With One Accord

From the Preacher's Desk:

In the earliest picture of the church, the Christians are described as such: "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart" (Acts 2:46). It is important to us to have this image of the church, for it gives us an intimation of what the church was feeling, what the church was doing, and what the church was expecting. With that in mind, we can see what the church today should be feeling, doing, and expecting.

The key not only to this verse, but to the complete aura surrounding the early church, is the phrase "with one accord." If there should be a common goal of the church in this or any age, it should be to conduct ourselves about the Lord's business "with one accord." It is very sad indeed that much of the division within the church today is a direct result of failing to ask, "What does God desire?" and "What is best for God's kingdom?" When one examines the early church, it becomes evident that Paul was not alone in expressing the sentiment of Galatians 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live…." Being a Christian in any age requires an emptying of one's self, setting aside one's own desires to the accomplishing of the will of God. When you look around at the turmoil of our present day, it might seem an impossible task. However, if we will but do as the early church did, it can be done. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul…" (Acts 2:42-43). There is our recipe for success.

To me, this is a rather curious verse, because there are two phrases within this one passage that have to do with eating. Why is this so, and to what was Luke referring?

The first phrase, "and breaking bread from house to house," uses words similar to that of the Lord's Supper. To the Hebrews, "breaking bread" was an hospitable gesture of intimacy and friendship. (Their bread was commonly thin, hard, and brittle, making it difficult to cut.) I realize this is not a perfect example, but think having an old friend come to town to visit, and taking them to a nice restaurant to eat. But this is the intimacy behind the idea.

It should be evident from this how great is the symbolic important of the unleavened bread in the Lord Supper. This intimacy and friendship is shared between Christians and the Lord every first day of the week in this breaking of bread.

However, in Acts 2:46, Luke does not seem to be referring to the Lord's Supper. He carries this picture of closeness and familiarity into every home of every Christian. This was being done "from house to house."

The second phrase, "did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart," implies to us even more than that. This was not a special hospitality being shown, but a common meal! The word translated as "meat" means provisions or rations and refers to their sustenance. The implication is that such wonderful feelings of hospitality and unity did not stop at the temple; they did not stop with the obvious situations of fellowship; they extended to the day-to-day activities of these Christians, even to the most basic requirements of living. But let us notice one more aspect of this: they were doing so together with gladness and singleness of heart. They were happy to do such and happy because they were doing such. Their unity in purpose, love, and hope allowed them to be one in all things.

Do you remember the phrase that was touted about a couple of years ago? "The family that prays together stays together." Could not, should not this principle be applied to the church? Where do our feelings of oneness with the church cease? Do they stop at the "temple"? (Sadly, with some, it would seem that those feelings never even make it into the place of worship.) Do those feelings stop with our obvious exhibitions of communion and fellowship with one another? Or do they extend to our day-to-day lives as common servants of the Most High God?

Let us awaken each new day with the desire and intent of being "with one accord." The blueprint for unity is before us. Do we really desire to build?

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

(Ephesians 4:1-3)