Based on Acts 6 (New King James Version)
“Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’ And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.’ And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.’”
Craig Groeschel wrote this once: “Belief overflows to behavior. First, we need to change what we believe. When we truly change what we believe, we'll gladly change how we behave.” There is an incredible number of ideals and beliefs. Most people profess in having some sort of ideal. Even more, there are those that call themselves moderates. They are neither on one side or the other. They are somewhere in the middle. And well, even that is an ideal. Many people try to express what they believe. Many people declare ideals in conversations. They write about their ideals. And they even teach those ideals. There are personal ideals, religious or political ideals, professional ideals, etc. Every person believes in something, or in some things that compose their character or way of being. And of course, it does not matter how much they say it, teach it, or even make a living by writing them. In the end, what a person truly believes will be seen in the way they are; in their behavior.
Now, turning things towards Christian beliefs or ideals, how many profess to believe in God? How many profess to being Christians or followers of Christ? How many preach, teach, or even write about their faith in Christ? Many! So, why are things so difficult? Why is there more disorder than order? Why are there more people with needs than before? Why is there more pain and less hope? Because if we are the number we say we are, at least here in the US, life would not be so difficult. It wouldn’t be perfect, but it would be better. I don’t believe in false doctrines that teach that God will make you rich or that you will never be sick (because that is not what the Bible teaches, or else, Christ and the Apostles would be the first failures), but if we all believe what we say we believe, the world would be a better place. What do we believe then?
For starters, many people would not be so destitute because the church would tend to their needs (not their wishes or excess). There would be less sick people because there would be more power in the church and in its prayer. A local church that practices what the Bible teaches, starting with its pastor, would be a church full of love and spiritual provision. We are called as disciples of the Lord to provide for needs, just like the Lord did while here on earth. He gave love, example, teaching, food, healing, freedom, and even resurrection before He Himself was resurrected. Some will say: “Well, He was the Son of God.” And yes, He was, but He also said that we would do greater things than what He did (John 14:12). The Lord taught this: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:31-40. Even though we cannot change the entire world (because all of this will pass), that does not mean that we should not fight, and that we should let ourselves be absorbed by the world and by our own sin. We need to fight!
We, as children of God, need to bear fruit, if we really believe what we believe. In the end, what we are will be clearly seen by our actions (our fruits). For it is written: “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:20. And, we will be judged by what we do, or not do. It is also written: “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” 1 John 3:10-11. The Gospel is about our personal salvation, but it is also about following Christ, sharing the Gospel with others, serving the needs of others, and even possibly, suffer tribulation for doing what pleases God (like Stephen). This is also true, although difficult: Just because you do good does not mean that everything will turn out fine here. But, in the end, it is of extreme urgency to do what is necessary; for your own good and for others. Are you doing what is necessary for the Lord? Lord bless! John