A Work in Progress

Anticipating the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (June 12^th this year), our Church School curriculum has been sharing the stories of Peter, Paul and the community of Christians formed immediately after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. These stories are recorded for us in the book of Acts, which follows the Gospel of John in the New Testament and is believed by scholars to have been written as the continuation of Luke’s Gospel by the same author.

The full title of this book of the Bible is Acts of the Apostles – “apostle” is derived from Greek and means “one who is sent forth” as opposed to “disciple” which means “one who follows.” The community who followed Jesus on earth has to shift its focus from following their teacher, Jesus, to sharing his message after he has ascended to Heaven. It’s a bumpy journey for this group as they make the transition.

Acts is a fascinating book – the early Church wrestles with a number of issues from who can be included (do non-Jews have to become Jews before they can become Christians?) to what kind of food can be eaten to how to care for members of the community of faith while still preaching and teaching. Acts is a work in progress as the early Church tries to figure out who and what it is called to be.

It seems to me that we – the Church – are still struggling with the same sorts of questions: who belongs and who doesn’t? How do we serve care for our members and still preach and teach? What does it mean to believe? To follow? To lead? To serve?

While the canon of Scripture is considered to be “closed,” I believe that we are still writing the Acts of the Apostles. Like Peter and Paul, we are sent forth to share the Good News in our homes, our neighborhoods, our faith community and the world. We are called forth to both live and tell the Story of God’s saving action in Jesus. Like Peter and Paul, we, too, are Apostles and it is up to us to continue living out the Acts of the Apostles! How we “go forth” matters!

Grace and peace,

Dr. Elizabeth