gathered together in one place and "in one accord, in prayer and supplication." (Acts 1:14) Then in Acts 2:1, Luke tells us again that "they were all with one accord in one place" on the day of Pentecost. We all know this story. This is the day that the apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost and the church was established.
On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) Peter preached. "They that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there was added unto them about three thousand souls." (v.41) Luke records this very special event and it is important for us to know that these souls obeyed God's Word, for this was the beginning of the blessing we enjoy today as a church. The church was built by Christ, bought by His blood. We are His body. The tie that binds us all is the blood of Christ. Just as we take care of our own bodies to strengthen it and keep it healthy, we are to care for the body of Christ (which means other members of the body) to strengthen and keep it healthy.
It is also important to understand that these people were not just baptized only to go back to their own homes their old way of life. A family was born that day; the family of God. From the very beginning, the church began to keep Christ's command of letting the world see the love they had for one another. Acts 2:42 -46 shows us the closeness of those early Christians, "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they continuing daily with one accored in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
It certainly sounds to me like the early church was spending time together, learning and growing in the apostles' teaching AND in their love for one another. By having "all things in common" and sharing with each other as each man had need, they were most certainly showing their love for one another. Other people were seeing this and understood that they were all part of the same group, as the record shows in verse 47 that they had favour with all the people and the Lord's church grew. Wonderful!!!! I think the love is evident in these verses don't you?
The passages in the first two chapters of Acts should be enough to show us this great bond between Christians in the first century. The fact that they had "all things in common" is proof that they were showing this to the world. Yet, this is only the beginning of the examples given to us throughout Acts and the rest of the New Tesatment. In Acts 4, we see again that no one lacked anything; that those who owned land or houses sold them for the good of the church. Barnabas was one of these men. In chapter 9, we see that Tabitha was a woman who was full of goods works. She was so loved by the church, that when she died, they call for Peter to come to her.
As we read in Acts 11 of Barnabas's visit to Antioch (as he was sent by the apostles) - we find that "when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord, For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added to the Lord." (v. 23 & 24). Was this possibly the very first gospel meeting? Isn't that what we do today? Don't we call for a preacher from another area to come exhort us to cleave to the Lord and to perhaps reach out to others in the community when we do so - so that people can be added to the Lord?
Reading on through the book of Acts, we see that Christians were gathered together praying for Peter while he was in prison. Note that as soon as Lydia was converted, she opened her home to Paul and his company. The Phillipian jailor also brought Paul and Silas into his home. I could go on and on, but I feel that I am belaboring the point.
I say all this to say that meeting together, bonding with one another, and learning to love one another strenghtens the church. So the activities that congregations plan to bring the people of God together are all good works. Attending a retreat or a camp or a gospel meeting, blesses you and builds you up. We get to grow in love for another and we are strengthened spiritually. As we are blessed personally by attending these events, we are able to go back and bless our own congregations. We build on the love we received and on the strength and encouragement we gain -- and we come home to build our brothers and sister there. The church grows and is strengthened. The world notices and God is glorified.
Build up and strengthen your ties with other Christians. Spend time in one accord with other members of God's family. Obey the new commandment given to us by Christ - "love one another" as Christ loved you. Show this love to the extent that people understand you are a disciple of the Lord Jesus. You will be blessed. You will bless other Christians. And God will be glorified!!
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
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