One Heart and Soul

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul. (Acts 4:32)

Every once in a while I read an article and I can do nothing but say to myself or anyone who might be nearby, "Amen. Amen. Amen." This morning it happened while reading the devotional from Rejoice! (MennoMedia, vol.57, no. 1, p. 70). Written by Karl McKinney, a 'retired' pastor, the message gives deep pause to any of us whether retired, employed by, fully engaged, or considering membership in any of our modern churches. He begins with a searching question.

Can our congregations declare that we share one heart and soul like the first Christian church? I believe the church in the United States has work to do before that can happen. On one occasion, says McKinney, I listened to church leaders and members worry that Christians in America were being persecuted, and America was being changed into a non-Christian nation. I did not hear anything resembling "Christians are suffering because we are of one heart and soul and share God's good news in Christ." Rather, I heard people fusing Christian and American in a way I don't share.

I resonate with McKinney as he goes on to say he does not feel part of the suffering that these white brothers talked about. The changes oft-described in these laments do not feel like a threat to me as a follower of Christ. These individuals lament that the U.S. is straying from its Christian founding. McKinney goes on, "I wonder if they know that the convictions that formed the nation were wholly different from those of Jesus' early followers. United States history involves extermination, enslavement, and forced removal of entire groups. Much of its infrastructure was built through the forced labor of enslaved people, indentured servants, and the working poor." So he portrays this unsavory U.S. history and I say not much better in Canada; witness creation of Canada's 'ribbon of steel', the Canadian Pacific Railway. Witness also the continuing discovery of unmarked children's graves at former Indian Residential Schools. And, yes in other countries as well; eg. the present-day violation of indigenous populations in the industrialization of Amazonian rain forests in South America.

His final paragraph strikes a chord equally applicable for all. "When we look to return to our nation's founding faith, are we following Jesus, or are we preserving Christian traditions from the colonial period?" Being an American or Canadian is not the same as being a follower of Christ.

Very thoughtful this devotional prophecy. And if it brings on some confession, that would be quite appropriate for prayer time.