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.
(Acts 6:1 ESV)

Church government and constitutions are not exactly the most exciting subject. When people want to talk about it, it usually means they have either had a rough experience somewhere, are Biblical nerds, or need some thing to help them fall asleep. Just kidding. Sorta.

(Psalm 22:1-2 ESV)

What does the ‘normal’ Christian life feel like? This summer, we have tried to address this question by exploring the Psalms. Seeing the joys, fears, pains, and hopes of the psalmists rewires our perspectives through faith. And it shows us that Christians don’t avoid the bad and amplify the good feelings, but places them in a context of the gospel.

Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.  (Acts 5:41 ESV)

Persecution - it’s something that we fear. It’s a circumstance that we seem to think is always around the corner. The real question, I think, is not from what direction persecution will arrive, but are we prepared mentally and spiritually when it happens. I don’t think that preparation comes from just getting tougher or being ready to ‘take the hits’, but by truly understanding our salvation, identity, and security. The narrative in Acts provides pathways for us to do this as it recounts the conflicts which the church was birthed and grew in.

Darkness, sadness, hopelessness, or depression - these heavy-hearted feelings go by several names. They have varying levels of severity and length. They can have discernible causes or no cause at all. Everyone has felt it at some level. How do we respond? Does the scripture ever express such a feeling? Does it provide any guidance or hope?

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.”  
(Acts 5:27-28 ESV)

I bet you consider yourself a ‘law & order’ kinda person. I don’t mean the TV show, but the inclination. You pay your taxes. You vote. You obey the laws, except maybe the speed limits. You support the police. You might even turn to a passage like Romans 13 to support and encourage that view. That’s important and I’d even say biblical. We are called to be supportive, submissive, prayerful citizens of the nations in which we live. 

To recall our memories is to often times rehearse our regrets and shame. We see our failures with greater clarity than our successes. Sometimes we hear from others that in order to be truly free we need to abandon shame and move forward. But is that the best? Is there something between wallowing in our shame and forgetting about our mistakes and sin? Could there be something redemptive in shame?