by Patrick Sawyer, Missional Living Pastor
In AD 362, the Emperor Julian wrote a letter to Arsacius, the high priest of Galatia, to challenge the priests to act more like the Christians. Julian had tried to stop the Christians, but he was not successful. He stated, “These impious Galileans not only feed their own poor, but ours as well; welcoming them into their agape, they attract them, as children are attracted, with cakes. While the pagan priests neglect the poor, the Galileans devote themselves to works of charity and by a display of false compassion have established and given effect to their pernicious errors. See their love-feasts and their tables spread for the indigent. Such practice is common among them and causes a contempt for our gods.” 1
When it comes to living on mission and engaging the culture, one of the most powerful testimonies to the gospel is true biblical community built on unity, truth and love. Lesslie Newbigin stated, “The most important contribution which the church can make to a new social order is to be itself a new social order.” 2 Christians must be different than the world and show the world a new and better society grounded in unity, truth and love.
In Acts 2:42-42, we see a picture of true biblical community. These believers had formed a new community based on love for God and each other, unity, fellowship and love for society. Verse 47 states, “And the Lord added to their number daily”. This new community was not just focused on each other, but were focused on those on the outside and those on the outside saw them as good citizens. 3 This new community was attractive to outsiders because they were different. They truly loved and cared for each other and also cared for those on the outside and this was something new outsiders wanted to be a part of.
Jeremiah 29:7, “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you in exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in it welfare you will find welfare.” When Christians reveal to the world a new community and a new society that is built on truth, love and unity, they show the world the beauty of God’s kingdom, which is what the community and society has been looking and longing for. The current culture is becoming more and more isolated and lonely and the only thing that will truly satisfy what they are really longing for is true Christian community, which ultimately points to God’s kingdom. As Christians we must come together in unity and love with each other and show the world where to truly find the love, unity, peace and hope they are looking for. We must ultimately show the world Jesus, who is the only one who can bring true community built on truth, love and unity.
1 “Those Impious Galileans,” Grace and Choice, http://graceand choice.com/posts/those-impious-galileans.
2 Lesslie Newbigin, Truth To Tell: The Gospel as Public Truth (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing,
1991), 85.
3 Patrick Schreiner, Christian Standard Commentary: Acts (Holman Reference, 2021), 145.