In Acts 2:42-47, and much of the New Testament, we read of the incredible sense of community experienced by the early church. It sounds wonderful, yet is often far from our 21st century experience. Was it something that was given as a special gift just for that time, but which we should not expect to see today? David Rawlings’ recent experience suggests not.
In June, David was part of the team that paid Risen Light Church, Helsinki, a
surprise visit. He told us in a
blog post this week that although the food was great, the scenery amazing, and the Holy Spirit active, the thing that really stood out to him was relationship. David writes:
“Personally I have always hungered to be part of a community with that kind of radical obedience to the gospel. A community of believers where the idea of church as a spectator sport simply does not exist. A community of authenticity and interdependence. All with their hand to the plough on a mission that is larger than self. This is what I glimpsed during our visit.
"It made me wonder if the authentic Christian love we read about in Paul’s letters takes root most deeply between those that have determined to lay their lives down for the sake of the gospel - together.”
Read more…
This kind of radical family relationship, then, is something we can choose to pursue and to develop. For David, it means he is considering where God might be sending him and his family. What might it mean for you?
