Articles
Let Brotherly Love Continue - 2
There are many amazing things about the development of the early church, one of which is how quickly the new converts began to show their love for each other. The tone is set in Jerusalem itself where immediately after Pentecost “all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” (Ac 2:44-45). This is amplified in following chapters as Barnabas is cited for his selfless generosity, and widows are provided for out of the common treasury (Ac 4, 6).
It is difficult from our cultural perspective to imagine such an atmosphere where faith first took root. We are affluent; they (many of them, at least) were needy and lacking social service safety nets. We live in relative peace; they encountered occupying Roman soldiers daily and even saw their own leaders conspire to railroad the Messiah to His execution. Many of us have been Christians a good while; they were en masse new converts just becoming acquainted with the person and doctrines of their newly discovered Lord and King. As a fledgling religious movement, they were it. There were no other congregations, no network of fellow believers to know and rely on. They could not say, as we do of our fellowship today: “It’s not a small world; it’s a big family.”
Perhaps a main key of the early manifestation of love among believers: they needed each other, and they knew they needed each other. I’m not sure we have that same awareness. We have our jobs, income, houses, material goods, safety, insurance, investments, retirement, hospitals/medical care, etc. We have our families, friends, vacations, hobbies, entertainment, education, stores, restaurants, clothing, conveniences, transportation, political freedom, etc. From atop this political, social and spiritual superstructure it is hard to see why we need our brethren – or why they need us.
This pattern is repeated in Thessalonica where Paul spent very little time preaching and teaching before he was run out of town (Ac 17:1-10). Yet Paul expresses his strong attachment to them: “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us … as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children …” (1 Th 1:7-8, 11). As we noted in our last article, when we allow spiritual perspectives to frame our view of others, we can bond very quickly to those who share our insights and values.
But note what Paul says of the Thessalonians: “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more …” (1 Th 4:9-10). This small church which had begun in the fires of persecution and were pariahs in their own city did not allow that opposition to extinguish the new life they had found in Christ. And herein lies another element of love among God’s people: it thrives in times of crisis, for such times remind us that we are not self-sustainable. We need the acceptance, encouragement, camaraderie of each other; we need to worship and work together; we need close ties with others who can be trusted and whom we know love us and with whom we are free to share our struggles and discouragements.
The term “brotherly love” in the above quote is the Gk. philadelphia and refers to the affection and closeness that should exist among brothers and sisters in Christ. It is not so much the natural attraction to those who are like us in matters of preference but rather the devotion to each other because of shared spiritual qualities. My brother may enjoy things I don’t have a particular interest in, but I should make the effort to develop a relationship as a fellow believer who needs me, and I him.
But Paul also uses the higher term agapao (verb form of agape, “taught by God to love one another”), and this double reference gives this obligation the highest priority. When we tune our mindset to obedience to God and endeavor to serve, help and encourage our brethren, we will naturally develop an affinity for them that subordinates superficial differences. Those who invest their interest, efforts and affection in fellow disciples will enlarge their capacity to love, will find hidden treasures in deep relationships and, perhaps most importantly for unity’s sake, will build a foundation of mutual appreciation that will discourage acrimony and strife.
So what does this love and fellowship look like in practical terms? In my lifetime there have been brethren that I didn’t have a lot in common with on the surface, but through mutual effort we maintained conversation, cordiality and companionship. I’ve sat with many elderly Christians listening to their life stories, from harness racing in Maine to implementing martial law in Korea; from health traumas to life tragedies; from business failures to sharing their fear of dying. Further, I have played tennis, golfed, fished, hunted, skied, boated, traveled, eaten meals, attended races, watched movies, hiked, ridden horses, whitewater rafted and studied Scripture with those of different ages, from different jobs and educational backgrounds, and some who didn’t even speak my language.
Further, I have shared counsel during some of life’s darkest moments, assisted in legal trials, attended (or performed) weddings and funerals, visited foreign countries and worshiped with and stayed in the homes of brethren across the world. Such friendships and experiences were not merely due to my vocation, though that undoubtedly opened some unique doors. Rather, these are the kinds of rewarding interactions that most of us can have if we invest in the lives of our brethren. More than likely, some of these might not have felt a natural affinity for me J! But they were willing to let me in to their lives and share some meaningful moments, and I am grateful to all of them for what they added to my life. The more we open up and share our lives the tighter the bond we will form with others.
Jesus promised that “everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit everlasting life” (Mt 19:29). Yes, it is a big family, but we must invest in it in order to reap the rich rewards God intends for it to provide us – and provide to others through us.
