House Church Talk - Christians in action

[David Anderson]

    Hello dear reader, 

Most of the local papers across America contain heart-warming stories of 
churches offering a Thanksgiving meal either to themselves or, as is 
usually the case, to the unfortunate.

The stories somehow reminded me of a another story - that of a wealthy 
Christian businessman and guest speaker at a "Rescue Mission." He boasted 
how he too, one day long ago, was sitting there just as the other 
down-and-outers. He reached into his pockets that night, gathered his 
remaining funds, and when the offering plate was passed, he "Gave it all 
to Jesus."

A unexpected voice from the rear of the auditorium was then heard: "Let's 
see you do it again."

We rejoice when any good things emerge from the churches but what is to 
keep churches - whether house churches or institutional churches - from 
offering such meals on a regular basis rather than once a year? Why not 
look at the pure joy of these annual gatherings and declare in unison: 
"Why not do it again?"

In the reading of the Scriptures, many fail to observe that the early 
church was a mighty engine of social service. It was a comprehensive 
welfare system which took in the unfortunate, widows, and unwanted 
babies. It was also a burial organization.

Check out this text (and the capitalized word) from the early records: 
Acts 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the 
Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their 
widows were being overlooked in the DAILY distribution of food. 

       David Anderson