“41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.

43 Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.”

Acts 2:41-47

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This image of the early church is extraordinary and would seem crazy to people in Western culture today if we actually expected each other to do all these things. I mean, we all have schedules and families and things to do. To gather everyday would be an imposition, right? To be that devoted would mean that you had gotten yourself involved in some kind of cult or something, right? To sacrifice all you have, your idea of ‘personal’ time and ‘personal’ finances and everything else that we value as independent Americans/Westerners? That’s crazy, right? 

Or is it a beautiful pre-glimpse of heaven? Would it be all consuming in a way that changed your life, and the pattern of your heart for the better? What would it be like to live in the rhythms of grace with a whole community of people? Not just Sunday’s, but all the time, gathered for Bible study, to play games, to share meals, to grow and fellowship and learn and serve together. Not just like a club or a gated community, but something that was shared everyday or every week? Something open, accepting, somewhere we could go to learn the things of God and bring our friends, family and neighbors in to see something different than the world offers? What if we did that? What if we really did share it all, spend all our time together and taste a little bit of heaven together right now? Today? 

What if? 

It’s what my heart longs for. It’s what I want to see the church be and become again. My flesh doubts and my spirit desires. There’s a struggle to ‘be reasonable’ in the amount of time spent, to ‘be comfortable’ in my patterns. But see a lack and I see disengaged people, and I see the need for more of the community and less of the programs. What if? What if we dedicated ourselves to GoLove together, a little more openly, a little more freely and if we were a little less guarded all the time? What would happen then? 

It would be beautiful. God would be glorified. And the messes of us would find something that the world could never offer…

What if?