..::Freedom, O freedom, that's just people talking, your prison is walking through this world alone::..
We all want a slogan, but it seems there aren't many of us who can palette the truth they expose in us, or the expectations they have for us. Weakness is a life sentence dealt out to all without any sort of preferential treatment. The truth is, we all get the short end of the stick, and worse yet, we spend our entire lives attempting to shrug off the implications of an existence that requires that we ante up to our own inadequacies and self-inflicted solitude.
I want to learn to relish in my weakness and my shortcomings, become more adept at accepting grace, and somehow learn what it means to be a part of a community of people who can’t live without one another and without God.
That’s enough there…
I’ve been doing some minimal thinking about what it means in Acts when Luke says that early believers gathered together and…
..::committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meals, and the prayers::..
What intrigues me is the idea of the common meal. While some would insist that this is an early reference to the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper), I am not similarly swayed. That idea wasn’t actually formally attested until sometime in the 2nd century (don’t contest me on this… I know my shit). So, what does this reference to a common meal actually mean? I’m glad you asked.
I honestly think it means to simply sit and eat some food together. The Greek actually implies that they were eating food simply to sustain physical life. In other words, making sure everyone had a good meal. It seems to me that Luke was yet again making reference to “meeting one another’s needs” as an integral part of serving the Lord and one another in the early Church.
So, to cut to the chase. I think this explains my ineffable affinity for all things Food Network.
jared.
We all want a slogan, but it seems there aren't many of us who can palette the truth they expose in us, or the expectations they have for us. Weakness is a life sentence dealt out to all without any sort of preferential treatment. The truth is, we all get the short end of the stick, and worse yet, we spend our entire lives attempting to shrug off the implications of an existence that requires that we ante up to our own inadequacies and self-inflicted solitude.
I want to learn to relish in my weakness and my shortcomings, become more adept at accepting grace, and somehow learn what it means to be a part of a community of people who can’t live without one another and without God.
That’s enough there…
I’ve been doing some minimal thinking about what it means in Acts when Luke says that early believers gathered together and…
..::committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meals, and the prayers::..
What intrigues me is the idea of the common meal. While some would insist that this is an early reference to the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper), I am not similarly swayed. That idea wasn’t actually formally attested until sometime in the 2nd century (don’t contest me on this… I know my shit). So, what does this reference to a common meal actually mean? I’m glad you asked.
I honestly think it means to simply sit and eat some food together. The Greek actually implies that they were eating food simply to sustain physical life. In other words, making sure everyone had a good meal. It seems to me that Luke was yet again making reference to “meeting one another’s needs” as an integral part of serving the Lord and one another in the early Church.
So, to cut to the chase. I think this explains my ineffable affinity for all things Food Network.
jared.
Very well said- beautiful vulnerability/honesty that the body desperately needs.
Posted by
Anonymous |
7:01 PM
I believe you're right on. I think Jesus modeled that for us all over the "gospels". We have a meal to begin our small group every week. I really believe it's as essential as the part where we sit down and switch into "Jesus mode". It's the part where everyone chats it up and gets comfortable with one another. Then, once everyone's food is gone and their bellies are full, we are able to feed each other. But without the first meal, I'm not sure we'd ever really get to the second.
And to be a good ole Baptist, even though I'm not at all anymore, I'll give you an application. Come see me and we'll have a common meal together.
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:21 PM
I agree, very well said. This hits home the more and more the Lord is teaching me about community lately. But... I think the Eagles song goes "Freedome, oh freedome... well that's just some people talking"... well done anyways.
Posted by
Anonymous |
7:04 PM
Post something new.
Posted by
Anonymous |
9:14 PM