Dogs
are very territorial. Every single time I take my dog PAL for a walk
he urine marks many, many times. And, if someone comes to our home
you can be sure that he will bark and bark and bark some more until
he recognizes them or we tell him to STOP.
Are
people territorial? Well, they don’t urinate on their property like
dogs, but they do identify what they own. My dog PAL has a dog collar
with an ID on it and a chip to identify him should he get lost. And
then there is the memory of my paternal grandfather Raymond, who used
to paint with very large letters, “RCR” on his spare car rims to
leave no doubt as to who they belonged to.
In
the late seventies, I became a New Testament Christian. I understood
what it meant, but to this day, I have never quite comprehended how
we can say we are restoring the church of the first century and yet
somehow ignore part of Acts, chapter 2 that we so often quote. It
says…
Acts
2 ( World English
Bible )
Act
2:41, Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There
were added that day about three thousand souls.
Act 2:42, They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
Act 2:43, Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were
done through the apostles.
Act 2:44, All who believed were together, and had all things in
common.
Act 2:45, They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed
them to all, according as anyone had need. (emphasis
added)
Act 2:46, Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with
gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 2:47, praising God, and having favor with all the people. The
Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.
How
can we rightly quote from Acts 2:37ff. And yet not apply verses 44
and 45 to today?
Act
2:37, Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said
to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we
do?”
Act 2:38, Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one
of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and
you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Act 2:39, For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all
who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to
himself.”
Act 2:40, With many other words he testified, and exhorted them,
saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
Act 2:41, Then those who gladly received his word were baptized.
There were added that day about three thousand souls.
Unlike
other posts, I am not going to tell you THE ANSWER, because I
really do not have one. Instead, I will leave you with a question?
Are
we guilty of the sin of materialism?