Listen Up!

Acts 6:1-7

When you’re driving your car and hear a new noise, one that’s different than normal, you become alarmed and rightly so. If you’re wise you gather information about the noise -- when does it occur, at what speeds, in what temperatures, etc. -- you seek to determine its cause, and you take steps to fix it. If you’re unwise you can ignore it, hoping it will go away.

We have a whole lot of noise going on in our country right now. Racism, police brutality, inequities in healthcare, education, upward mobility, incarceration. These issues have grown in intensity. They are no longer whispering: they are shouting and demanding our attention. How are we going to respond?

In the days of the early Christian church two different cultures clashed. The Grecian/Greek Jews and the Hebraic/Hebrew Jews both participated in the same church, but each group had different perspectives, experiences, perhaps even values. I venture to say they didn’t understand each other as they were from totally different worlds. 

The Grecian Jews complained that they were being treated unfairly. Injustice had taken root as their widows were being overlooked by the social security or welfare system. These women were not getting food in the daily distribution like the Hebraic Jews were (v 1). Perhaps this discrimination was intentional, perhaps not, but it was occurring, and it was wrong. The grumbling started out as whispers/minor complaints. What is important to notice is that these whispers didn’t fall on deaf ears.

The church leaders heard and acknowledged them. Those in charge then did something about the complaints, taking steps to eradicate the wrong. Verses 2 and 3 state that the leaders gathered the whole church together to address the issue. They admitted the injustices they had done. They then selected a group, which was comprised completely of Greek Jews, to oversee the daily food distribution. They (who were most likely all Hebraic Jews) entrusted the entire task to the minority. This new group was charged with making sure the whole group, both cultures, received food by equitable measures. 

Waiting on tables -- it was not a glamorous job, but it sure was necessary. Without this initiative people would have been ignored. Women would have been malnourished, peace would have deteriorated, and goodness, righteousness and justice would have fallen by the wayside. The cracks in the church would have spread, and two cultures could have fractured permanently. 

Yet, the opposite occurs. The plan pleases everyone (vs. 5), and two groups are unified more into one. The word of God spreads, bringing others into the beautiful, righteous, life-giving faith that Jesus makes possible (vs. 7). 

What are we going to do with the noise? 

God, please don’t let us turn the radio up to try and drown it out. Help us to LISTEN UP and act as our ancestors in the faith have done before us. May we admit our own fault, individually and collectively. May we entrust our slighted brothers and sisters with new efforts to right wrongs. Help us take steps to fight the injustices we see. May all people be unified in Your Love. Amen.

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