Acts 6:1
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
We have two opposing factors going on at the same time here in the same body, I guess it is true, for every action there is an opposite reaction. On one hand the disciples were increasing in number but on the other hand, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews. The word used here for 'complaint' is the Greek word, 'goggysmos' and is used to mirror the same action of 'complaining' by the Israelites against Moses. In fact, this whole birth of the church is a bit of a mirror of God's chosen people being called out of Egypt - opposition, complaining, messyness, etc, etc. The chosen people have been expanded from the Israelites to the church, and much like the Israelites, there is a 'complaining' at a root level - rather than having the 'chosen' people complain to Moses because he took them out of Egypt, but wasn't handling the rescue mission the way they wanted him to; we have the 'chosen' complaining at the Apostles who had received the 'relief money' and was not distrubting it the way the people saw fit. Their complaining was around the care of the widows, which we must note, that God had promised to take care of and defend in the Old Testament. So, the church had continued in and accepted this responsibility and a daily distribution of food was made to them. But there were two groups in the Jerusalem church: (1) the Hellenistais and the (2) Hebraioi. The Hellenistais were complaining against the Hebraioi because their widows were being overlooked in the daily giving of food. We are not told that the oversight was deliberate, but rather we are left to assume it was poor administration and management.
Many seperate the difference of the Helenists and the Hebrews by orgin and language, however, what we are dealing with here, is the difference of culture. In this case the Hellenists not only spoke Greek but thought and behaved like Greeks. Where the Hebrews not only spoke Aramaic but were deeply immersed in Hebrew culture. Richard Longenecker says, "What is needed here is some such translation as 'Grecian Jews' and 'Hebraic Jews'." There had always been rivalry between these groups in Jewish culture; the tragedy is that it was perpetuated within the new community of Jesus, who had obliterated the distinctions.
So what are we to make of this? So far we see a mirroring of the Old Covenant people, but we also see a mirroring of the Modern-Day Covenant people. How often are we ready to complain without having a solution to offer when our 'culture' is overlooked, confronted, do put on the back burner, due to new leadership, we have to remember that the apostles were new to this, their heart was to be like Jesus and lead like Jesus, their mistakes were not intentional. But, how ready are we to willingly to believe and take offense at our leaders because we assume they must be putting our culture behind theirs. The problem I see here is not so much that the problem was brought to the Apostles attention, but in the way it was done. The text specifically tells us they were complaining and does so in a way in which it mirrors the OT People's complaining that God hated so much. But also that they didn't come with was a solution. In today's world we know this, when people are willing to flag the problem without giving their idea for a solution, they really don't care about a solution, they don't care about the other party, they care about self, which is satan's number one scheme - the focus of self.
What we have is Satan trying to destroy the new community from with in. The last couple of chapters we see Satan trying to destroy this new community from without, but the result was a strengthend church, so he tries a new tactic, "Kill them from within..."
The apostles discerned that the unity of this young church was being threatened by Satan attempting to draw them (the apostles) away from their time in prayer and the word, which Christ had specifcially entrusted them with for the preaching and teaching of his word!
The Bible assures us that Satan is out to kill, still, and destroy us, and at a larger level, he is out to kill, still, and destroy the church from doing what she was meant to do, fill the world with the glory of God. Let us also be as wise as the apostles, and not be quick to blame, or to seperate ourselves, but let's realize that just as Christ wanted unity in his Body, Satan's goal is to defeat us with dis-unity. And if we are not knowledgable of his attacks, we will focus our fight, our selfishness, and our rights on other humans, rather than waring against the serpent.
Many seperate the difference of the Helenists and the Hebrews by orgin and language, however, what we are dealing with here, is the difference of culture. In this case the Hellenists not only spoke Greek but thought and behaved like Greeks. Where the Hebrews not only spoke Aramaic but were deeply immersed in Hebrew culture. Richard Longenecker says, "What is needed here is some such translation as 'Grecian Jews' and 'Hebraic Jews'." There had always been rivalry between these groups in Jewish culture; the tragedy is that it was perpetuated within the new community of Jesus, who had obliterated the distinctions.
So what are we to make of this? So far we see a mirroring of the Old Covenant people, but we also see a mirroring of the Modern-Day Covenant people. How often are we ready to complain without having a solution to offer when our 'culture' is overlooked, confronted, do put on the back burner, due to new leadership, we have to remember that the apostles were new to this, their heart was to be like Jesus and lead like Jesus, their mistakes were not intentional. But, how ready are we to willingly to believe and take offense at our leaders because we assume they must be putting our culture behind theirs. The problem I see here is not so much that the problem was brought to the Apostles attention, but in the way it was done. The text specifically tells us they were complaining and does so in a way in which it mirrors the OT People's complaining that God hated so much. But also that they didn't come with was a solution. In today's world we know this, when people are willing to flag the problem without giving their idea for a solution, they really don't care about a solution, they don't care about the other party, they care about self, which is satan's number one scheme - the focus of self.
What we have is Satan trying to destroy the new community from with in. The last couple of chapters we see Satan trying to destroy this new community from without, but the result was a strengthend church, so he tries a new tactic, "Kill them from within..."
The apostles discerned that the unity of this young church was being threatened by Satan attempting to draw them (the apostles) away from their time in prayer and the word, which Christ had specifcially entrusted them with for the preaching and teaching of his word!
The Bible assures us that Satan is out to kill, still, and destroy us, and at a larger level, he is out to kill, still, and destroy the church from doing what she was meant to do, fill the world with the glory of God. Let us also be as wise as the apostles, and not be quick to blame, or to seperate ourselves, but let's realize that just as Christ wanted unity in his Body, Satan's goal is to defeat us with dis-unity. And if we are not knowledgable of his attacks, we will focus our fight, our selfishness, and our rights on other humans, rather than waring against the serpent.
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