But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” [Acts 6.1-4]
And so began "the machine" of organized religion that would eventually evolve into the mostly petrified and lifeless remains of the Church today. Like a marble statue (idol) this resemblance of something that once lived bears no fruit but only takes up space where otherwise living discipleship should be thriving.
While many view this foundational organization as a good thing, should we not also consider its overwhelmingly undeniable disempowerment of discipleship? The discontent that arose was the result of failed discipleship.
What Jesus taught His disciples was that every believer is responsible for making disciples. Period. What is seen forming in Acts 6, along with the justification stated for doing so, has no resemblance, in action or spirit, to Jesus wrapping Himself in a towel and washing the disciples' feet. Furthermore, what the disciples said and did in Acts 6 was the polar opposite of what Jesus instructed them:
After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. [John 13.12-17]
Did the disciples in Acts 6 follow Jesus' example? In the strictest Biblical sense (according to the specific instruction of Jesus Christ), NO THEY DID NOT! Their first "clue" should have come in the following (see the bold):
Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). [Acts 6.5]
Religious groups have formulated compelling but crafty doctrines to explain the disempowerment of the Church after the "time of the apostles." These doctrines are quite popular! However, they are nothing more than self-justification for the powerless condition that was set in motion when the original disciples exalted themselves above the task of feeding widows and instead began delegating their "humble servanthood" responsibility to others in complete disregard for what Jesus taught and demonstrated!
It is not ironic then, that most of the scriptural basis for Church structure we rely on today comes from the writings of the Apostle Paul who was NOT at the Last Supper and did NOT have his feet washed by Jesus, but only came on the scene amidst the fledgling development of organized religion at the stoning of Stephen (who, for some strange reason, was not serving widows as he had been selected to do, but was instead preaching...). This is not meant to take away from Paul's writings, but simply to acknowledge that Paul was dealing with a "system" whose trajectory was already established when he came into the picture. The problem is only seen later in that a "slightly off" trajectory up close is a dismal "miss" the farther away it gets.
Discontent is not remedied with programs and structure. Discontent is remedied with discipleship. In fact, programs and structure only breed further discontent - even entitlement: our church provides breakfast on Sunday mornings but people are still discontented because the bacon is not cooked to suit them!
So, shout me down, quote scriptures at me, deride me from the pulpit and publicly disprove me on social media... But show me a Church leader today willing to stop his polished, media-laden, perfectly-timed sermon to walk off the stage (past security) and wash a bum's feet who walks in off the street and then, I will stand corrected. And, likewise, show me a church member who will take it upon themselves to interact with that bum instead of relying on security! The current Church system is NOT Christlike, but instead, a misguided-disciple-like (proud) substitution for real discipleship.
Furthermore, any idea that I or anyone else has of discipleship based on the current Church model is dangerous at best. The ONLY model of true discipleship is Jesus Christ. And, John 13.12-17 is what that looks like at its core. ANY religious structure that insulates a leader from washing a "nobody's" feet is not teaching "Christ" but in reality is promoting self-exaltation (thus, Satan).
Father, forgive us for promoting and supporting any organizational structure that prevents its leaders from serving the least among them in the intimacy of discipleship. Forgive us for thinking bigger is better excusing ourselves with the idea that we are 'reaching more people,' when, in fact, we are not practicing discipleship as Jesus modeled. Help us to get it right - help us to make disciples.
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